The sheltered bays of Vava’u offer calm water, visibility over 30 metres and pleasant temperatures most of the year: a superb place to earn your PADI Open Water Diver. From July to October you will often hear humpback whales singing underwater during your dives.
How the course works
- PADI eLearning theory before or during your trip.
- Skills practice in shallow water.
- 4 open-water dives on Vava’u reefs and walls.
- Lifetime PADI certification.
Who it is for
Anyone aged 10 or over who can swim and is reasonably fit. You fill in a medical questionnaire before the course; any yes answer requires a doctor’s sign-off.
What to bring
- Swimwear and towel.
- Reef-safe sunscreen.
- Warm layers for the boat between dives.
Best time
May to November, the dry season, with steadier seas. The water drops to about 23 °C in the southern winter, so 5 mm wetsuits are used. Allow 3–4 days and avoid flying for 24 hours after your last dive.
Booking
This activity can be booked separately or added to your sailing week so everything is organized in one place. You will receive a confirmation with all the practical details, and any cancelation due to bad weather is rescheduled or fully refunded.
Included
- PADI eLearning and certification
- Full equipment
- 4 open-water boat dives
- PADI instructor
FAQs
How many days?
Between 3 and 4 days.
Will I see whales while diving?
You often hear them in season; deliberately approaching whales on scuba is not allowed.
What wetsuit is used?
5 mm in the southern winter, 3 mm in summer.
