If you’ve got the bug for diving and want to explore deeper sites, new environments like wrecks or the aquatic world after dark, or maybe you just want to work on your buoyancy and underwater skills, this is the place for you.
The core of the Advanced Open Water Diver course is to allow students to move from competent and safe divers to truly skilled divers. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on thinking like a diver, all whilst students expand their horizons, gain experience, and dive in new situations. The good habits developed during this time will, hopefully, last a lifetime.
The course helps you increase your confidence and work upon your diving skills to allow you to become even more comfortable in the water. You’ll work on existing skills and learn new ones by completing five adventure dives. These introduce you to underwater navigation and deep diving, plus 3 other adventure dives of your choosing, ranging from wreck diving to peak performance buoyancy (see list here).
It takes at least 3 days to complete this course, though the exact length may be flexible to suit your needs. To be certified a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, you must complete 3 adventure dives, plus dives covering deep diving and navigation along with the corresponding theory for each. Written quizzes and a final exam will test your theoretical knowledge and may be completed online ahead of time. This theory will be recapped and reinforced through structured discussions with your instructor during your course.
Who can enrol?
To enrol on this course, you must be at least 12 years old and be a(n) (Junior) Open Water Diver (or equivalent).
If the participant is 12 to 15 years old, they will be certified as a Junior Advanced Open Water Diver. (Note that a deep dive for Junior participants is 18–21 meters/ 60-70 feet rather than 18-30 metres/ 60-100 feet).
Why enrol?
The PADI Advanced Open Water course is vital for developing your personal dive skills. This enables you, for example, to be neutrally buoyant and in control throughout all future dives, protecting both you and the marine environment, as well as allowing you to push on with your education and safely undertake speciality courses such as wreck diving, night diving, cave diving and many more!
The Open Water Diver course enabled you to be safe in the water; this course enables you to think like a diver, and roll back the horizon of available dive sites.
What will be taught
The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course covers:
- Theory required for each adventure dive, such as how to use compasses and dive computers, or the physiological changes when deep diving (Theory includes lessons in a specially equipped multimedia room or using the PADI eLearning option, along with discussions with your instructor.)
- Exercises to ensure good diving habits, and practice speciality skills in order to meet the requirements of each adventure dive
Equipment used
All equipment you will use can be provided by our diving centers – bringing your own gear is not a requirement to the course.
In the theoretical part we use:
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver videos which you can watch either in the classroom with your instructor or at your own pace online using PADI eLearning.
- The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver manual. (Both the PADI manual and the PADI eLearning are available in multiple languages.)
- Your dive log book (if you haven’t already got one) to record your dives.
In the practical part (adventure dives) we will use:
The full scuba diving equipment, including: mask, snorkel, fins, Buoyancy Control Device (BCD), tank, regulator with pressure gauge, wet suit, and weights.
Speciality equipment related to the adventure dives, including, but not limited to: torches, compass, diving computer, underwater slate etc.
If you are interested, most of the same equipment is available for purchase within the dive center.
Participation requirements for the program
- Participants must be ages 12 or above :
- Participants who are 12 to 15 years old will receive a PADI Junior Advanced Open Water Diver certification
- Participants who are 15 years or older will receive a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification
- Participant must be an Open Water Diver or equivalent (or Junior Open Water Diver)
Your next dive adventure:
Once you achieve your scuba diving certification you are qualified to continue your adventure with the following courses:
Learn more about the Advanced Open Water Diver course
Choose the eLearning option for studying the PADI course theory
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