Advanced Open Water

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course at Santorini Dive Center is your next step in expanding your scuba diving capabilities, building upon your Open Water Diver certification. This program is designed to increase your confidence and develop your diving skills, allowing you to explore more of the underwater world. You will complete five adventure dives under the direct supervision of a PADI Instructor, gaining valuable experience and learning new techniques. The theoretical portion can be conveniently completed online through PADI eLearning, focusing on the knowledge required for popular adventure dives.

This course typically includes essential dives such as underwater navigation and deep dives, reaching depths of up to 30 meters. The remaining three dives are selected based on your interests and the instructor's recommendations, offering a wide range of options like wreck diving, underwater photography, or peak performance buoyancy. Each adventure dive successfully completed can also count as the first dive towards a corresponding PADI Specialty Diver course, providing a clear pathway for further specialization and skill development. The diverse dive sites around Santorini offer an excellent training ground for these advanced skills.

Key skills honed during the Advanced Open Water Diver course include understanding the physiological effects of deeper dives, improving your ability to navigate underwater using various methods like kick-cycles and visual landmarks, and mastering the use of dive computers and electronic Recreational Dive Planners. The specific skills you acquire will be tailored to the adventure dives you choose, ensuring a personalized learning experience. The course is conducted from the Santorini Dive Center's station at Caldera Beach, utilizing the unique underwater topography of the island.

To enroll in this advanced program, you must hold a PADI Open Water Diver certification or an equivalent qualification and be at least 15 years old (12 for Junior Advanced Open Water Diver). The center offers instruction in English and Greek, ensuring clear communication for a safe and enjoyable learning experience. By completing this course, you will be better equipped to plan and execute dives to greater depths and explore a wider variety of dive sites, significantly enhancing your overall diving adventures.