Port Douglas PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course

Our Port Douglas PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is designed to enhance your diving skills and knowledge through hands-on, instructor-led practice. The course includes two foundational dives: Navigation and Deep, along with three elective dives chosen from a menu of 13 options. This personalised approach ensures your course reflects your interests, with each dive serving as the first dive of the corresponding specialty.

Our Port Douglas PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course spans three days:

• Day 1: Pool and Classroom Session
  • Review your eLearning/manual and clarify any questions.
  • Conduct a pool session to review scuba skills and ensure your comfort.
  • Practice skills specific to your chosen elective dive, such as buoyancy drills for Peak Performance Buoyancy, using your camera/video for Digital Underwater Imaging, or rigging a lift bag with appropriate knots for Search & Recovery.
• Days 2 and 3: Open Water Dives
  • Spend two days out diving on the Great Barrier Reef, completing the five dives required for your Port Douglas PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

This course is an excellent opportunity to advance your diving abilities while exploring new areas of interest, all under the guidance of our experienced instructors. Dive deeper into your underwater adventure with us!

PADI Advanced Open Water Diver eLearning offers interactive lessons on 13 popular specialty dives, including Altitude, Boat, Digital Underwater Imaging, Drift, Dry Suit, Fish ID, Night, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Search & Recovery, Underwater Naturalist and Wreck diving. You’ll study Deep and Navigation diving along with three specialties of your choosing.

eLearning Time Commitment: 6 – 8 hours

For those who prefer a more traditional approach, classroom sessions are also available in Port Douglas, providing a structured learning environment. This flexibility ensures you can learn in a way that best suits your style and schedule.

Using a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Manual is still an option, providing a valuable reference for future review. The manual consists of five sections that you need to read, each ending with a “Knowledge Review” that you must complete. If you’re unsure of an answer, simply refer back to the relevant part of the manual to find it. This method ensures you get the most out of your manual. All five “Knowledge Reviews” must be completed before the class begins.

Manual Time Commitment: 6 – 8 hours

Course Duration: 3 days

• Day 1: Classroom and pool session to review your eLearning/manual, address any questions, and practice scuba skills.
• Days 2 and 3: Open water dives to complete the five required dives for your certification. The required dives are Underwater Navigation and Deep, plus three elective dives of your choice. Each of these dives serves as the first dive of the corresponding specialty and can be credited toward that specialty at your instructor’s discretion.

Once you have completed the classroom and pool sessions, you will embark on five dives over two days in the magnificent Great Barrier Reef, with ABC Reef Safaris. This comprehensive approach ensures you are well-prepared and confident in your diving skills.

Course Prerequisites:

• PADI Open Water Diver, PADI Junior Open Water Diver, or qualifying entry-level certification
• EFR Primary and Secondary Care training within the last 24 months

Minimum Age: 12 years

• Divers 15 years or older earn a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification.
• Divers between the ages of 12 and 14 years earn the PADI Junior Advanced Open Water Diver certification.
• Divers 10 and 11 years old can earn the PADI Junior Adventure Diver certification. Upon turning 12, they can complete the Deep dive to earn the PADI Junior Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

Note: Divers certified as PADI Junior Advanced Open Water Divers automatically become PADI Advanced Open Water Divers at age 15. Any replacement certification card or eCard purchased the day after the diver’s 15th birthday will automatically reflect the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification (not PADI Junior Advanced Open Water Diver).

Scuba diving requires a minimum level of health and fitness. Chronic health conditions, certain medications and/or recent surgery may necessitate written approval from a physician before you can dive. To avoid disappointment, please review the “Diver Medical Form” to determine if you need a physician’s approval before enrolling in our Port Douglas PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course. Dive Instructors are not physicians and cannot provide medical advice.

We suggest seeing a doctor before enrolling in the Port Douglas PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course and obtaining a medical statement declaring you “fit to dive”. By taking this step, you’ll be ready to fully enjoy your diving experience with confidence and peace of mind.

Meals:

• During the pool/class sessions, please bring your own lunch.
• On the two open water days, lunch will be provided.

Personal Equipment:

• Each student needs to have their own mask, fins and snorkel. Some snorkeling equipment may be suitable for scuba diving.
• If you don’t have these items, you can purchase them from our specialist Port Douglas Dive Store which stocks a great range of equipment.

Scuba Equipment:

• All necessary scuba equipment can be provided for $60 per day for the pool dives and open water dives, totaling $180 for the course.

We aim to ensure you have everything you need for a safe and enjoyable diving experience. If you have any questions or need assistance with your equipment, our team is here to help!

Learning to dive at a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre ensures you receive top-quality instruction and facilities for your Port Douglas PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course. Once certified, you will receive a prestigious “Gold” certification card.

We maintain small class sizes, allowing you to receive almost individual attention from our experienced instructors. Our instructors are fluent and relaxed in teaching scuba diving, ensuring a comfortable and supportive learning environment.

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is performance-based, meaning both you and your instructor need to feel confident in your diving skills before progressing to the next stage. This approach ensures that you have ample time to develop into a confident and competent diver.

Your enjoyment is essential for a couple of reasons: it increases the likelihood that you will dive again and encourages you to become an advocate for the marine environment. Your enthusiasm and love for diving can inspire others and contribute to the protection and preservation of our precious marine ecosystems.

Embark on this journey with us and dive into a world of adventure and discovery Any questions or concerns? Please email us, our PADI Course Director Wayne Abraham is happy to help!

As a certified PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, you can:

• Buy or hire scuba equipment.
• Plan no-decompression dives with a buddy to a maximum depth of 30 meters.
• Enroll in continuing education courses to explore special interests.

One exciting option is our Port Douglas PADI Rescue Diver course, which also offers an eLearning component. This four-day course begins with two days at our pool/class facility. During the class sessions, we review your eLearning or manual, answer any questions, and then move on to pool dives where we review all scuba diving skills and introduce specific rescue skills, such as surfacing an unconscious diver and more.

The PADI Rescue Diver course is highly beneficial as it boosts your confidence and makes you a sought-after dive buddy. Plus, it’s a lot of fun! Continuing your diving education not only enhances your skills but also opens up new opportunities for exploration and adventure in the underwater world. Dive deeper into your scuba journey with us and discover the exciting possibilities that await!