The Advanced Open Water Diver Course (AOW) is the next step in learning advanced skills directly applicable to scuba diving. Frequently, an AOW card is just the ticket to diving at a variety of more sites. For example, we have heard that several places in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Australia who would not let you dive at certain, more advanced sites, unless you had the AOW or above certification. The reason is that the operators don't want to risk putting OW divers into certain advanced level dive conditions such as currents or deep, blue water, environments. They know that PADI AOW certified divers have the skills and experience necessary for such sites.

There are a total of 5 dives necessary to complete the course. The required 2 Core dives are Deep and Underwater Navigation. You can choose the remaining 3 Adventure Dives. This course is for newly certified divers as well as divers with more experience who wish to expand their knowledge and practical skills. Also, if you don't have enough time to complete the full AOW course, the Adventure Diver rating is awarded after completion after any 3 Adventure Dives.

Core Dives required for Advanced Open Water
Underwater Navigation
Deep

Adventure Dives
Wreck
Underwater Naturalist
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Night Diver
Underwater Photographer
Search and Recovery Diver

Scheduling

For those who want to complete the course over a weekend, we suggest the following sequence of Adventure Dives: Dive 1: Underwater Navigation or Underwater Naturalist, Dive 2: Underwater Photography or Peak Performance Buoyancy, Dive 3: Night (3 dives the first day), then Deep and Photography (2 dives the second day).
Most people do the course in a weekend, but you can proceed at your own pace. For example, if you are doing a 2 tank fun dive trip, you can do an Adventure Dive on the 1st or 2nd dive and just do a fun dive on the other. You can finish the course within a year of starting the course.

Why should you take the Advanced Open Water Course?

Open Water Divers have learned the basics, the "how" of diving. After a few dives, there is a need to expand that dive knowledge and learn practical skills which can increase your enjoyment of diving. Ever surface far away from the boat and have a long surface swim back? With the Navigation dive, you will learn how to prevent that situation, using compass as well as natural navigational aids to assist in your underwater journey. For deep diving, there are special concerns, and as an Open Water Diver, you are certified to dive 18 meters/60 feet. After completing the AOW course, that level is extended to 30 meters/100 feet.

Other Adventure Dives are for you to explore other aspects of diving, such as concentrating on underwater life, plants, fish, invertebrates during the Underwater Naturalist dive. The Peak Performance Buoyancy Dive we will show and aid you in diving with less weight. Where else can you lose 8 pounds in one afternoon. Peak Performance Buoyancy will help you on the path to mastery of the hardest skill in diving.

Underwater Photography will teach you the skills to learn how to capture those dive memories on film or video. We have digital cameras so that you can gain instant feedback and see your underwater photos. Want to make your own diving web page? This is the way to do it!

Not Sure? Try Adventure Dives

If you aren't sure if you want to get the complete AOW certification, there is a great way to get more guided experience in what you are interested in. For example, we start with your choice of Adventure Dive. When you complete 3 Adventure Dives, you earn the Adventure Diver certification, and once you complete the 2 core dives and 3 Adventure Dives, you earn the AOW certification.

	Price	$395
	Dives	5
	Materials	PADI Adventures in Diving Diver Pak - Order Now
	Prerequisites	Open Water Diver

Objectives

• Dive One Navigation Dive
  Focus: Finding your way around underwater
  
• Dive Two Deep Dive
  Focus: Learning how to plan and conduct deep dives
  
• Dive Three Night Dive
  Focus: Advanced Night Diving Procedures
  
• Dive Four Underwater Naturalist Dive
  Focus: Introduction to learning about underwater life
  
• Dive Five Peak Performance Dive
  Focus: Rapid weight loss for more enjoyable diving

Equipment Requirments

• Primary Dive Light
  
• Back Up Dive Light
  
• Chemical Light Stick or Tank Light
  
• Slate
  
• Dive Knife

To find out our next course date please call us at 800-34-SCUBA
or email lessons@scuba.com

The above course description is general in term. There will be variations on the course depending on certification agency.