PADI ADVANCED OPEN WATER DIVER COURSE
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course Details
The PADI® Advanced Open Water Diver course is designed to help certified divers improve their skills, gain confidence, and experience new types of scuba diving. It is the next major step after the Open Water Diver certification and is ideal for divers who want to explore deeper dives, improve underwater navigation, and expand their comfort in different dive environments.
During the course, you complete five open water dives with a PADI Instructor. Two dives are required: a deep dive and an underwater navigation dive. The remaining three dives are chosen from available specialty options based on your interests, the local environment, and the dive center’s course structure.
Specialty dive options may include Deep, Digital Underwater Photography, Dive Against Debris, Dry Suit, Enriched Air Nitrox, Fish Identification, Night, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Search & Recovery, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Navigation, and Wreck Diver. Each completed adventure dive may also count toward the related PADI specialty certification.
What You'll Learn
- How to explore below 18m / 60ft with proper planning and supervision
- How to improve buoyancy control and underwater positioning
- How to use a compass for underwater navigation
- How to gain experience across different types of specialty diving
- How to build confidence as a certified scuba diver
- How to expand your dive skills beyond the Open Water Diver level
Certification Requirements
Prerequisites:
PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open Water Diver, or a qualifying certification from another recognized training agency.
Time:
PADI eLearning: 6–8 hours
Entire course: commonly completed in 2–3 days, depending on schedule, dive center structure, and local conditions.
Age:
15 years or older for Advanced Open Water Diver.
12–14 years old for Junior Advanced Open Water Diver.
Health:
Good physical health is required. Divers may need to complete a scuba medical questionnaire before training.
Depth:
Maximum depth depends on age and certification level. Adult Advanced Open Water Divers may dive up to 30m / 100ft within training limits and local standards.
How to Earn Your Advanced Open Water Diver Certification
To become a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, you learn about underwater navigation, deep diving, and three additional specialty diving areas that match your interests. After reviewing the required knowledge, you complete skill practice and five open water dives with a PADI Instructor.
Unlike many entry-level courses, the Advanced Open Water Diver course is focused on gaining experience rather than passing a final exam. The goal is to help you become more comfortable, capable, and confident in different diving situations.
Step 1: PADI eLearning
PADI eLearning allows you to complete the knowledge-development portion of the Advanced Open Water Diver course before your dives. You study deep diving, underwater navigation, and three chosen specialty topics at your own pace.
Available eLearning topics may include altitude diving, boat diving, digital underwater imaging, drift diving, dry suit diving, fish identification, night diving, peak performance buoyancy, search and recovery, underwater naturalist, underwater navigation, and wreck diving.
eLearning time commitment: 6–8 hours
Step 2: Training With Your Instructor
With your instructor, you complete five open water dives: one deep dive, one underwater navigation dive, and three selected specialty dives. These dives help you gain real experience, build confidence, and better understand your own diving abilities.
Additional cost note: Your dive shop may charge separate fees for in-water training, gear rental, boat dives, marine park fees, course materials, or certification processing. Always confirm what is included before booking.
Total time commitment: Commonly completed in 2–3 days, depending on the dive center, student pace, and dive schedule.
Advanced Open Water Diver FAQs
What is PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification?
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver is the next certification step after Open Water Diver. It helps certified divers improve their skills, gain more experience, and complete five adventure dives, including deep diving and underwater navigation.
What are the medical requirements?
Divers should be in good physical health and may need to complete a scuba medical questionnaire before training. If the questionnaire identifies a possible medical concern, a doctor’s approval may be required before participating.
What are the prerequisites and minimum age?
You must be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open Water Diver, or hold a qualifying certification from another recognized training agency. The minimum age is 15 for Advanced Open Water Diver and 12–14 for Junior Advanced Open Water Diver.
How long does the Advanced Open Water Diver course take?
The PADI eLearning portion usually takes 6–8 hours. The full course is commonly completed in 2–3 days, depending on the dive center schedule, chosen specialty dives, local conditions, and student progress.
How many dives are needed for Advanced Open Water?
The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course includes five open water dives. Two are required: deep diving and underwater navigation. The other three are chosen from available specialty dive options.
Is PADI Advanced Open Water difficult?
The course is usually not considered difficult for certified divers who are comfortable in the water. It is designed to build experience and confidence rather than test you with a final exam. Your instructor guides you through each dive step by step.
What are the mandatory dives for Advanced Open Water Diver?
The two mandatory dives are the deep dive and the underwater navigation dive. These dives help you understand deeper dive planning, depth awareness, compass use, natural navigation, and better underwater control.
How deep can a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver go?
Adult PADI Advanced Open Water Divers may dive up to 30m / 100ft within training limits and safe diving practices. Junior divers have age-based depth restrictions.
How do you become a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver?
To become a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, you complete the knowledge-development portion, then make five open water dives with a PADI Instructor. These include a deep dive, a navigation dive, and three additional specialty dives.
Do you need Advanced Open Water to night dive?
Advanced Open Water certification is not always required to try night diving, but training is strongly recommended. Many divers complete a night adventure dive during the Advanced Open Water course or take a separate Night Diver specialty course.
Source: Course information adapted from the official PADI® website. Visit the official PADI website.