What To Expect On Your Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver Course

What To Expect On Your Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver Course. If you've finished your Open Water Scuba Diver training and are thinking about taking your scuba diving to the next level... this is the video for you!
We're talking the prerequisites for different scuba training agencies' second level certification course, the course structure itself and what you should look for in a quality advanced adventure diver course and I'm giving you my three reasons why you should consider getting advanced scuba diver certified. I'm also going to give you my biggest concerns at this level of training and what to look out for so you get value for your money.
Please let me know in the comments below how your AOW scuba course went!
Thanks for watching. D.S.D.O
James
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What To Expect On Your Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver Course
Though we are based in Florida, Hawaii, California, and Michigan have 100 ft and 300 ft ocean and lake underwater coral reef, shipwreck, cave diving, freediving, scuba diving, and closed circuit rebreather trips. To learn full face mask, beginner scuba diver, advanced scuba diver, tech scuba diver, cave diver you can reach out to a professional scuba diver. Everyone should get scuba diving insurance with Divers Alert Network.
We support all types of diving that can be found at PADI, DALLMYD, Dive Talk where they talk about cave divers react, Waterline Academy and BlueWorld TV.

[@aaronsanderson3161]

I really enjoyed my advanced course. My instructor really emphasized buoyancy control throughout every interaction. During the peak buoyancy section she set up an underwater obstacle course with hula hoops. It challenged me at first but turned into a fun game as I improved.

[@toriless]

I spent all my free time in OW refining buoyancy. Swimming upside down and sideways, going through hoops, floating in the middle while sitting like a buddha, controlling my depth, seeing how many inches I could sink, while moving and then stop in place, etc. All the marking on the pool made it easy to gauge compared to OW. Anyhow, I did not wait and did all this in my basic course since it seems to be the single most useful skill beyond observation.

[@BrianRossman]

I’ve posted this a few other times, but I think I learned a lot from this near miss. There were 3 students on my AOW. Deep dive was to 86ft after following the curve of the reef. The other buddy pair was a couple. During the skills at depth he went through a lot of air. It was so low the instructor had me buddy up with his wife and we took a compass heading to the boat and started out assent while heading in the direction of the boat. He was breathing from the instructor’s octo before we got to the surface. I did not have good skills with a DSMB so stay at the proper depth for safety stop was a bit tricky. Probably took the class without enough experience but spent the next several dives on my own practicing skills that would have made the situation less stressful.

[@sharkfood]

I did my OWD, drysuit specialty and AOWD back to back. I was lucky to have an amazing diving instructor who focused very heavily on buoyancy (and peak performance buoyancy which she ran for free alongside the OWD and AOWD). Without her I honestly don't think I would have been ready for advanced right after the open water course.

[@metroplexchl]

Without question, you are my favorite no bullshit, facts based scuba youtuber out there. I'm a data driven kinda guy, and you lay it out perfectly. Thanks.

[@karinegalvao3831]

Just finished my openwater course, 😊 i feel like i want to do the advanced now, but i will take your recomendation to have at least 25 dives before i go ahead for the advanced part of it. It makes a lot of sense!! Thank you!!

[@slyderace]

That is very good advice indeed. Definitely need the fundamentals down path before taking on bigger risks such as being deeper. :)

[@kasken719]

I think 25 is for the lowest common denominator. I grew up in the water. I've been a strong swimmer. I also did my homework on my OW cert and it was (hate to say it) kinda boring. I had a very skilled tech driver instructor and I was asking him questions every free moment we got. How to improve my buoyancy, how do I frog kick, modified fog kick, etc. All while everyone else could keep from slamming into the bottom or shooting up to the surface during mask drills. My point is I didn't have close to 25 dives before doing my AOW in the ocean, on a boat, in a current. I never felt behind or under experienced but then again I did my homework on the different types of navigation, when to use fin kicks vs Regulator pressure, etc. The instructor is key. I spoke to mine before hand so I knew what to expect. You can't replace experience but you can study it, learn from it. When you feel ready to advance, do it. You won't regret it.

