AQUARIUS DIVE SHOP
2040 Del Monte Ave., Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831)375-1933 Dive Conditions Line: (831)657-1020
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am - 6:00pm, Sat-Sun 7:00am - 6:00pm

PADI Advanced Open Water (AOW)

The PADI Advanced Open Water course is a fun experience which has been designed to accomplish several goals:
  • To help divers of varying experience levels to advance their diving skills.
  • To provide a guided introduction to new types of diving activities.
  • To give divers a chance to have fun and enjoy diving via structured, group activities.
SCUBA Diver There are no written exams here, just some reading and writing assignments followed by 5 adventure dives. These dives consist of a Deep Dive, an Underwater Navigation Dive, and 3 elective Adventure Dives. 

Our most popular elective dives are:

  • Boat
  • Dry Suit
  • Night
  • Multi-Level/Computer
  • Peak Performance Buoyancy
  • Search & Recovery
  • Underwater Naturalist
  • Underwater Photographer
(Please note:  It is not possible to do Drift or Wreck Dives during our AOW course.)  

Gain a higher level of confidence and competence in the water. Improve your skills and become an Advanced Open Water Diver!

Cost

Cost of the course is $200.  If you need equipment for your dives, it is available through our rental department at a discounted price for the course.  You will also need the PADI "Adventures in Diving" manual, which is available for $40.40.

Schedule

The Orientation Session will be in the shop at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  This will be our opportunity to plan which adventure dives each person will be doing over the weekend.  We will also complete all required paperwork (e.g. liability release, medical statement).  Also, if you will be using your own equipment, we recommend you bring it in so we can help you check it to make sure it is all in good, working condition and ready for your dives.  (If you are unable to come to the Orientation Session, let us know and we can e-mail the required forms, and discuss the plan for the weekend, over the phone with you.)  

The Ocean Dives will take place over a weekend, with 3 dives on Saturday and 2 dives on Sunday.  The dives on Saturday will be shore dives.  We recommend going on a boat on Sunday, but we allow the class members to decide whether they want to dive from shore or from a boat on Sunday.  An additional fee ($90) will be charged if the class decides to go on a boat on Sunday. 

Schedule of Upcoming Classes
Orientation Session Ocean Dives
**  2012 **
Wed, Feb 15 Saturday, Feb 18 and Sunday, Feb 19
Wed, Mar 21 Saturday, March 24 and Sunday March 25
Wed, Apr 18 Saturday, Apr 21 and Sunday, Apr 22

NEW!  DRY SUIT OPTION

If you've been thinking about buying a Dry Suit, why not try one out while you do the AOW course?    

Option #1:   Rent a Dry Suit for use during the AOW course.  For a cost of $150,  we will fit you in one of our rental/training dry suits, take you for a confined water dry suit training session (before the AOW course begins) and provide you with use of the Dry Suit for all 5 dives of the AOW course.  

Option #2:   Complete a Dry Suit certification and rent a Dry Suit for use during the AOW course.   For a cost of $275, we will take you for a confined water training session (before the AOW course begins) and 1 additional Dry Suit dive on Sunday afternoon (after the AOW course ends).   The cost also includes your copy of PADI Dry Suit Crew-Pack (list price $59.90) which you will study prior to your dry suit dives and your PADI Dry Suit Certification card.  

If you buy a Dry Suit from us within 90 days of finishing the AOW course, we will provide you with a credit a $150 towards the price of a new dry suit.  So -- why not dive dry??  

PADI eLearning Option: 

PADI offers an AOW eLearning option.  

Instead of buying the manual and doing the knowledge reviews by hand, you can take the    PADI AOW online course by going here: 

If you choose the PADI eLearning option, we recommend you read the material for the following 7 dives:  Boat, Deep, Night, Peak Performance Bouyancy, Search and Recovery, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Navigator.   (Since we don't have Wreck diving here in Monterey, our AOW choices include Search and Recovery instead of Wreck diving.) 

Alternative Schedule:  Don't have time to do 5 dives or spend the whole weekend in an AOW class?   

If this idea appeals to you, please call us to discuss this option.

 

  Student feedback, from Ashley A. who completed the AOW course with us:

Dear Bruce:  I just wanted to THANK YOU for such an incredible weekend! You taught me so much about the course and the underwater life using your vast knowledge and life experiences.  I could not have learned so much with another instructor.  You taught me Advanced Open Water, but also how to withstand and enjoy California's most wicked conditions. Your happiest customer, Ashley 

 

 

Hermissenda Crassicornis