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Advanced Open Water Certification

Hooked on diving and ready to advance your knowledge?

The Advanced Open Water course is learning made fun!

Well then you’re looking in the right place! Cozumel is an excellent location to take advantage on continuing your education while also enjoying the classroom experience to a maximum. In the Advanced Open Water SCUBA certification course you’ll have reading and knowledge reviews to complete plus, of course, the instructional dives for a total of five (5) specialties. The Underwater Navigation and Deep Diver sections are required dives for this course, which yields you the choice of three (3) additional dives from PADI’s Specialty Diver courses. We strongly suggests the Peak Performance Buoyancy dive as a third dive, and for Cozumel the Drift Diver section is excellent. As your fifth and final section Boat Diver is always a good option for divers new to the marine environment, but many guests enjoy the Underwater Photography course as well (may incur additional course fees) or perhaps the Night Dive. Some specialties are not available on Cozumel, for example Ice Diver or Altitude Diver, obviously. The class can be completed in 2-3 days.

Typical Advanced Open Water SCUBA Certification Course Schedule

  • Morning 1 ~ 9am – 1pm in the classroom
  • Lunch ~ 1pm – 2:15pm
  • Afternoon 1 – 2:30pm – 7pm Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Navigation
  • Morning 2 ~ 9am – 1pm in the classroom OR Deep Dive, Drift Dive
  • Lunch ~ 1pm – 2:15pm
  • Afternoon 2 ~ 2:30pm – 7pm Deep Dive, Drift Dive OR in the classroom
  • Evening ~ 8:30pm Night Dive

Take a look at the various specialties and the details of each dive which are available for the Advanced Open SCUBA certification:

Advanced Open Water

SCUBA Certification
$350
Book Now!

The Peak Performance Buoyancy Dive is perhaps the most important class to refining your skills underwater. In the class we focus on proper weighting in conjunction with proper trim, minimizing our weights as much as possible, and especially stress proper breathing techniques. We try to do this dive first in the course such that we continue to refine these skills during the next four (4) dives. You can expect this dive to cover the following aspects:

 

Hover effortlessly like this guy after spending a dive with one of our instructors.

Skills Overview

  • Knowledge Review
  • Briefing
  • Assembly of weight system
  • Visualization practice
  • Gearing Up
  • Pre-dive Safety Check
  • Entry
  • Pre-dive buoyancy check
  • Neutral buoyancy during slow descent
  • Hovering practice
  • Fine-tune with breath control
  • Maneuver close to bottom – no touching
  • Buoyancy game
  • Ascent – safety stop
  • Post-dive buoyancy check
  • Exit
  • Debrief
  • Log Dive – Complete Adventure Dive Training Record

One of the two mandatory Adventure Dives you must complete during the Advanced Open Water course. The focus for the class is proper underwater navigation. When you visit a tourist destination like Cozumel you will most often have an experienced Divemaster which will monitor all navigational aspects for you. However, it is our goal to have you leave this course better prepared for diving without professional guides. Will will refresh your past compass skills then add to them, work on several means for situational awareness, and hopefully have you successfully lead our dive group to our pre-dive agreed upon exit location using your newly acquired skills.

The sun is just one reference you’ll learn to use in Underwater Navigation.

Skills Overview

  • Knowledge Review
  • Compass Use on Land
  • Briefing
  • Suiting Up
  • Pre-dive Safety Check (BWRAF)
  • Entry
  • Descent
  • Distance/Time-Estimation Swim
  • Navigate a Straight Line Underwater Using Natural Navigation Techniques
  • Navigate a Straight Line and its Reciprocal Underwater Using a Compass
  • Navigate a Square Pattern Underwater Using a Compass
  • Ascent – Safety Stop
  • Exit
  • Debrief
  • Log Dive – Complete Adventure Dive

The second of the two mandatory Adventure Dives for Advanced Open Water completion. On this dive we will descend to depths of 30 meters / 100 feet and partake in several skills and games / puzzles which combined will give you an appreciation for the narcotic effects of narcosis.

The search begins in the deep.

Skills Overview

  • Knowledge Review
  • Briefing
  • Timed Task on Surface
  • Assembling and Positioning Emergency Equipment
  • Suiting Up
  • Pre-dive Safety Check (BWRAF)
  • Entry
  • Descent
  • Timed Task on Bottom
  • Depth Gauge Comparisons at Depth
  • Guided Tour (time/air pressure permitting)
  • Ascent and Safety Stop
  • Debrief
  • Log Dive – Complete Adventure Dive

A great Adventure Dive for Cozumel when you consider every dive we do here is a Drift Dive. The dive begins with a new entry technique, finishes with deployment of a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB), and during the dive we learn a few techniques for being properly prepared for currents, and how to handle them in emergency procedures.

You won’t be seated like this in Cozumel drift dives.