[@TheCavecrawler]

Hi James, just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience. I’m a new diver having passed my OWD earlier this year and I’m completely hooked. I have purchased my own kit and now done 8 dives. Still very early days but I’m loving it. COVID has made it a tough year and we are on a month lockdown here in the UK. Made even harder for me as I’m clinically extremely vulnerable. However each week I can’t dive I’m trying to do something dive related, configuring my kit, getting used to handling the kit so when I next get in the water I can easily find my way around my kit by feel rather than fumbling around. In the new year I plan to do my advanced open water and was going to wade straight in and get it done. Having seen your clip I might now hold off a while and get a few more dives under my belt. Thanks again and keep up the great work, newbies like me really appreciate it and get plenty from your feed!

[@fxpmike]

I did my AOW with SSI, they have a bundle of 4 full specialities to obtain the AOW certification. Was a great choice.

[@randyfreston962]

Good video. I have seen OW divers with lots of experience that are much better divers than AOW divers with limited dives. I think your recommendation of doing 25 dives before AOW is a good idea.

[@theycallmethefro]

I got my open water certification in 2018 with SSI and interestingly neither shop the that we got certified with (RIP Northeast Scuba) nor the shop we've been diving with since (East Coast Divers) really told us much about advanced adventurer. SSI's AOW (which appears to be different than their advanced adventurer) is just 24 total logged dives + 4 specialty courses completed. That's the direction we were pointed in.

[@robertharrison4387]

Yep, don’t pay for advanced adventurer. Just get the specialists and dives in and you get AOW automatically

[@TritonsRealm]

Great summary of what to expect. Every diver should ultimately go through at least AOW and Rescue. Thanks for another great video.

[@pietsnot3663]

I got the OW ( SSI) last year in Elba ( Italy) . I have done 5 dives since, and I really still feel like an absolute beginner...Excellent advice to put at least 25 dives under the belt before even thinking of doing the advanced level. Thank you for your insights!

[@toriless]

Your feeling is pretty correct. He is probably right.

[@drewbursey6022]

I did my advanced pretty much right after my OW (had 4-5 dives between). Being very new to diving I learned a lot and would highly recommend. My instructor made it mandatory for us to learn how to deploy a dsmb. I went diving at a dive resort later on and and met a DMT who had never used a dsmb before 🤯. The best practice/training is diving with more experienced divers. My skills have improved drastically because of the buddies I was diving with

[@toriless]

It that the inflatable tube?? Mine has three methods. It is pretty easy.

[@drewbursey6022]

@@toriless yes that's a dsmb. I agree it's not that hard but for a dive master in training to have never used one is shocking to me (especially because he would be responsible for the safety of the divers).

[@BDPhotographs]

I recognize the bow of the Spiegel Grove and it just made my day!

[@jamesmyers777]

Love all the hair on your shirt mate

[@DiversReady]

the tax you pay for loving animals! : )

[@lmlmd2714]

One thing I'd give a shout out too here is the BSAC Sport Diver, which is the 2nd grade in the BSAC system, but is pretty different to the others - there's a *big* focus on rescue techniques (including rescue of divers on CCR) and physiology, and covers nitrox, deco dives (including multi-stop deco on air or nitrox), line laying and so on. It's a really good course - a lot of work but really good, and also offers staged depth progression up to 35m.

[@keeponwishin]

My instructor is awesome. Even after the course, she’d invite us out to our dive site when she was teaching another open water class so we’d get some dive time with other certified divers. It was also nice to have her there for questions or conversation after she finished with the class. After a year and a half and 30 dives under my belt, I’m looking forward to going back to her this summer for my AOW😆

[@samco63]

I’ve just finished my OW course and have done a dive every weekend since (the most I can get in now due to having no regular buddy and dive clubs around me only do shore dives on weekends… and I’m not confident enough to do a night dive or sunrise dive yet). But I definitely want to do my AOW to learn more skills and refine my current skills. I learn something every time I go out, but would definitely love more time with a DM or instructor who can coach me more and give feedback! I’m addicted, I can’t stop researching and listening to people and watching videos. Though sometimes I feel I’m missing out because people from my class are taking cameras out on their 2nd and 3rd dives. But I figure that will come in time. For now, I just really want to practise my skills and become the best diver and dive buddy I can be (within my limits). Obviously not ready to do it yet, but I want to do it as soon as possible so once I’ve done 25/30 I will go in! Also would love to do rescue diving so that I can be more confident, skilled and safe diver and dive buddy. So thanks for these videos, it helps to sort through all the info out there and helps me to align my goals with realistic expectations on myself.

