ADVANCED OPEN WATER DIVER: The PADI Way

According to Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) – one of the biggest scuba diving certification agencies in the world – the next level of scuba certification is called Advanced Open Water Diver (AOW).

Advanced Open Water course offer a wide range of training dives to choose from. You are only required to complete 5 training dives prior to certification. Normally, the course can be completed within 2 days.

A few years back, PADI introduced the Adventures In Diving Program with PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification as part of it. The other one is called PADI Adventure Diver certification where a student diver needs to complete only 3 Adventure Dives.

You can sign up for the AOW course immediately, if you prefer, after your PADI Open Water Diver course or have a qualifying certification from another training organization (This is defined as proof of an entry-level scuba certification with a minimum of four open water-training dives).

But, through my years of teaching scuba diving courses, taking the AOW right after the Open Water course is not so “practical”. I would strongly recommend you to do a few more dives after your entry-level certification so that you can get use to the whole diving scenarios first, to fine-tune your buoyancy, to exercise more on the breathing technique etc.

The AOW course outlines focus more on in-depth study, both in theory and practical, of a specific dive. Meaning you will be doing only special tasks and skills for a selected type of training dives.

Lets take Deep Dive as an example: you will be studying only about that deep dive – the technique, dive site selections, specific equipments and tools requirements, executions and so on. You will be conducting all required training for that Deep Dive under the direct supervision by your instructor.

Here are the Advanced Open Water certification required dives – 2 core dives plus any 3-adventure dives that you can choose from the list below.

Core dives simply means a-must-do-training-dives. They are:

• Deep Dive
• Underwater Navigation Dive

There are many adventure dives (elective dives) you can choose from depending where you are going to complete the training dives.

• AWARE – Fish Identification
• Digital Underwater Photographer
• Boat
• Altitude
• Diver Propulsion Vehicle
• Drift
• Dry Suit
• Enriched Air
• Multilevel
• National Geographic
• Night
• Peak Performance Buoyancy
• Underwater Naturalist
• Underwater Navigator
• Underwater Photographer
• Underwater Videographer

If you are taking the AOW course in tropical water, I strongly suggest you to take Night Diving as part of your adventure dives training. This dive is extra-ordinary and fun. You will be venturing into one of the most amazing underwater display like no other dives can show you. So, discuss with your instructor and go out there and witness the nightlife of the underwater world.

Getting your Advanced Open Water certification is important. You are going to add more confidence in diving. You will more relax and enjoying every dives. Additionally, you will be able to dive places that may require divers with advanced certifications only.

Don’t be confused when other divers talk about being an  “experienced diver” or “advanced diver” or “seasoned diver” as these statements are normally referring to divers who has logged hundreds or thousands of dives – for example: 100, 200, 500+, 2000+, 3500+ or more.

So, if you’ve been contemplating and have the strong desire to go “advanced”, than beat it. Take the plunge and discover the endless opportunities scuba diving has to offer for just you.

Remember that it’s all about fun. Continue your scuba journey and feel experience. Go advanced.

Related posts:

1. How To Get Certified As Scuba Diver
2. New Diver: To Get To Know Your Options
3. Your SCUBA Journey: It Begins Here