Advanced Open Water

Overview

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. Dive operators know that PADI Advanced Open Water divers have learned the skills and have experience necessary for advanced level dive conditions such as currents or deep, blue water, environments.

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. We offer the following Adventure Dives: Boat, Underwater Naturalist, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Night, Underwater Photographer, , Wreck, AWARE Fish Identification.

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 do not have enough time to complete the full AOW course, the Adventure Diver rating is awarded after completion after any 3 Adventure Dives.

Prerequisites

Certification as a PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent rating (entry-level scuba certification with a minimum of four open water training dives). Students must be 12 years of age or older.

Note: Divers who are 12-14 years old may obtain PADI Junior Adventure Diver or Junior Advanced Open Water Diver certifications. Junior Diver certification cards carry the requirement that the individual must dive with a certified adult.

Why Should You Take the AOW 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 40 meters/130 feet.

Other Adventure Dives are for you to explore other aspects of diving, such as concentrating on underwater life, plants, fish, corals during the Underwater Naturalist dive. The Boat Dive will assist you to understand the different types of dive boats, and important differences between dive boats in Japan and dive boats/liveaboard vessels in other countries. Peak Performance Buoyancy will help you on the path to mastery of the hardest skill in diving.