[@DiversReady]

Thanks for sharing. Youre right to focus on your skills before you start adding the camera. Enjoy your diving journey!

[@Ginwood]

Really feel DSMB use (theory and practical) should also be included in AOW, maybe not as a discrete dive in itself, but can usefully be added to any of the adventure dives. The intro in OW is just not enough

[@RixxNation]

This is where not all agencies are the same. I switched to ITDA, with them we start teaching theory, rescue and DSMB in OW. When you take advanced with us you’re truly AOW.

[@toriless]

@@RixxNation Which is DSMB? In words ...

[@Daveador876]

@@toriless Delayed Surface Marker Buoy

[@RixxNation]

@@toriless Delayed Surface Marker Buoy aka Safety Sausage. The DSMB has an over inflation valve, much like the one on your BCD shoulder, which releases air as it expands on its way to the surface.

[@stephendoherty8291]

In cmas diving using a dsmb is part of basic training. It's required for most boat dives. You can dive using tables but you must use a dsmb or at least have one per buddy dive

[@bernardhny]

Appreciate the video. Did my OW cert in 2003. I have about 60 dives now after a long break of raising kids for which 1 is doing his advanced open water with me next week! Thanks for the videos.

[@chris0576]

I’m literally going to key largo with my daughter next week to get our advanced open water!

[@TheDocalphabet]

I was very blessed to have 1 on 1 (AOW). 4 days of the Thailand's underwater world. 1st day......seasick...worked through it by having confidence in my skill set and trust in my instructor. BTW he received a gracious tip. Keep sharing

[@toriless]

Seasick? really? where there 20 foot waves or what? Anything under 8 feet is calm sea. 30 feet swell will make even a big boat rock.

[@chucklakes2345]

One of my bucket list items is to go scuba diving with you some day. You are the man!

[@mikedavies4694]

James, I did my OW last Aug/Sept. Did my AOW last Nov. I started my AOW with 40 logged dives and as of this am, I am now at 134 logged dives, which I have done over 12 different shore dive sites and 1 boat dive. Vis ranging from; using a white cane to 100'. Current ranging from non existent to flying drift dives. Eyes are set on: Deep cert, Wreck cert, Nav, then Solo/Self Reliant. Gotta love this diving stuff. Been glued to Divers Ready since Feb of 2020, I have bolt snaps that are still attached to things, courtesy of your videos. Thanks for doing what you do.

[@gamernick1533]

I had about a 4 dive gap between doing OW and AOW, kind of by necessity. My daughter (10) had just finished her seals and was about to start her OW, after the experience I had on my OW I didn't want her to have an inexperienced buddy making the process more stressful for her. I wanted to get ahead and be able to do a lot more in the water so did the AOW and have spent most weeks getting 2-4 dives in each week so I can be the best buddy possible for her. I think it has worked out great and, whilst I can see the benefit in waiting until you have more dives under your belt, the AOW actually gave me a lot more confidence to dive without instructors. It's horses for courses on this one. Personally, I think the AOW just teaches things that should really be included or as an addon to the OW and then there could be actual *advanced* skills after that so you can still get your dry suit on and go a little deeper etc then absolutely perfect them in a follow up.

[@norbertosalazarzagaglia6216]

Great advice James.Even when I.ve got my OWD, I was asked to get the Advance for some more money in 2 more days....Kind of joke!!!

[@madladhobson]

got my open water and dry suit certification this weekend really cant wait. already paid to begin my advanced set after. i know not technically advanced at that point but where i live in the middle of England there aren't many opportunities for diving. but im the kind of person that will just continue the learning process.

