Advanced Open Water Certification

Build Confidence and Grow Your Diving Skills

With the Advanced Open Water/Advanced Adventurer Course

2 Days, 5 Dives

Why would I want to take this course?

When you took your Open Water Diver course, you learned enough to plan and execute your own dives to a maximum depth of 60 feet/18 meters. However, we always recommend that you dive with a dive professional. Why is that?

The short answer is that you know just enough to be dangerous! You’re taught skills based on World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) standards, so if you diligently execute the plan that you were taught to make in your open water course, remember every detail that you learned and there are no other factors influencing the dive, then you will be fine.

Some places for liability reasons (mostly in the United States) will not put a divemaster or instructor in the water with you. They will just give you the dive briefing and then off you go…are you ready for that?

Maybe, but what happens if the conditions are different from those you encountered on your course? All kinds of things could change from the weather, temperature, currents, entry and exit techniques, different hazards, etc.

  • Would you dive a wreck (or other objective) that is beyond 60 feet/18 meters?
  • What if its a drift dive—do you have the experience and equipment to execute it?
  • Do you really know how to use your computer?
  • If it’s a stationary dive, are you able to navigate your way back to the boat or shore, perhaps in poor visibility?
  • Do you remember your buddy check and descent/ascent protocols?
  • Buddy separation protocol?
  • Emergency recall procedure?
  • Location and numbers of local emergency services and re-compression chamber should anything go awry?

The questions just keep coming. That is why we recommend diving with a Pro. They are thinking and planning all of these things, and a lot more, for you.

The Open Water certification gives you the absolute basics that you need to dive, but its like finishing first grade. There is a LOT more to learn, and the next step is the Advanced Open Water Diver Course (PADI) or Advanced Adventurer (SSI). This is not an Advanced course. This is simply a stepping stone that will take you through second grade!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have advanced skills to take this course?

Absolutely not. This course is designed to help you advance your diving skills by exposing you to a variety of scuba diving through Adventure dives. By further exploring the world of diving, you’ll build your confidence as you grow your competencies and skills as a diver.

Why does Pro Dive Roatan require a Peak Performance Buoyancy dive as part of the Advanced course?

The World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) requires the Deep dive and a Navigation Dive as part of the Advanced course. Pro Dive Roatan also requires a Peak Performance Buoyancy (PPB) dive because mastering buoyancy is the key to diving and is a skill that you will continue to develop for the rest of your diving life.

You’ll learn buoyancy in an exponential curve—you can improve quickly at the start but you can never achieve perfection. Plus, playing games on a sand patch for an hour is a lot of fun!

Differences between PADI’s  Advanced Diver and SSI’s Advanced Adventurer

PADI Advanced Diver = SSI’s Advanced Adventurer. Both require 5 Adventure dives.

SSI’s Advanced Diver is not a course, but a recognition. When you have logged 24 dives or more and completed 4 specialties, you will automatically be awarded your Advanced Diver Digital Card.

PADI’s Advanced Adventurer level is achieved after 3 Adventure dives.

What if I’m not able to complete all 5 dives?

Anyone who completes 3 Adventure dives may receive the Advanced Adventurer certification through PADI. This is perfect for adults who are unable to do more than 3 dives during their trip.

Course Information

Prerequisites & Requirements
  • Must be at least 12 years old
  • Adults (15+) must have their Open Water Diver Certification or be certified to dive to a maximum depth of 60 feet/18 meeters
  • Youth ages 12-14 must have their Junior Open Water Certification or be certified to dive a maximum depth of 40 feet/12 meters
  • Reading material is offered but not required prior to the Adventure dives
  • Course duration is 2 days
Course Overview

The Advanced course consists of 5 dives which can be completed over 2 days (or longer) since we are only allowed to do 3 teaching dives in one day.

For each dive there is a short chapter to read, and a short knowledge review to complete, but no exam. The reading and knowledge reviews can be completed at any time before certification but you will get more out of the course if they are completed before you execute the dives.

There will be a detailed briefing before each dive on the objectives, considerations, skills and any other pertinent information like specialized equipment etc.

After completing this course, you’ll be certified to dive recreationally to a maximum of 100 feet/30 meters (or 70 feet/21 meters for 12-14 year olds).

3 required dives:

  • Deep
  • Navigation
  • Peak Performance Buoyancy (PPB) *Required at Pro Dive Roatan

You can then select 2 more dives from the list below (in order of popularity):

  • Boat
  • Drift
  • Fish ID
  • Wreck
  • Delayed Surface Marker Buoy
  • Night
  • Digital Underwater Photography
  • Underwater Naturalist
  • Search and Recovery

There are others, but they are not available at this location (Altitude, Dry Suit, Ice etc.)

Investment

This course starts at $252.10 before taxes. View pricing details here.

Interested?

Let us know about your trip or ask a question to learn more!

Other Advanced Courses to Check Out

Emergency First Responder (EFR)
Rescue Diver