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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.

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.  

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
Wed, March 24	March 27, 28

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

• Join us for Saturday or Sunday only.  
• You can complete 2 "Adventure Dives" on one weekend and then finish your AOW course in the future.  
• Each dive will cost $50 (plus rental gear if needed).  

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

 

Student feedback, from Ashley A. who completed the AOW course in February 2009:

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 

 

NEW PADI eLearning Option: 

PADI has recently introduced a new AOW eLearning option (March 2009).  

Instead of buying the manual and doing the knowledge reviews by hand, check out the new PADI AOW online course by going here: www.padi/com/elearning-scuba-registration/default.aspx www.padi.com/elearning-scuba-registration/default.aspx

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.)