[@kamevlr]

I finished my AOW yesterday and it was pretty easy just do your knowledge reviews and pay attention and you’ll be fine. It’s alot of fun and you will feel great at the end

[@darrenbrewer7587]

Hey James I'm hearing you with your reasoning and it makes perfect sense, however I completed my open water on holiday and then done my AOW shortly after my return to the UK and it was the best move Ive made so far in my diving. Whilst this may not be ideal from a training point of view I have met so many people through joining a club in the UK and dived with so many of them since that my diving has improved massively. I can't express enough the importance of diving diving diving and whatever means gives a diver that opportunity then they should go for it. I know the agencies are after income from their courses but they do open up diving with people that you would not have met otherwise, pick them wisely and you could get a free lesson every time you dive. Rgds Daz

[@lesfranson]

Got my PADI Rescue cert last year. Getting my PADI Master Scuba Diver cert this month. Rescue was the most challenging and fun.

[@evolvedmonkey9978]

I took my OWD from SSI, a month ago, I always loved the Ocean and did apnea and a bit of freediving for years, now I have 10 scuba dives, though I feel that even when I reach 20 i'm not in top notch for advanced, I'm not the fastest learner neither I consider myself on top health condition to defy those 30 meters of the Advanced Adventurer/Diver, first I need to perfect my buoyancy "that sucks specially the neutral one". After I do have not only the dives, but the experience and the ability to feel comfortable with the gear I just bought, bought all the gear, bcd, regulator, diving computer and a 12 liter scuba tank, besides having the wetsuit, my mask with prescription lens, fins, weights etc.. I will venture to the advanced when all feels.. natural, when I'm able to be a competent OWD I will jump to other stages, it's all about being competent and at ease with your stuff.

[@Daveador876]

Doing my Advanced in two weeks in Hurgarda

[@romainjean2068]

👍for the 'amuse bouche' ! 😊 👍👍 for the whole video, great message

[@Nahks758]

Great advice… I just got started on ny ooen water certificate. And is already looking forward to the advance stage 🔥🔥🔥🙌🏾

[@slyderace]

I did my OWD course last summer and loved diving so much that I've just purchased my first Drysuit today so that I'll be able to dive longer this year :) I plan on taking my AOWD this summer so I can go deeper :)

[@DiversReady]

awesome! dive safe

[@macstyle2012]

Just completed my open water course today, going to attempt the advanved towards end of the year afyer doing a few dives over the summer.

[@malcapone57pearson64]

Great Advice

[@edwintanjuaquiob1102]

Learned so much from my ow course from just talking to my instructor poet dive

[@ce6311]

I’m do my last aow dive tomorrow. I did it right after open water but that’s because I needed the advanced to apply for a school which doesn’t start for a year. My plan is to go to a local quarry early next season (I’m in Canada) to get adjusted again and going on a few open water dives before going on advanced ones. I’m confident in what I learned so far and definitely feel like my skills are advanced compared to how they where at the end of my ow certification. I might try to get down south this winter, if Canadians get allowed into the us anytime soon.

[@marcelozerbini5411]

Advanced Diver is indispensable because of the 40m depth. And in practice you'll be severely handicapped in a diving trip if you can only go to 18m. That and night dive

[@martinclark5267]

Love the comment:" keep the hamster on the wheel "

[@Chogogo717]

Just got my OW, EAN, and PPB. Look, I know how you feel about the PPB, but it was a little helpful. It was a little more time in the mud hole we dove in to practice. My wife got a little more hands on help from our instructor which she needed. Our instructor likes cave diving too, so she made our course a little more interesting with that in mind. Can’t wait to get back in the water, I just wish it was in Bonaire. Covid sucks.

[@williamstreeter8202]

I’m twelve and about to start my certification and your channel has helped a lot for me to study for written and physical tests

[@DiversReady]

Good luck buddy! Dive safe!

[@chrism1190]

I’m a new OWC diver and currently working on the Nitrox but plan to do the Advanced SSI afterwards. It’s good to see this. Thank you.

[@briandhuff]

Solid advice James. Since you asked: Myself (81 dives) and my son (50 dives) did SDI OW last year, AAOW/Nitrox in Jan and I completed AOW early this summer. Rescue up next. My wife and daughter just finished SDI OW last month, we're spending the weekends logging dives either at the quarry or at the coast. They will be doing SDI AAOW/Nitrox at the end of Sept and will have about 30'ish dives in by then, they won't fully complete the AAOW class until Nov when we're headed down your way (virus permitting) for a week to get in wreck/deep... just didn't want those to be quarry dives for them. Thanks for the content as always... and where the heck is Ziggy?!?!?!

