PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
Build Your Confidence. Expand Your Diving.
Despite the name, you don’t need to be an “advanced diver” before enrolling on this course.
There are no pool sessions and no final exam. It is five dives with an instructor, including Deep and Underwater Navigation, and you learn by doing them.
We run it at Vobster Quay, usually across a weekend with early starts — the water is at its best first thing. £395.
Most people come to it a few dives after Open Water, when they have realised the certification card was the beginning rather than the end.
What It Actually Changes
The best way to get better at diving is to keep diving, ideally with somebody watching who can tell you what you are doing wrong.
Deep takes you past the 18 metres your Open Water card allows, with an instructor there the first time. Navigation is the one people underestimate and then use on every dive afterwards. The other three are yours to choose — wreck, night, buoyancy, dry suit, whatever you are curious about.
It is also the prerequisite for Rescue Diver, which is the course most divers say changed how they dive.
Is This Course Right For Me?
This course is perfect if you:
- Have recently qualified as a PADI Open Water Diver
- Want to continue developing your skills
- Would like to dive deeper
- Want to improve your underwater navigation
- Enjoy learning through practical experience
- Plan to dive regularly in the UK or overseas
You don’t need to have extensive diving experience before joining the course.
What You Will Learn
During the course you’ll complete five Adventure Dives. Two dives are compulsory: Deep Adventure Dive and Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive.
The remaining dives are selected according to availability, conditions and the training schedule. Depending on the course, these may include:
- Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Wreck
- Night
- Search and Recovery
- Boat
- Dry Suit (where appropriate)
- Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB) skills
- Other eligible Adventure Dives
Each dive introduces new techniques while continuing to improve your overall confidence underwater.
Course Structure
Learn By Diving
Unlike your Open Water course, Advanced Open Water contains very little classroom learning. Instead, you’ll develop your knowledge through practical experience, instructor briefings and post-dive discussions.
The Deep Adventure Dive
One of the most exciting parts of the course is learning about deeper diving — how pressure affects divers, gas management, planning deeper dives, safety considerations and responsible diving within recreational limits.
Underwater Navigation
Good navigation makes every dive more enjoyable. You’ll learn to navigate using a compass, estimate distance underwater, navigate using natural references, and return accurately to your exit point.
Course Requirements
To enrol you must:
- Hold a PADI Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another recognised training organisation).
- Be medically fit to dive.
- Complete the required participant paperwork.
Minimum ages: Junior Advanced Open Water Diver — 12; Advanced Open Water Diver — 15. Where Junior and standard-certification students are on the same course, we plan each dive so every student reaches their own PADI-permitted maximum depth. If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, please contact us before booking.
What Is Included?
- Five instructor-led Adventure Dives, including Deep and Underwater Navigation
- Required briefings
- Air fills during training
- PADI certification upon successful completion
Equipment
All equipment is provided for the two mandatory Adventure Dives — Deep and Underwater Navigation. For elective Adventure Dives, equipment varies by dive type; confirm what is included when booking if you are selecting dives that may require specialist kit (such as dry suit, DSMB or wreck/night gear).
Duration
Typically a weekend — two full days, 7:30am to 4:00pm each day. Adventure Dives may occasionally span more than two days depending on scheduling and conditions. See the booking page for specific dates.
Open Water Sessions
Private Training
We can offer 1:1 teaching and private pool sessions by enquiry for many of our PADI courses.
This is ideal if you would prefer a quieter learning environment, want extra support, or need training arranged around your availability.
Private training is subject to instructor and pool availability, so please get in touch and we’ll be happy to talk through the best option for you.
Contact UsWhat If I’m Nervous About Deeper Diving?
Your instructor will guide you throughout the Deep Adventure Dive while helping you become comfortable at greater depths, at a pace that respects your experience so far.
Training in open water at Vobster Quay means you’re developing genuine UK diving skills alongside the course content. Visibility can vary considerably; we treat reduced visibility as a normal part of UK diving rather than something to be avoided. You’ll practise staying close to your buddy, maintaining awareness and remaining calm in conditions that differ from a pool. If dry suit diving is new to you, the elective Dry Suit Adventure Dive is the right place to begin — it’s one of the most useful specialties for divers planning to continue in UK waters.
Why Train With Wiltshire Scuba?
Advanced Open Water is often where divers begin to discover the type of diving they enjoy most. Our instructors will help you develop your skills while introducing you to new underwater experiences in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Training with Wiltshire Scuba means:
- Maximum 4 students per instructor — confirmed across all courses
- Taught by Mark Taylor (PADI Course Director, teaching since 2009) and Emma Taylor (PADI IDC Staff Instructor)
- High-quality equipment
- Flexible scheduling where possible
- Personalised instruction
- A clear pathway towards Rescue Diver and professional-level training
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an advanced diver first?
No. The course is designed for newly qualified Open Water Divers who want to continue gaining experience.
Do I have to complete all five dives in one weekend?
Not necessarily. Training schedules vary and are shown in the booking page.
Will I become qualified to dive deeper?
The course includes the Deep Adventure Dive, introducing you to deeper recreational diving within the limits defined by current PADI standards.
Can I choose my Adventure Dives?
Some Adventure Dives are compulsory while others depend on course scheduling, instructor planning and site conditions.
Does this count towards Specialty Diver courses?
Yes. Many Adventure Dives can count towards the corresponding PADI Specialty course, allowing you to continue developing your skills later.
What should I do after Advanced Open Water?
Most divers continue with Rescue Diver, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Dry Suit Diver, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver or Peak Performance Buoyancy. These courses help you become an even more confident and capable diver.
Related Courses
- PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) — contact us for details
- PADI Dry Suit Diver — contact us for details
- PADI Deep Diver — contact us for details
- PADI Underwater Navigator — contact us for details
- PADI Rescue Diver
Where Could Your Diving Journey Take You?
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Build Confidence and Gain Experience — you are here
Build confidence and gain experience through practical diving.
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Choose Your Specialties
Choose specialty courses that match the type of diving you enjoy.
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Continue Developing
Complete Emergency First Response and Rescue Diver to become a more aware and capable diver.
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Build Experience
Dive regularly, gain confidence and expand your skills.
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Become A Professional
Progress towards Divemaster and eventually instructor-level training with Wiltshire Scuba.
Ready To Take Your Diving Further?
The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is the perfect way to build confidence, gain valuable experience and discover new underwater adventures. Book your course today or contact our team if you’d like help deciding whether Advanced Open Water is the right next step.
Diving more is the point of every course on this page, and the Wiltshire Scuba Dive Club is what makes that cheaper and easier — 10 free air fills a year, 10% off cylinder testing and servicing, free Club pool sessions and guided Club dives. Have a look at the Club.