Advanced Open Water

Advanced Open Water Course

Prices Terms and Conditions

You can further progress your SCUBA training by taking the Advanced Open Water course. This lifelong qualification, usually taught over 3 days, is designed to improve your technique and introduce you to new diving skills – building your experience, confidence, and capabilities.

The theory component of the course is taught digitally, with an extensive array of online materials allowing you to tailor your study. The practical component encompasses five blue water dives, the following two of which are compulsory:

  • A Deep Dive: This takes you and your PADI/SSI instructor far beyond the 18m ‘Open Water’ limit. You’ll learn how to plan for deep diving, ensuring it’s both safe and fun.
  • Underwater Navigation Dive: Building on the skills learned during your ‘Open Water’ course, this dive teaches you more complex navigational practice.

The other three dives are chosen by the student from a range of ‘adventure’ specialties. Amongst the most popular of these and the three we recommend are:

  • Peak Performance Buoyancy: Our strongest recommendation. This course improves your control over descents and ascents, your position in the water, and your breathing. It transforms your diving experience for life!
  • Night Adventure: Without doubt another of our absolute favorites and a chance for us to show you the intriguing and wonderful creatures that come out of hiding after dark.
  • Multilevel Adventure: The opportunity to learn more about dive planning and the use of dive computers.

You might also like to ask us about our Naturalist, Fish ID, Drift Dive, and other adventure specialties. At Galapagos Dive Academy, we can combine the advanced course with long trips to remote destinations, ask us for details about this combined option.

To take our Advanced Open Water course, you must:

  • Be a minimum of 12 years old.
  • Hold an Open Water Diver / Junior Open Water Diver (or equivalent) certification.

Please note: The exact depth to which a student will descend during the course depends upon age, but the maximum for an adult is 30 meters/100 feet.

Acquire an Advanced Certificate!

Our advanced course will improve your SCUBA technique and introduce you to new diving experiences.

The theory component is digital, and students should complete this online prior to the practical sessions at home or in their holiday accommodation. The practical component provides for five dives – all completed while you are with us.

Set out below is some information about how we generally stage the practical part of the Advanced course (note, some timings are variable according to whether you select our AM or PM schedule):

Arrival Day

Between 15.00 and 18.00 hrs. on the day of your arrival, we meet at our dive center, so that you can check in with us, sign the required medical statement and release form, try-on the dive gear you will use, and meet your PADI instructor.

Course Schedule

Day 1

  • 08.30 – 13.00 hrs: Adventure dive – perhaps Performance Buoyancy, Navigation Diving, or Night Diving
    • 08.30: Meet in the office, collect dive gear, and undertake initial briefing.
    • 09.00: Depart the dive center with dive gear for the boat.
    • 09.20: Take the boat from the main pier.
    • 09.30-45: Arrive at the dive site and undertake briefing.
    • 10.00-11.00: Training dive 1.
    • 11.00-11.30: Surface interval / snack.
    • 11.30-12.30: Training dive 2.
    • 12.00-13.00: Return to the dive center and log dives.
  • 17.40: Meet in the office, prepare the dive gear, and learn the procedures for night diving.
  • 18.00: Depart the dive center with dive gear for the boat.
  • 18.15: Undertake briefing and Training dive 3.
  • 20.30: Approx. return to the dive center and log dive.

Day 2

  • 08.30: Meet in the office, collect dive gear, and undertake initial briefing.
  • 09.00: Depart the dive center with dive gear for the boat.
  • 09.20: Take the boat from the main pier.
  • 09.30-45: Arrive at the dive site and undertake briefing.
  • 10.00-11.00: Training dive 4.
  • 11.00-11.30: Surface interval / snack.
  • 11.30-12.30: Training dive 5.
  • 12.00-13.00: Return to the dive center and log dives.

Included

  • Dive Gear: 5-7mm wetsuit, SCUBA regulator, BCD, mask, fins, booties, hood, weight belt, and tanks.
  • 2 flashlights during night dive.
  • 5 open water dives in the bay / Punta Estrada, Bajo, Barranco.
  • Digital PADI E-lite material / NO VIDEOS.
  • Digital certification.
  • Bilingual PADI Instructor.
  • Water and snacks.

Notes: A minimum of 2 students is required to confirm the course. A maximum of 5 students are taught simultaneously.

Prices Terms and Conditions