[@FALCONZAMORA1121]

I'm really excited about doing the course. Equipment configuration would be an interesting video to see for thise making the plunge from open water to the advanced adventure, as I am getting ready to do

[@krzysztofskrzypek2950]

Great film, I just did my open water and want to start advance, but as you said I need to have fun first 😀 thank you for that 😀

[@akhiljr.8269]

Hi Thanks for sharing the knowledge, I'm Akhil I'm an open water certified diver and I have 10 logged dives that I am looking to start my advanced open water certification.

[@drakelearning9742]

Did open water then advanced. All class time no fun dives. Wish I would have seen this before. I am currently trying to get more experience so I FEEL comfortable. With the covid lock down I have been surfing KZbin for more information. (How I found you.) I will be participating in a dive area clean up this coming weekend. So far, I am finding I need a goal beyond coming out safe to focus on. Looking forward to getting more information on your upcoming trip.

[@toriless]

Buy you suit and join a dive club, you will learn more then any damn course.

[@kenmh7357]

Great advice! 15 dives including Cozumel (85ft+drift, and a wreck) plus two cavern dives at Taj Mahal (Mx). I have my own gear and am looking forward to AOW next summer.

[@andrecandrade]

My AOW was done over a weekend on a beautiful island on the coast of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Great group and a great instructor. Had lots of fun.

[@vonchef14]

Thanks for the awesome vlog. I will get my advanced open water once I accumulate enough dives before I go

[@colingrant321]

My dive training experience was great. 9 fun dives after OW and 6 during AOW. One on one training for OW and same instructor for AOW, plus a DM student for some of AOW. Also had fun dives with instructor after AOW, and after deep diver. Hovering at 40m in 70+m of tropical open ocean water doing training drills was a trip, but I felt safe because I scored 100% on every theory exam from day one.

[@ace00007]

The wife and I are going to be working on our Padi Advanced course after being certified about 20 years. Probably should have done it earlier but most times during the rare trips to go diving we just wanted to have fun but this trip we are going to a diving focused resort and we thought it would be good to take another rating which would also be a good refresher. We are originally certified under SSI and have our SSI rescue diver although we never did the advanced with them.

[@imsw1550]

Great timing on this just paid for my advanced adventure course yesterday

[@Jcc411]

I did my AOW last month, and had the exact experience James mentioned here. The DiveMaster didn’t teach me anything. He set back and watched, and guided a few dives. My buddy and I came up from our Nav dive, and I asked him how I looked, and he literally said “oh I don’t know, I wasn’t paying attention.” Done with PADI after this and will be going elsewhere for my next certs.

[@jasonramage7]

Hey, thanks for this video. I just happened to come across this a week before my advanced open water course and you may have saved me from wasting some time on electives. I was told to do the readings for certain electives but after watching this video and being told I'm supposed to be choosing them I've contacted the dive center to find out if I'm allowed to change them. Now I'm going to try and get what I want out of the experience rather than what they offered in the first place. That and knowing what I should focus on during the course to make me a better diver. So a genuine thanks for this video! Keep it up👍

[@toriless]

Being in the US, PADI and NAUI are the only choices. Their NAV material is quite different. I got both books. I never took the courses though. Their first aide material is pretty lame compare to real course by Red Cross.

[@brynlilley6020]

I love this channel as well as a couple others that have helped me so much prepare for my OW thank you guys heaps.

[@terjeolsenaal]

Tanks for tips ti advanced open water.

[@ericdelrosario6779]

Thanks so much. Very impressed with all your videos. Appreciate all that you do for scuba diving and the marine environment.

[@bevlawrence5649]

Excellent video James. The best advice was to speak to your instructor BEFORE paying. I made the mistake of paying online, I was assigned an instructor on the boat and yes, paid for 5 guided dives. I learned more from the other guests on the boat. Please can you do a piece on Deco and recreational diving? Thanks again James. Ps Where is Ziggy?

