Whether you have a family of divers looking for their next great adventure, or you know a young person who’s passionate about underwater exploration, the Advanced Open Water Diver course:
- Unlocks some of the world’s best dive sites
- Allows you to see more of the underwater world with greater confidence
- Opens the door to fun memories and new adventures
During the PADI® Advanced Open Water course, you’ll explore new places with a PADI Instructor by your side. The course is all about advancing your skills, not making risky dives. There’s no exam; it’s all about honing your skills and trying new things.
The Advanced Open Water course includes five dives:
- 1 deep dive
- 1 navigation dive
- 3 specialty dives
Divers can choose whatever specialty devices interest them (underwater imaging, fish identification, night diving, etc). That said, some specialty dives have age restrictions. If you have kids younger than 15, please mention this to the PADI Dive Shop when you book the course.
If you want to explore a new diving locale, below are a few family-friendly destinations to consider from the experts at PADI Travel®. Want to simplify your travel planning? Check out the family dive trips available through Kids Sea Camp.
Grand Cayman
If you (or your child) are directionally challenged, no worries. The clear water in the Cayman Islands makes the Advanced Open Water navigation dive a lot easier. There are also plenty of specialty diving opportunities including:
- Boat diving
- Enriched air nitrox (12 and older)
- Fish ID
- Night diving (12 and older)
- Underwater imaging
- Underwater naturalist
- Wreck diving on the USS Kittiwake (12 and older)
Gozo, Malta
Families in Europe looking for a holiday destination that’s not too far away should consider Gozo. During summer and early autumn, the water is warm and visibility is reliably 30 metres/98 feet. There are also many family-friendly hotels. Specialty diving opportunities include (but are not limited to):
- Boat diving
- Dive Against Debris® (12 and older)
- Dry suit
- Enriched air (12 and older)
- Fish ID
- Night diving (12 and older)
- Wreck diving (12 and older)
Palau
National Geographic Traveler rated Palau the #1 scuba diving destination for families. It has diverse diving opportunities and plenty of activities for non-divers.
In Palau, you can dive historic WWII wrecks, look for mandarin fish at sunset and experience two of the most exhilarating dives in the Pacific: Blue Corner and German Channel. Expect to see reef sharks, manta rays and other bucket list creatures.
Drift diving and shark conservation are just two of the many specialty dives you can try in Palau. To help you narrow down the options, here are a few we recommend for kids:
- Boat diving
- Drift diving (12 and older)
- Enriched air (12 and older)
- Fish ID
- Shark conservation (12 and older)
- Underwater imaging
- Wreck diving (12 and older)
Fiji
There’s only one downside to taking your family to Fiji – you may never want to go anywhere else. The abundant marine life, warm water, friendly people and gorgeous underwater landscapes are (in a word) magical. Ask anyone who’s been there.
If your kids are interested in underwater imaging and/or fish identification, Fiji is a great place for both. Here is a short list of other specialty dives to consider:
- Boat diving
- Enriched air (12 and older)
- Fish ID
- Night diving (12 and older)
- Shark conservation (12 and older)
- Underwater imaging
- Underwater naturalist
Hawai’i
Twenty-five percent of the marine life in Hawai’i is found nowhere else on earth, making it a great place to go if your kids want to try fish identification and/or learn more about underwater ecosystems. Using underwater scooters is something the whole family will enjoy. Check out the video above.
- Boat diving
- Diver propulsion vehicle (12 and older)
- Fish ID
- Night diving (12 and older)
- Shark conservation (12 and older)
- Underwater imaging
- Underwater naturalist
For a truly memorable experience, visit Maui between December and February. Nearly every dive trip will be a whale watching trip and you may hear the Humpbacks singing underwater. The Big Island is a great destination year-round because of its legendary manta ray night dive.
Don’t forget to ask what extra-special specialty dives are available. Some dive shops may have full face masks you can try, an underwater obstacle course for practicing buoyancy, or a coral garden where you can help rebuild damaged reefs.
Junior Advanced Open Water – What You Need to Know
The minimum age to start the Advanced Open Water course is 12. Divers younger than 15 earn a Junior Advanced Open Water certification which automatically becomes a regular Advanced Open Water certification on their 15th birthday. Any replacement certification card or eCard purchased after the diver’s 15th birthday will automatically show an Advanced Open Water Diver (not Jr. Advanced Open Water Diver) certification.
After receiving a Jr. Advanced Open Water certification, divers 12 and older increase their maximum depth limit to 21 meters/70 feet. Divers (of all ages) should always dive within the limits of their experience and never dive deeper than they feel comfortable.
Here’s a short breakdown of the certifications kids can earn at different ages:
- Divers 15 and older can become Advanced Open Water Divers.
- Divers 12-14 earn a Junior Advanced Open Water certification.
- Kids 10-11 can complete three specialty dives and the navigation dive, then credit all four towards an Advanced Open Water certification when they’re old enough.
Memories Last Longer Than Things
As our friends at Kids Sea Camp say, “give them a week they’ll remember forever.” Sharing new adventures is better than anything you can buy in a store. The memories last longer, and learning new skills improves self-confidence.
Your family’s next great adventure is just a click or call away. Contact a PADI Dive Center to get started.
Further Reading
A Family With Three Generations of Divers
Best Family Dive Resorts
5 Specialty Courses Kids Love
Dive Destinations With Kid-Friendly Liveaboards
