The PADI Advanced Open Water Course is intended to take you into those more adventurous areas of diving in a controlled way.
The advanced course consists of five dives, two of which are the "core dives" which are always present - deep dive and the navigation dive. The other three dives are selected from a list of "elective dives".
Unlike the open water diver course, which is based on learning and theory the advanced open water course is very much a hands on course.
The theory content is kept to relevant information for the types of dives selected, this information is discussed in the form of an extended dive breifing, rather than having any formal classroom pressentations.
Under water photography is a speciality.
In the navigation dive we will build on the introduction to compass use, which you received on your open water course, teaching you not only more about the compass, but also how to use natural aids to find your way underwater.
The deep dive ranges from 18 to 30 metres - the depth will be selected according to your experience, and the conditions on the day. As part of the deep dive you will have to perform a task both at depth and at the surface to give a insight into how you may be affected by nitogen narcosis.
In the UK, the most popular electives dives are the dry suit and the wreck dives for obvious reasons but any of the others can be done. You can discuss which dives you would like to do with the instuctor before the start of the course.