[@ralphschiefer7576]

I know how you feel about the speciality courses and I totally get it. But What I have to say during my AOWD (SSI) I made 4 specialty courses directly together. I had 2 weeks time, nothing else to do and I did it, calmly and relaxed, I made deep dive, Navigation, and wreck. The 4th I did is one of those (you shall not name it) courses. Which I assume was a bad idea to book. All the others were very usefull in my opinion. After compleeting all the coures I was AOWD with some aditional dives under my belt! BTW I had 50 dives as OWD in very different waters. The most interessing course of them all was the navigation. I was verry bad with navigation and I heard the most new things in this course. That's just me. And you are right, I recieved a ton of feedback from the instructor regarding my over all diving. I would say if you have the right instruktor you will deffinatly benefit by the AOWD. Me in peticular had some concernes about deep diving, I didn't feel confertable down there. But I was tought very good so I managed to deal with it and now I have no problems diving into the "deep".

[@RonSnijders]

Hi James. First of all, thanks for the quality content! As a newly-certified OWD (a month ago, but I've managed to get in three fun dives so far :) ) I'm learning a lot from them! If you happen to stumble upon this comment, I do have a question. I see how doing an AOWD with a good instructor can be beneficial, but what's your view on going straight for the specialties, rather than doing the AOWD level? I'm interested in doing deep and wreck specialties, and it would appear that doing those would give me a lot more learning in those areas. It's all in the instructor, of course, but the actual amount of learning in the base curriculum of AOWD seems rather on the thin side.

[@toriless]

Personally, I wish I could skip AOW just do lots of dive and then take Rescue Dive next. It seems a LOT more useful then the AOW BS.

[@mikkosport2300]

In CMAS the advanced course contains also some real skills, like propulsion technics including backward kick and helicopter turns. In addition to qalory boyacy training the students will really be advanced after the course. James os right: you should select modules useful for you diving. If you use to dive in coulder environment consider dry suit module or in wreckfull environment the wreck module. As I said before the boyacy control module is definitely useful for all.

[@thunderscapefilms7432]

I wish this video had been around when I was deciding to take the course. I say go for it! I had a great time, and I learned a lot.

[@joewelsh1804]

I fully agree with your comments and the reasons for them. I was lucky with my instructors when I started and wasn't just pushed through the "sausage machine" of courses. Experience teaches you to choose the instructor not the agency.

[@bubblesandboats4010]

Hearing all the information in this video just makes me wish you had been my AOW instructor!!

[@18thAnge1]

What a great guy ❤ thank you so much for this video !

[@bobthediverdudemerrick6811]

After watching your fourth or fifth video, I had to tap that Subscribe Button because the content is that damn good.

[@huibert1358]

I always say when you get your OW license go and have a nice dive make 30/40 dives and then come for your follow-up courses. They are taking courses with new things and are not thinking about how their equipment works. They have learned small things from their buddy and / or instructor and they take up the new course very quickly and execution is very good, so I make my students a good diver they also pay me but I keep learning their things and that goes into the commersion otherwise that has to be fast and a lot, time is money I do not deliver 50 divers a year but those I deliver have a good tailor-made course and are sure of their well-being and will also return for follow-up courses.

[@ExpeditedProductions]

Brilliant assessment and advice! Thanks!

[@powerofeus]

Nice video James, I was in the mood for raising the ladder for be an instructor, but you make me change my mind, I should have more fun and more dives at my level. Thanks.

[@Iridanium]

I did my AOW on Tenerife, with what I think is the best dive shop ever, and learned a metric s#*t ton. That was really worth it and because of my instructor I had I want to do the rescue diver next.

[@Baumerts]

What’s the name of the dive center? Might fly over there this year. Thanks

[@Iridanium]

@@Baumerts Dive Teneriffe. Have fun Buddy

[@BlueHorizonDiving]

Great summary video James! Will help a lot of new divers out.

[@OzzySafa]

Good advice! I had to let you know I gave the video it’s 1K like 👍also want to do more dives and work on my breathing and moving more efficiently before I do the AOW, but with the Covid travel restrictions it seems like I won’t get to do that many more.

[@reptikind]

Starting this with SDI next week! Thanks for all the great content! I've learned so much from you. Really sets me up for the courses. After I get more dives under my belt, I want to come do TDI with you!

