Mailing List

Advanced Open Water

The PADI Advanced course is designed to go beyond the simple basics of your Open Water course and teach more about "adventure diving." This includes undertaking more advanced dives as well as learning about diving with an objective. What will you see? How will you get there? What do you need to know to do the dive safely?

At many dive locations someone may ask to see an advanced card before allowing you to perform special dives such as deeper dives off boats, night dives, and others. Advanced is also a prerequisite for Technical, Cavern, and Rebreather courses among others.

Course Outline

The course requires one classroom session and five dives, usually done over one weekend. Two of the dives must be:

Deep (between 60 and 100 feet)
Underwater navigation

The other three dives depend upon student and instructor preference, as well as the dive site where the class is being held. Private classes offer more flexibility for the student. Some options include:

Night diving
Fish identification
Boat diving
Wreck diving
Underwater photography
Dry suit diving

Remember, this class is designed to be an introduction to lots of different aspects of diving. Try something new! If one of your advanced dives interests you, there is a full specialty class available where you can learn even more. The class can also be combined with others at a discount.

Location, Location, Location

Perhaps the most important factor that will determine your enjoyment of this class is where you take it. You can take it at a local quarry, or you can choose to do the dives on almost any of Splash's Trips.

Where you choose should be based on your interests. For instance, if you are interested in wrecks you would probably learn more by taking it on one of our North Carolina trips. If you are interested in sea life or photography, one of our tropical destinations like Bonaire may be the best choice.

Discuss your interests with one of our instructors, and they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Qualifications

After taking this course you will be certified to make dives as deep as 100 feet, provided the conditions are similar to your training. You will also be qualified to make night dives. Additional qualifications depend upon the other specialty dives you make.

Requirements

PADI Open Water certification (or equivalent from another organization).
Advanced Open Water divers must be at least 15 years old. Divers 12 and above can receive a Junior Advanced Open Water certification instead.
A decent level of comfort in the water is suggested. Some people are ready for Advanced after their four Open Water certification dives; others may need 40 dives.

Check Splash's training schedule.

Main Menu

Training