Advanced Open Water

Five Dives. A Whole Lot of Possibilities.

Advanced Open Water includes five Adventure Dives. Two are required, and we choose the other three based on your interests, experience, and available diving conditions.

Deep Adventure Dive

There’s more to diving deeper than simply watching the numbers on your computer get bigger.

You’ll explore how depth affects gas consumption, no-decompression limits, and dive planning. We’ll also discuss nitrogen narcosis, task loading, and why good judgment becomes increasingly important as you descend.

Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive

Ever surfaced and discovered that the boat or exit point isn’t quite where you expected?

We’ll work on compass navigation, estimating underwater distances, and using natural landmarks to stay oriented. It’s a terrific feeling when you finish a dive exactly where you intended.

Three Adventure Dives of Your Choosing

Here’s where things get interesting. Depending on conditions, equipment, and eligibility, possible Adventure Dives include:

• Peak Performance Buoyancy: Refine your weighting, trim, and underwater control.
• Wreck Diving: Learn introductory skills for exploring underwater wrecks.
• Search and Recovery: Practice search patterns and introductory recovery techniques.
• Night Diving: Discover how different the underwater world becomes after sunset.
• Digital Underwater Photography: Start capturing the things you love seeing underwater.
• Fish Identification: Learn to recognize fish species and discover more about the underwater life around you.
• Dry Suit Diving: Explore diving with a different type of exposure protection.

Not every Adventure Dive is available at every site. We’ll work together to choose three that make sense for you and your training location.

And if one of those experiences really grabs your attention, your Adventure Dive may count toward the corresponding PADI Specialty Diver certification.

Already completed a PADI Specialty? Some of that training may count toward Advanced Open Water, too. Let me know what you’ve completed so we can review your options and make sure any applicable credit is properly documented.

How Does Training Work?

We’ll start by discussing your experience, interests, and goals. You’ll complete the appropriate knowledge development, and we’ll plan your five Adventure Dives together.

Our primary training location is Lake Hydra in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Its varied depths and underwater attractions make it an excellent place to develop navigation, buoyancy, and other practical diving skills.

Other training arrangements may be possible depending on your schedule and the dives we select.

Most students complete the in-water training over two or more days. We’ll work around your availability and suitable conditions rather than rushing to meet an arbitrary deadline.

I keep classes small because I want time to work with you, not just watch you perform a skill and check a box.

The goal is to finish with more confidence, better skills, and a pretty good idea of what you want to explore next.

What Equipment Will You Need?

You’ll need your normal scuba equipment, including a dive computer, along with any additional equipment required for your selected Adventure Dives.

That might mean a compass, dive light, camera, or other specialized gear. We’ll review your equipment before training so you know what to bring or arrange for rental.

Your course includes instruction, PADI training materials, knowledge development, five Adventure Dives, and certification processing.

Additional expenses include dive-site admission, tanks or fills, equipment rentals, transportation, and any meals or lodging.

You’ll find current pricing, payment options, and registration details on the WeTravel booking page.

Why Take Advanced Open Water?

Because there’s a difference between knowing how to dive and discovering what you can do with those skills.

Advanced Open Water introduces you to new experiences and helps you become a more thoughtful, capable diver. You don’t have to wait until you’ve logged dozens of dives to get started.

I’ve written more about why I think this course is so valuable in Why AOW? From Brand-New Duckie to Thinking Like a Diver.

And if you’d like to see what one of our actual training weekends looks like, check out 60% Excited, 40% Nervous: An Advanced Open Water Weekend at Lake Hydra.