[@DiversReady]

Great to hear!

[@ScubaDude_Sg]

Can you do an Explanation on gas mixtures used at different depths for Nitrox? How is the MOD for a certain mixture and how that mixture is calculated according to depth!

[@toriless]

Nitrox is whole course but much like with OW the charts are all passe with dive computers. You waste a lot a time in class calculating how long you next dive can be at 40 feet if you last dive was at 30 feet of some stuff. Every serious diver just checks their dive computer instead. It is big waste of time.

[@nitroxviking2560]

SSI has two different "advanced" programs. One is the "Advanced Adventurer", which is pretty much the "five taster dives" mentioned in the video. This is the equivalent of what PADI calls "Advanced Open Water Diver" - you do a handful of more or less fun dives, learn somewhere between a little and a lot (depending on your instructor", but earn no actual qualifications / certifications like a Nitrox license. And then there's the SSI "Advanced Open Water Diver", which requires _way_ more effort in terms of classroom training and in-water experience: you have to complete four full specialty courses. Technically, you could probably wing it with a combo of the Fish ID, Coral ID, U/W Naturalist and Manta Ray Ecology "specialties", BUT you'd still need to meet the second requirement of 24 logged and verified dives to qualify for the AOWD recognition - which is then free (no extra cert cost, maybe $10 for the plastic card if that's your thing). Oh, and your four specialty components are listed on your AOWD card, so good luck finding someone to buddy up with you on a nightly dive to a wreck at 30 meters with your phenomenal fish id skills.

[@toriless]

Nitrox is usually a separate course but I doubt anyone bothering with Nitrox does not have a dive computer anyway.

[@crazysharklady]

I had so many people tell me NOT to do AOW. I've got close to 100 dives (I know...still a five baby) and I realize the benefit of taking it now. Looking forward to fine tuning some skills that I THOUGHT I had down after OW. (Surprising how many dive operations let you dive past 60' without AOW.)

[@DubaiDiver]

Hi James Another good video 👍 Are you taking Critter Hunter up on his bull shark challenge. Definitely need to be AOW for that one.

[@celine8811]

I'm OWD and have done my nitrox on vacation. I've been trying to understand the possible paths forward. I've heard everything now: do the Padi AOWD; do the SSI AA, it's basically just fun dives with a cert at the end (hugh?!); get the deep speciality, it's better than AOWD; and the latest one was: just skip the AA and go straight to SSI AOWD by doing your specialities. I lean towards that last one because it takes the stress out of it (and makes it less expensive all at once). It would also allow me to do some specialities at home and do others on vacation that I cannot do here (e.g. currents - yes I saw your other video but I want to experience currents in a controlled and safe environment). What is your opinion on this strategy?

[@Havodder]

Thanks. This was helpfull. Just one thing to add to the BS type. This was the only way that I could get a dive with a few divers on a sight. In some dive sights there are so many divers that you will have to pick a number. So to get a "personal" dive, this is more expensive yes, but that allows you to go with a few people. ( and yes I try to avoid the plases where there are so many diveres, but as a famely man, this is not up to me.

[@DiversReady]

Sounds good.

[@richadcock70]

Hey James man I am thoroughly enjoying your videos and everything Makes perfect sense the way you explain it you simplify everything you you're honest about you know do this before you do that you know what You recommend to have X number of dives between certifications and all of that I think it's great. I myself did my open water nitrox and advanced back-to-back but at the time I was in a location where I was time limited to be able to get the stuff done and The dog center kind of put together a package deal so it didn't really cost as much as if it would have if I had done them separately . Tell me what you think about that thanks again happy diving

[@crashlvmc]

Agree on all points James. I've taken SCUBA classes where i got little more than a guided tour, and where I've had my mind blown. Advanced, or any specialty course, can be a chance for a great instructor to shine or a dirtbag to lay back and watch the pennies role in. Hopefully the instructor review programs some of the agencies are starting to do will limit the dirtbags.

[@RobertoLopez-ms8nv]

Great video. I’m revente open water certified. I ask in 2 different locations to do side mount and AOW. The first place ordered to do all the training at once. The second instruction recommended to do side mount and get at least 15 dives before the AOW because he want me to come and learn new staff not to Lear how to dive wile doing the AOW.