Skills Overview

  • Knowledge Review
  • Briefing
  • Gearing Up
  • Pre-dive Safety Check
  • Entry
  • Group Descent
  • Drift Dive for Fun and Pleasure
  • Ascent – Safety Stop
  • Exit
  • Debrief
  • Log Dive – Complete Adventure Dive

The Night Dive is one that as a beginner diver either intrigues you, or terrifies you. If you are brave enough we’ll take you into the deep, dark, and spooky realm of night diving. The class begins with proper preparation procedures for nights dives, new techniques and hand signals used at night, and an overall mental awareness which must be present on all night dives.

Descend into the unknown in the Night Adventure Dive.

Skills Overview

  • Knowledge Review
  • Briefing
  • Suiting Up
  • Pre-dive Safety Check (BWRAF)
  • Entry
  • Descent
  • Acclimatization on the Bottom
  • Navigation Exercise
  • Guided Tour (time/air pressure permitting)
  • Ascent – Safety Stop
  • Exit
  • Debrief
  • Log Dive – Complete Adventure Dive

The PADI Boat Diver class is entirely theory and practical application once on the boat. Learn the terminology that’ll make you speak like a pirate, and learn the safety protocols of boat diving. Once submerged, its all fun dive baby!

Skills Overview

  • Knowledge Review
  • Briefing
  • Suiting Up
  • Pre-dive Safety Check (BWRAF)
  • Boat Diving Entry
  • Descent
  • Dive for Fun and Pleasure
  • Ascent – Safety Stop
  • Boat Diving Exit
  • Stow Equipment
  • Debrief
  • Log Dive – Complete Adventure Dive

Learn what it takes to penetrate the great shipwrecks of the world.

 

For the Wreck Dive Adventure Dive we’ll study the safety protocols of wreck diving, penetration diving, and overhead environments. There are several wrecks on Cozumel we can dive for this class, but most common is the C53 Felipe Xicotencatl. Please note we will not actually penetrate the wreck. If you wish to learn wreck penetration I encourage you to sign up for our Wreck Diver Specialty class. 

Skills Overview

  • Knowledge Review
  • Briefing
  • Suiting Up
  • Pre-dive Safety Check (BWRAF)
  • Entry
  • Descent
  • Navigating the Wreck
  • Returning to Ascent Point
  • Ascent – Safety Stop
  • Exit
  • Debrief
  • Log Dive – Complete Adventure Dive Training Record

Great underwater photos do not happen by mistake.

Want to learn how to take great photos underwater? It starts with perfecting your buoyancy in our Peak Performance Buoyancy class, then transfer to the Underwater Photography class. Buoyancy is the single most important skill of good photography, but you’ll also learn how to achieve proper lighting and depths aspects but utilizing camera settings, and understand proper framing of images using ambient light.

Skills Overview

  • Briefing
  • Assemble and test camera equipment
  • Gearing Up
  • Pre-dive Safety Check
  • Enter the water safely protecting camera system
  • Demonstrate care for the environment and avoid damaging it
  • Practice getting proper exposure, contrast and sharpness by using and controlling shutter, aperture, EV control, focus and flash
  • Practice getting good color by using white balance, flash, filters and wide angle lenses • Practice composition through choice of subject, subject positioning, negative space and other compositional elements
  • Demonstrate use of the PADI SEA Method by using the LCD monitor and/or histogram to evaluate exposure, sharpness and composition
  • Ascent – Safety Stop
  • Exit the water safely protecting camera system
  • Debrief
  • Log Dive – Complete Adventure Dive

See what all the fuss is about with Nitrox and why it should be an option for your future dives.

The Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx) Adventure Dive puts you in the water alongside an instructor using EANx in a practical application. Learn why it is important to analyze our air prior to every dive, learn to calculate our maximum depth and times, and understand the both the positives and negatives that come from Enriched Air diving. Please note this does not certify you to dive with EANx on future dives. To do so, you’ll need the EANx certification.

Skills Overview

  • Knowledge Review
  • Practical Application – analyze enriched air cylinder
  • Complete contents sticker/tag and fill log
  • Dive Planning – calculate maximum depth and time, and set dive computer
  • Briefing
  • Gear Up
  • Pre-dive Safety Check
  • Entry
  • Descent
  • Dive within planned depth and time limits
  • Ascent – Safety Stop
  • Debrief
  • Log Dive – Complete Adventure Dive

Push your bottom times to the limit!

Advanced SCUBA Certification Tuition Includes:

  • All classroom materials
  • Textbook
  • Instruction
  • Use of rental equipment
  • Air fills
  • Five (5) open water dives
  • Certification processing fee
  • Lifetime certification

* Please note some dives (such as photography, Enriched Air Nitrox, night, etc.) may incur additional charges due to the use of additional rental equipment. These options will be offered at the time of booking.

 

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Phone Numbers

  • Toll-free from North America
    • 844 - SCUBA - CZ (844-728-2229)
  • Local Mexican Number
    • 987-111-9138
    • WhatsApp +521-987-111-9138 
      • Must include the + symbol
  • Para espanol
    • 987-112-4089 
    • WhatsApp +521-987-112-4089 
      • Must include the + symbol

 

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