advanced open water diver
Exploration, Excitement, Experiences. That’s what the Advanced Open Water Diver course is all about. You don’t have to be “advanced” to take it – it’s designed to advance your diving, so you can start right after earning your Open Water Diver certification. The course helps build confidence and expand your scuba skills through different Adventure Dives. You try out different specialties while gaining experience under the supervision of your Instructor. You log dives and develop capabilities as you find new ways to have fun scuba diving.
What will I learn?You’ll plan your learning path with your instructor by choosing from a long list of Adventure Dives. There are two required dives – Deep and Underwater Navigation – and you choose the other three, for a total of five dives. During the Deep Adventure Dive, you learn how to plan dives to deal with the physiological effects and challenges of deeper scuba diving. The Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive refines your compass navigation skills and helps you better navigate using kick-cycles, visual landmarks and time. The other knowledge and skills you get vary with your interest and the adventures you have – photography, buoyancy control, fish identification, exploring wrecks and many more.

What qualifications do I need?
  • Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another organization)
  • Minimum age: 12 years old
Young divers may only participate in certain Adventures Dives – check with your Divers Den Instructor. If you’re already an Adventure Diver, you only need to complete two more Adventure Dives to earn the Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

How long will it take?
One Classroom Session followed by Five Scuba Dives typically over a weekend / two day period. You can check the course schedule here

What materials/equipment do I need?
  • Advanced Open Water Diver Crew-Pack
  • Deluxe Data Carrier
  • Log Book

Beyond your basic diving equipment, there is ADDITIONAL REQUIRED EQUIPMENT students need:
  • Compass
  • Dive Slate
  • Deployable Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB)
  • Timing Device
  • RDP
  • Depth Gauge (a Dive Computer would replace Timing Device, RDP and Depth Gauge)
  • Dive Knife/Tool
You’ll also use specialized gear depending on the Adventure Dives you choose. For example, you would use a dry suit for the Dry Suit Adventure Dive. The staff at Divers Den will explain the equipment that you need and may suggest additional gear, such as dive light for night diving or lift bag for search and recovery diving.

Course Includes
  • Advanced Open Water Certification Card
  • Student Digital Photo
  • Classroom Sessions
  • Five Adventure Training Dives

Not Included
  • Advanced Open Water Diver Pack, DVD
  • Diving Equipment
  • Specialized Equipment for chosen Adventure Dive
  • Cost of Entry to Dive Site
  • Travel, Food and/or Lodging

Where can I go from here?
Get credit! Each Adventure Dive may credit toward the first dive of the corresponding Specialty Diver Course. If you’ve already taken a specialty diver course, ask your instructor if you’ve earned credit for an Adventure Dive.

Want It · Live It · Dive It!