About this tour
When Charlie from our team ran the SSI Advanced Adventurer Course in New Zealand, it was a smart move for divers keen to branch out without committing to one specialty. Over two days, you pick five diving disciplines from a solid menu — boat diving, deep dives to 30m, navigation, night diving, buoyancy work, wreck diving, fish ID, and others — and get hands-on with each one. It's the kind of course that suits someone who's done their basic cert but wants to test the waters before specialising. The crew keeps things structured with online theory plus in-water instruction, and all gear's included.
Highlights
- Five specialties to sample — find your diving groove without overcommitting
- Deep dives to 30m available for those chasing a bit more adventure
- Night and limited-visibility diving options push your confidence in tricky conditions
- Wreck, navigation, and buoyancy work round out the practical skillset
- Instructor-led theory balanced with real water time, not just dry lectures
- All SCUBA equipment supplied — no need to haul your own kit
What to expect
Charlie's two days involved a mix of classroom work and in-water sessions where the theory actually clicked because you were doing it straight after. The course structure lets you tailor your five specialties to what genuinely interests you — so if wreck diving sounds fun but deep diving doesn't, you build around that. Each specialty has its own focus: boat diving teaches you entry and exit techniques from a moving platform; navigation is pure compass work and landmark spotting; buoyancy control is fiddly but transforms how you feel underwater. The pacing felt deliberate rather than rushed, though you're covering ground fast over two days.
The New Zealand backdrop matters too. Depending on where you're diving, conditions shift — water temps, visibility, current strength — which actually works in your favour for learning. You're not doing this in a pool; you're adapting to real sea conditions. Charlie's main takeaway was that by the end, he had a clearer picture of which specialty to pursue next, rather than wandering in blindly.
What travellers say
- Sample five specialties instead of betting on one direction
- Real water learning, not classroom theory in isolation
- All SCUBA equipment included — nothing to hire separately
- Instructor-guided discovery of your diving interests
- Flexible specialty menu — tailor to your curiosity
- Fast pace over two days may overwhelm newer divers
- Medical clearance needed; some conditions rule you out
- Fitness and swim test requirements not trivial
- Lunch and transport not covered — budget accordingly
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This course is perfect if you're past basics but undecided on a direction. Five different specialties mean you're not locked into deep diving or photography or navigation — you sample and see what sticks. Instructors know their stuff and the all-inclusive gear removes a barrier. It's solid value if you're already committed to diving.
You'll need decent fitness — the source flags cardiovascular health matters, and there's a swim test (200m non-stop, 10-minute float). If you've got asthma, heart stuff, or other medical flags, you'll need a dive doctor's clearance. Lunch isn't included, so budget for that. Don't fly and dive within 48 hours. You'll complete a health questionnaire before getting in the water. Pregnant travellers should skip this. The course is fast-paced, so if you're brand new to advancing beyond basics, double-check you're confident in fundamental skills first.
Bring a lunch or snack plan. Public transport nearby gets you there (no private transport included). Two days, small-group instruction, all gear supplied. Peak times vary by season in New Zealand, so book ahead.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.