Advanced Open Water

Take the next step in your evolution as a SCUBA diver by enrolling in our Advanced Open Water program. Five specialty dives with one of our instructors.

What are you waiting for? Continue your education today!

Advanced Open Water Certification

Hooked on diving and ready to advance your knowledge?

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.

Advanced Open Water

SCUBA Certification

$350

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Advanced Open Water Tuition Includes

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

Typical Advanced Open Water 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

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

* 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.