Diving deeper opens up a whole new side of the underwater world — but which course gets you there? If you’re trying to decide between the PADI Deep Diver course Vs the Advanced Open Water Diver course, you’re not alone. Both take your skills to the next level, but they do it in different ways.
This guide breaks down the main differences so you can choose the path that matches your diving goals, comfort level, and sense of adventure.
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course
With this course, your diving skills will be improved down to 30 meters (100 feet).
If you get enjoyed in your Open Water Diver course and are passionate to learn more or want to dive deeper, the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is your perfect choice. This certification level enables you to dive to a depth of 30 meters/100 feet!
You can complete this course in two to three day (depending on the number of dives you do per day). There are five different Adventure Dives in this course, including navigation, a deep dive, and three additional specialities of your choice (Including night diving, fish identification, peak performance buoyancy, drift diving, altitude diving, drysuit diving, and more.
The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course in points:
- Consisting on 5 Adventure Dives, including navigation and deep diving.
- The depth limit to 30 meters/100 feet.
- The best choice if you are looking to improve your knowledge and scuba diving skills.
Choose optional dives that include Night Diver, Fish ID, Drift Diver, Digital Underwater Photography, Enriched Air Nitrox, Boat Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Search and Recovery, and many more. These adventure dives also regarded as the first dive to the corresponding specialty.
What Prerequisites Are Needed?
To enroll in the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, you need to pass the PADI Open Water Diver course first or take any qualifying certification from another organization:
- Minimum Age:12 years old at least (or 10 in case of the Junior Advanced Open Water Diver course).
- The eLearning is available.
PADI Deep Diver Course
After taking the PADI Seep Diver course, you can delve into the deep depths of the oceans confidently.
It is considered the ideal speciality course for those scuba divers who want to reach depths beyond the limits of 18-meter/60-foot (which is the limits of the Open Water Diver course), as well as beyond that of the Advanced Oprn Water Diver course (30-meter/100-foot).
Above all, this course is designed for depth lovers. With this speciality course, your scuba instructor will help you master safe diving practices over 2 to 3 days to comfortably exploremarine life down to 40 meters/130 feet beneathe the surface!
The PADI Deep Diver course in points:
- Classifiedas a speciality course.
- Divesmainly focus on the skills of deep diving.
- The limits of the deep diver course to40 meters/130 feet.
- Teach the diverhow to plan deep dives.
- Teach the diverhow to manage their air supply.
- Teach the diverhow to identify and manage nitrogen narcosis.
What Are the Advantages of Deep Diving?
It is a common thing to spot some species of marine life at deeper depths, so the deep diver course is the best choice for those who are looking to have encounters with larger marine life, including barracuda, mola mola, tuna, some shark species, and schooling fish.
If hunting for critters at depth is your preffered choice, look out for mantis shrimps, pygmy seahorses, and an array of crustaceans.
What Prerequisites Are Needed?
To enroll in the PADI Deep Diver Course, you need to pss the PADI Open Water Diver certification or have any equivalent certification.
- Minimum Age:15 years old at least.
- The eLearning is available.
The PADI Deep Diver Specialty and Master Scuba Diver™
Enroll in the PADI Deep Diver Specialty course and take your first step in your journey to become a PADI Master Scuba Diver™. The PADI Master Scuba Diver™ certification is considered your black belt of recreational diving. Gaining this prestigious rating requires from you to be a PADI Rescue Diver with five specialties – the Deep Diver Specialty certification could be your first.
Note that the Adventure Dives that you take during the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course also regarded as the first dives for your specialties.
Other Specialties including:
- Drift Diver.
- Fish Identification.
- Underwater Navigator.
- Boat Diver.
- Dive Against Debris Diver.
- Night Diver.
- Search and Recovery Diver.
- Underwater Digital Photographer.
- Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver..
Get Started Now with eLearning!
Hopefully now you get the needed information about the Deep Diver course vs. Advanced Open Water Diver course, and ready to decide which course suits you more!
Fortunately, there is no need to wait to start your new PADI course. With PADI eLearning, you can begin now from you home using your phone, laptop or tablet! PADI eLearning will give you the opportunity to get stuck into dive knowledge from any quite place you want.
