You may have heard your instructor or dive shop mention the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD) course. You may have even thought about enrolling in the course. But are you still wondering how the Advanced Open Water Diver course differs from the PADI Open Water Diver (OWD) course, and what new things you will learn and experience? If so, keep reading to find out the key differences between being an Open Water Diver and an Advanced Open Water Diver.
Open Water Diver: Learning to Dive
Let’s dive into the PADI Open Water Diver course by answering some of the most frequently asked questions below.
What Happens During the Course?
You will learn the fundamental skills needed for scuba diving. During the course, you read the student manual or complete the eLearning course, watch informative videos, take quizzes, and demonstrate mastery of basic scuba diving skills during practice sessions in confined water before moving on to open water dives.
Sections of the Open Water Diver Course
The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three sections:
- Knowledge Development
- Confined Water Dives
- Open Water Dives
You can complete your knowledge development either online with PADI eLearning (desktop, mobile, or tablet) or with a physical manual followed by classroom sessions. PADI eLearning is a great way to study at home at your own pace. It also means less time in the classroom. Once you’ve completed the knowledge development, you can move onto your confined and open water dives under the direct supervision and guidance of a PADI Instructor.
Why Take the Open Water Diver Course?
The underwater world undeniably holds some of life’s most incredible experiences. We’ve listed 10 reasons to become a scuba diver, but essentially the Open Water Diver course teaches you to become a fully certified diver. After completing the course, you will be able to dive to 18 meters (60 feet) and hold a certification that’s recognized worldwide. You will be able to dive with another certified diver, and you won’t need to be accompanied by a professional.
The PADI Open Water Diver certification is a life-long certification, so you won’t ever need to take the course again. However, if you have a period of inactivity, it’s recommended that you take a scuba refresher program like PADI ReActivate.
What Can You Do With the PADI Open Water Diver Certification?
With a PADI Open Water Diver certification, divers can dive to 18 meters (60 feet) in bodies of water across the globe! The course ensures that divers are equipped with the skills to safely explore thriving reefs and sunken shipwrecks, while hopefully gaining incredible encounters for a logbook! You can go on diving trips, join groups, and even consider starting your underwater photography portfolio.
Within the Open Water Diver certification depth limits, divers can still experience “wow” moments, including everything from sightings of reef sharks at Stuart’s Cove dive site in the Bahamas to exploring the USAT Liberty wreck in Bali, which starts at just 5 meters (16 feet).
Once getting Open Water Diver certified, divers can rent dive equipment from dive shops across the world. And, you might even consider joining your first liveaboard (check if they permit Open Water Diver level certifications).
Advanced Open Water Diver: Gaining Dive Experience
Let’s explore some of the special diving interests you can select while honing your diving skills.
What Happens During the Course?
During the Advanced Open Water Diver course, you will complete five different Adventure Dives. An Adventure Dive concentrates on a particular activity or skill within the realm of scuba. Adventure Dives also represent the first dive of one of the PADI Specialty courses.
While you’re doing your Advanced Open Water Adventure Dives, you’ll be accompanied by a PADI Instructor. They are there to answer questions and help you fine-tune your technique and learn new skills.
The dives in the Advanced Open Water Diver course are very different from those in the Open Water Diver course. The Adventure Dives are similar to a regular dive, except you focus on a particular diving specialty. For example, the Deep Adventure Dive, which is one of the required Adventure Dives, involves diving deeper than the Open Water Diver depth limits. You will dive to a depth between 18 and 30 meters (60 and 100 feet) during the Deep Adventure Dive. During the Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive, which is the other required Adventure Dive, you practice navigation and compass skills on land first and then underwater while diving.
Sections of the Advanced Open Water Diver Course
During the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, students have very little classroom time and no written exams. However, there is an eLearning course to take or a manual to read (just like in the Open Water Diver course). But, instead of focusing on classroom work, this course is all about honing your practical scuba skills.