[@toriless]

You know, youtube allows comments to be edited so you can fix word like "revente".

[@peterchan5200]

Great video. Balanced and informative.

[@Vasilis_Chatzis]

Great video James! Could you make a video about deep stop ?

[@jorouss33]

Love your videos! Keep going!

[@AdamBoltGoldCoast]

Looking at your T-Shirt I'd say you have a cuddly cat or 2 at home! ❤❤😊😊 PS Great video. It helped me decide to stay with just my open water for my dive trip to Bali, and to get a number of dives under my belt before considering going for advanced certification.

[@DiversReady]

Thanks for watching! Dive safe.

[@diveonebyshaheen1706]

Thanks James for the good valuable contents as alway, some culture arround need to be improved. Very important important point you raised, that this is not a race climbing on the ladder, will said. Asking about which level, i am preparing for rescue diver course which will start the practical side in few days.

[@judebrad]

You gave me the same advice as I got last year with my dive-buddies. I have enrolled for the Padi AOW this year and did the on-line part, as they had a sale, but the course probably won't proceed until next year.

[@toriless]

The on-line part will make the classroom seem like just a review. I was always way ahead online and got bored at times in class so be warned.

[@centermass3454]

I did the AOW and Master Diver and a handful of specialty classes. Been enjoying your videos and would like to be put on a list if you organize a trip for Military wreck diving, Palau, Truk, etc. Will try to reach you thru your web site or phone. Thanks.

[@divechroniclesofrocky]

Waiting for details on the trip ....

[@bigval46]

i was definitely ripped off on my aow when i took it four years ago.... it was as you said guided not really much training

[@ooberzoobersober]

Great video. I subscribed. I went through the deep dive course in 2002 with SSI. My MOD was 130', and OW was 100'. Why did it change?

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

My question too. I get the 18m limit for OW. It was the same limit for British army diving. 18m gives you a 60 min NDL as I remember, i.e. max time on one cylinder. But IIRC on my AOW course (in 2000) the max depth was 40m.

[@brianc401]

I want to go for the AOWD certification in my area. But, I live in CT. All the dive centers take you to the LI Sound and only take you to 60ft for the deep dive. If part of the AOWD certification is to be able to dive to 100ft, should the dive centers take you to 100ft?

[@wildfamily2018]

New diver excited but scared about my first boat dive

[@Fearlessmullet]

Sir, Can you make a video on how YOU transport your kit and your tanks to and from dive sites? In addition how do you store those items? I am new to diving (just got certified 8/16/2020) and was wondering these things. Thanks in advance :)

[@kerwintan1866]

Great video, just got my OW cert last week and can't wait to clock more dives to progress into Advanced OW! Do you think I should stick to the same instructor as I progress or is it okay to hop to different agencies/instructors? Also, could you talk about DIR diving/equipment configuration? Been hearing a lot of it lately but can't seem to grasp what it is.

[@pucioy]

I love that:) Clash of knowledge and experience :) Millenials hell :) As reading a book will not make you a driver, knowledge will not make you a diver. Few dives we make on a course is just for checking if we got a pretty much chance not to harm ourselves underwater with knew knowledge, equipment or conditions. That's it. Nothing more. Specialty is not a good name just for a course but it sounds awsome, doesn't it? I would not call anyone specialist before one makes at least 20 dives after course within the specialty. Same with Advanced. Maybe one get some knowledge but... look above in the text :) Knowledge is good, very good and really indispensable if you gonna expand your limits safely but it's a practise what makes you a better diver. That's how I see that.:)

[@FALCON-nb8nq]

Hi James. Good video. I agree with you in that the difference is made by the instructor and it applies not only to scuba but for any teaching environment. I was lucky to have a good scuba instructor decades ago. An issue may be that sometimes students don’t have many options as there may not be enough dive schools to choose from in the area where they live. For advance training I like the SSI approach for the advance diver (complete four full specialty programs) compared to just one dive from the different specialties taken (PADI advance or advance adventurer in others). You will have a chance to gain more experience/knowledge under the supervision of an instructor before you go on your own. Regards