Whether sunk on purpose as an artificial reef or the result of mishap, wrecks open fascinating windows to the past.

Most divers find wrecked ships, airplanes and even automobiles nearly irresistible because they’re intriguing to explore, exciting avenues of discovery, and usually teeming with aquatic life.

The PADI Wreck Diver course teaches you the ins and outs of rewarding, responsible wreck diving.

What You Learn

• Techniques for diving exploring shipwrecks, and how to avoid common hazards
  

  HMNZS Canterbury / Photograph by Andrew Simpson

• How to research and learn the background of your favorite wrecks
• Wreck scuba diving equipment considerations
• Considerations and techniques for entering intact wrecks
• Experience in planning, organising and making at least four wreck dives under the supervision of your PADI Instructor

The Learning Materials You Need

Prepare for the exciting –and specialised- world of wreck diving with PADI’s Wreck Diver crewpak. Preview the skills you’ll practice during your open water dives, become familiar with wreck diving etiquette, and take in breath-taking images from wreck diving hotspots around the world.

Prerequisites

To enroll in the PADI Wreck Diver course, you must

• Be 15 years or older
• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification (or have a qualifying certification from another organisation) due to the depths of the wrecks we are potentially using

The Fun Part

The fun part of the PADI Wreck Diver course is visiting wrecks, unlocking mysteries and starting to gain the knowledge and experience that allows you to see things that others overlook.

Sometimes, only the trained, experienced eye recognizes that a small hole or open door likely caused the vessel’s demise.

Take a look through the gallery below at some of the photographs we have all taken of not only New Zealand’s shipwrecks, but many of the wrecks to be found around the world.

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