Youth Snorkelling

Summer 2024/25 - Details here soon

Three dates are scheduled and planning is underway - 15 December 2024, 2nd February & 12 April 25

Returns for Summer 23/24 - Fully Booked

Getting Rangatahi and young people into the water around Waiheke Island

Learn how to snorkel and explore the Waiheke Coastline and earn your skin divers certificate with Epic Scuba. 

Designed in collaboration with the Waiheke Marine Project, this programme is set to get rangatahi and young people in to the water around Waiheke Island. Giving them the confidence to enjoy the beautiful Waiheke coastline and the skills to keep themselves and their friends safe while doing so. At the end of the programme, they will have achieved their first SSI certification, and will be awarded the qualification of SSI Skin Divers!

They will learn about the Waiheke coastal ecosystem - from what life we find here on the sandy / rocky shores, through to some of the threats that Tīkapa moana is facing, and some of the ongoing work being done to restore the moana to its whole glory. 

Important Info:

• Bookings have reached capacity and have closed (updated 26.12.23)

• Participants need to attend all 2 dates

• The Morning Session is for ages 8 to 11 and runs from 9am to 12

• Afternoon Session is for ages 12-15 and runs from 12 to 4pm

Tamariki/rangatahi will need to commit to both dates in order to complete the programme.

The 2024 club starts on 4th Jan - the second session is 17th January 2024

Looking back over the previous 5 week programme...

The rangatahi learnt about the Waiheke coastal ecosystem - from what life can be found on the sandy / rocky shores, through to some of the threats faced by Tīkapa moana, and some of the ongoing work being done to restore the moana to its whole glory. All the senior rōpu [group] achieved their first PADI certification, and were awarded the qualification of PADI Skin Divers! The junior rōpu [group] had one lesson postponed due to poor wind conditions and completed their Skin Divers qualification in February 2022.

We are planning to run this program again this Summer 2023 as part of our expanded Regen Dive Programme so keep an eye out on our events page for more information.

Back in 2021

In December 2021 this programme was designed in collaboration with the Waiheke Dive & Snorkel Shop. The aim was to get rangatahi and young people into the water around Waiheke Island. Giving them the confidence to enjoy the beautiful Waiheke coastline and the skills to keep themselves and their friends safe while doing so.

NPKW sponsored 9 Rangatahi (5 x 8yrs to 12 years, 4 x 13yrs - yrs) to participate in this programme over the summer, with much success!

Q & A with a Tyrone Anderson

1. What was the [purpose of the] youth snorkle programme?

To teach me how to dive and help build my confidence. As well as meet new people .

2. What have you learnt from the programme?

Different Sea creatures, teaching me how to dive with confidence and not making me fear the ocean.. Helping me with different breathing techniques. I would like to learn how to tank dive

3. What was the coolest thing you saw while snorkeling?

A Diamond stingray

4. What did you see/hear/feel while you were there?

Saw an abyss of calming and soothing water, hear.... nothing! Feel just a bit of cold and fear sometimes.