ADVANCED OPEN WATER SCUBA COURSE

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    The PADI Advanced Open-Water textbook must be purchased prior to starting the course. Other equipment may be required depending on the open-water dives the student elects to take.

     Prerequisites: Minimum age is 15 (Junior Advanced Open Water 12-15); completion of Open Water SCUBA Diver; satisfactory completion of the SCUBA TUNE UP.

     A maximum of 3 Advanced Dives may be done in one day. The 3rd dive may not exceed 40 feet.

     Prior to each dive: Read the section of the textbook pertaining to that dive. Knowledge of the information in each section is vital to the success of the dive. The student should plan on knowing the information prior to the dive. Without the knowledge gained from the text the dive will not be totally fulfilled!

CORE DIVES (Both are required)

 NAVIGATION DIVE

• 100-foot kick cycle SCUBA swim
• 100-foot timed SCUBA swim
• Record data on slate

      Natural Navigation

• 100-foot kick or time swim (surfacing OK)
• Return only surfacing 1 time (if needed)

     Compass Navigation

• 100-foot compass dive and reciprocal
• Buddy judges distance
• Reverse roles and repeat above
• Maximum error = 20'

     Square Pattern Compass Navigation

• 100-foot (on a side) square
• Buddy judges distance
• Reverse roles and repeat above
• Maximum error = 25'
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor
  

 DEEP DIVE (60 - 100')

• Timed task on the surface - record time on slate
• Line descent
• Note time and tank pressure
• Anti-silting technique
• Depth gauge comparison (note on slate)
• Repeat of timed task on bottom - record
• Bottom time recorded on slate
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

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ELECTIVE DIVES (Choose 3) 

 ALTITUDE DIVE (1,000 - 10,000 feet)

• Calculation of no-decompression profile for altitude (RDP)
• Depth gauge comparison at depth including capillary
• Ascent rate at 30'/min. using gauge and timing device
• 3-minute safety stop at THEORETICAL 15 feet
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

 BOAT DIVE (Kayak)

• Demonstrate good boat etiquette and nomenclature
• Note location of available emergency equipment
• If the kayak is used, the procedure should be explained
• Entry and dive (with buddy)
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• Proper boating exit
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

 BUOYANCY DIVE

• Assembly of a weight system
• Surface buoyancy check
• Descending by exhalation
• Cinching up the belt underwater
• Controlled descent and ascent
• Hovering with breath control
• Bottom hovering
• Dive up slope and downslope
• Dive with ankle weights
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

DIVER PROPULSION VEHICLE (DPV) DIVE

• DPV and equipment preparation
• Appropriate entry with the DPV
• DPV use at the surface
• Appropriate descent with the DPV
• DPV use underwater
• Avoiding pressure-related injuries while using the DPV
• Adjusting the depth and turning
• Tandem riding
• Parking and towing a DPV
• Appropriate ascent with a DPV
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

DRIFT DIVE

• Entry preferably from a boat
• Drift while maintaining buddy contact
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

 DRY SUIT DIVE (extra fee)

• Donn and doff a dry suit with buddy assistance
• With BCD and air spaces void, find proper weight
• Controlled descent preventing suit squeeze
• Anti-silting technique
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

FISH IDENTIFICATION DIVE

• Preparing the slate
• Entry
• Observe & identify fish families
• Record sightings
• Sketch/describe unfamiliar fish
• Ascent and exit
• Using reference materials to identify unfamiliar fish
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

MULTILEVEL DIVE

• Pre-plan the dive using The Wheel (2 depths)
• Dive the plan - depth gauge and compass required
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

 NIGHT DIVE (60' maximum depth)

• Light signal review
• Descent on a line
• Anti-silting technique
• Life-support check and OK signal
• 100-foot compass navigation + reciprocal
• Environmental notation
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

SEARCH AND RECOVERY DIVE (Maximum depth 60')

• Proper techniques for recovering small objects
• Successful search of an area using a underwater metal locator (Click this link to read more about metal locators.)
• Search of an area using a D.P.V.
• Underwater tying of 2 salvage knots
  • 1. The sheet bend
  • 2. The half-hitch
• Lift-bag salvage (using bowline knots)
• Blackened mask swim (20 meters)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

   UNDERWATER NATURALIST DIVE

• Maintain neutral buoyancy - stay off bottom
• Identify 2 aquatic plants (freshwater - 1)
• Identify 4 Invertebrates (freshwater - 1)
• Identify 5 Vertebrates (freshwater - 2)
• Record all information on the slate
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY

• Photographic equipment briefing
• Use of an underwater 35 mm or digital camera system
• Dive - Expose a complete roll of film, or take at least 20 digital photos
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY

• Video camera and housing operational briefing
• Assembly of the video in the housing
• Dive - Shoot at least 15 minutes of good-quality video
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

WRECK DIVE (No penetration)

• SCUBA outside wreck identifying and avoiding hazards
• Navigate to start of ascent point on the wreck
• Ascent with a safety stop (15'/3 min.)
• The dive must be logged and signed by the instructor

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