Of the five training dives you complete, the Deep Adventure Dive and Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive are both mandatory. But, for the other three dives, you get to choose what interests you the most, and there are 25 PADI Adventure Dives to choose from.
Why Take the Advanced Open Water Diver Course?
The main reason behind taking the Advanced Open Water Diver course is to develop your skills and confidence and gain more experience diving while under the supervision of an Instructor. This is an opportunity to try a sampling of different specialties to see what interests you the most, and there’s something for everyone – from conservationists to kids. The following are some of the most popular Adventure Dives.
- Digital Underwater Photography: Learn how to capture and edit amazing photos and videos of your favorite bucket-list subjects.
- Night: Open up different experiences after dark, such as night diving with mantas or seeing coral reefs in a whole new light.
- Wreck: Connect with history while diving wartime shipwrecks and planes, and experience the flora and fauna of artificial reefs.
- Drift: Get comfortable diving in currents and open up a plethora of new dive sites to explore.
- Enriched Air Nitrox: If you are interested in diving science and theory, or if you want to increase your bottom time, then Enriched Air (Nitrox) should be added to your list.
- Peak Performance Buoyancy: If you find that you are still going up and down more than you would like, this is a great dive to hone your buoyancy and correct your weighting.
- Search & Recovery: Learn underwater search patterns and how to rig a lift bag and safely bring an object to the surface.
- Fish Identification: Learning more about marine life makes your dives so much more fun!
Need more ideas for Advanced Open Water specialties? Read our tips on choosing your first PADI Specialty and take our quiz to find your perfect match.
What Can You Do With the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Certification?
With the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification card in your pocket, your dive horizons expand drastically! You’ll be able to dive to 30 meters (100 feet), allowing you to access exciting dive sites and structures, like caves, wrecks and canyons, that lie beyond the depth restrictions of the PADI Open Water Diver certification. Many dive locations have the most thrilling encounters in deeper waters, like hammerhead sharks in the Galápagos, the famous Canyon in Dahab, Egypt, or Manta Rays in the Boiler dive site at Socorro Island.
You will also be able to participate in more challenging and rewarding dive experiences. Many liveaboards only accept Advanced-certified divers and above, and there are many dive sites with complex dive plans, depths and structures more suited to Advanced-certified divers. If you’re looking for the next step, you can then work your way towards becoming a PADI Pro.
Open Water Diver vs. Advanced Open Water Diver
In summary, the Open Water Diver certification is an entry into the world of scuba; it teaches you the essential knowledge and practical skills to become a diver and start exploring the underwater world.
You don’t need to be an advanced diver or have advanced skills to take the Advanced Open Water Diver course. The idea is that you advance your skills during the course, under the guidance of your PADI Instructor. In fact, some divers take the Advanced Open Water Diver course immediately after completing their Open Water Diver course.
The Advanced Open Water Diver course is a great way to continue your scuba journey; you’ll discover new interests and develop your abilities to get even more out of your time beneath the surface. Once you have completed your Advanced Open Water Diver course, a multitude of new dive sites will be available to you!
Can Kids Take These PADI Courses?
PADI offers different dive education routes for younger ocean lovers. Kids over 10 years old, but under 15, can undertake the PADI Junior courses, including the PADI Junior Open Water Diver course and the PADI Junior Advanced Open Water Diver course! The courses include the same dive theory and dive safety training as the adult courses but are designed to engage younger children and teenagers.
Children aged eight to 10 years old can participate in the PADI Bubblemaker Program or PADI Seal Team Program if they can’t wait to get their toes wet!
Choose Your Scuba Adventure
Now that you know the difference between Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver, are you ready to start learning or advancing your diving skills? Purchase PADI eLearning today to start your PADI Open Water Diver or Advanced Open Water Diver course.
Alternatively, if you would like to take your course on your next scuba diving vacation, book a scuba diving trip with PADI Travel. A world of underwater adventures awaits you!
