How to Become an Advanced Open Water Diver

Now that you have gained your Open Water diver's license you can go diving wherever and whenever you like. As you have learned in your course, however, never go diving without a dive buddy. When you go diving with a club the dive master will pair you with another diver as your buddy. Most divers who go on dive trips will, however, have an advanced diving license which will allow them to dive to 100 feet. Basically, there is much more to see at 100 feet than 30 feet. To dive to 100 feet or 30 meters, an Advanced Open Water license is required. To obtain this you must go on a dive trip and stay overnight, completing five dives under supervision of the dive instructor.

Things You'll Need

  • Open Water certification
  • Mask
  • Fins
  • Snorkel
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Instructions

  1. Dives

    • 1

      There are compulsory dives that must be completed. One is a deep dive. The diver must dive to 100 feet (30 meters) and then surface again, taking the necessary stops along the way. The instructor will be along to evaluate the dive.

    • 2

      Another compulsory dive is the underwater navigation, in which the instructor will give the diver instructions on a course that must be negotiated via the compass while under water. This also will be evaluated.

    • 3

      Boat diving is a dive that is required in your course, and this entails entering and exiting the water from a boat, inflatable, via a ladder or platform. The diver learns methods of entering the water and the best methods for coming out of the water. For instance, it's best to remove fins and hand them up to the boat before climbing the ladders. The divers learn how to stow their gear in appropriate places and locate basic safety equipment.

    • 4

      The diver will complete a drift dive. For this, he will learn how to plan and organize the dive, with techniques and problems to overcome, along with the hazards of drift diving. The diver is introduced to drift diving equipment such as floats, reels and lines. Buoyancy-control is as important a feature of drift diving as is navigation and communication, local currents and their causes and effects. Once again, the dive master will stress the importance of staying close to a group or a buddy.

    • 5

      The diver will also have the opportunity to complete a night dive. This will entail diving in the dark and using an underwater flashlight. Divers will learn all the protocols and safety issues of diving at night and staying in contact with their group or buddy in the dark.