What Is the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course?
The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is a comprehensive program designed to enhance your diving skills, boost your confidence, and introduce you to new and exciting underwater experiences. With the guidance and expertise of a PADI Instructor, you will have the opportunity to practice navigation techniques, embark on a deep dive, and partake in three thrilling Adventure Dives of your choosing.
How Hard Is the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course?
Contrary to popular belief, the Advanced Open Water Diver course is not more challenging than the Open Water Diver course; in fact, it is quite the opposite. Ask any seasoned diver or instructor, and they will attest to the fact that the AOW course is a natural progression from the foundational skills acquired in the entry-level course. It serves as a means of advancing and refining the abilities, skills, and self-assurance that you have already acquired. This progression is achieved through immersive diving experiences under the expert guidance of a PADI Instructor.
What’s the Difference Between Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver?
While both the Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses involve open water dives with a PADI Instructor, there are significant differences between the two. The Open Water Diver course focuses on imparting the fundamental principles of scuba diving, including equipment assembly, proper ascents and descents, and other essential skills. On the other hand, the Advanced Open Water Diver course is designed to provide divers with an opportunity to further develop their skills and explore various types of diving activities.
In comparison to its predecessor, the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course requires minimal classroom instruction and reading materials. Additionally, there are no exams to be completed. Instead, the course includes two mandatory Adventure Dives: a deep dive and an underwater navigation dive. These dives serve as the foundation for your advanced training. Furthermore, you have the freedom to choose three additional Adventure Dives from a wide range of options available.
How Many Dives Do You Need for the Advanced Open Water Diver Course?
Think of the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course as a delightful sampler platter. It offers a taste of different diving specialties and allows you to customize your experience based on your interests and preferences. You can choose to explore underwater photography, wreck diving, night diving, or any other adventure that piques your curiosity. With over two dozen Adventure Dives to choose from, the possibilities are endless.
Now, let’s address the distinction between the PADI Deep Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses. Open Water Divers have certain depth limitations imposed on them, typically ranging from 18 to 30 meters (60 to 100 feet). However, during the deep dive component of the Advanced Open Water Diver course, an experienced instructor will guide you beyond these limits, providing you with an exhilarating experience at greater depths.
To enroll in the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, you only need to hold a valid Open Water Diver certification. It is important to note that you do not require any additional dives beyond those completed during your Open Water Diver course. The dives you completed as part of your Open Water Diver certification training will suffice. Many divers choose to immediately pursue their Advanced Open Water Diver training after obtaining their Open Water Diver certification. This seamless transition allows for continuous skill development and exploration of new diving opportunities.
Throughout the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, you will embark on a total of five dives known as “Adventure Dives.” Among these dives, two are mandatory: the deep dive and the navigation dive. During the deep dive, you will be guided by an instructor to depths that surpass those permitted for Open Water Divers. As for the navigation dive, you will have the chance to practice your navigational skills both on land and underwater.
The remaining three dives are entirely up to you. Consult with your knowledgeable PADI Instructor to discuss your interests and discover the array of Adventure Dives available for selection. These thrilling dives can cover a wide range of topics such as fish identification, night diving, peak performance buoyancy, digital underwater imaging, search and recovery, underwater naturalist, and many more.
Please note that the availability of specialty dives may vary depending on the location. We recommend reaching out to your instructor or local dive shop for confirmation on specific offerings.
In conclusion, the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course presents an incredible opportunity for divers to expand their horizons, refine their skills, and embrace new underwater adventures. With its diverse selection of Adventure Dives, this course truly caters to individual interests and provides a platform for continuous growth within the diving community. So why wait? Dive into the extraordinary world of advanced scuba diving today!