| Once the basic open water scuba diving certification | | | | navigation, safety, search and recovery. The |
| has been successfully completed by new divers, there | | | | advanced open water is also a very fun course to |
| should be some consideration to taking the next | | | | take. It does require some reading with a manual that |
| training level up which is the advanced open water | | | | will be supplied by the dive instructor but unlike the |
| course. Prior to that, it is probably a good idea to get | | | | basic open water certification course, no written exam |
| some more experience as a new scuba diver right | | | | is required. The advanced course is mostly practical as |
| after the basic certification by doing several easy | | | | it consists of several open water dives with a dive |
| beginner level dives to further sharpen the basic skills | | | | instructor over two days. Each open water dive during |
| and to appreciate the new underwater world. This can | | | | the advanced course will feature different types of |
| be easily done with a week of scuba diving at a | | | | dive skills. One will work on improving navigation while |
| destination where there are plenty of easier dive sites | | | | another will involve a deep dive. Other dives may |
| such as the Florida Keys. There's no rush to do the | | | | include diving on wrecks, night diving and some basic |
| more difficult dives for now. | | | | rescue techniques. |
| Although it is quite possible to do deeper and more | | | | All major scuba diving training certification agencies |
| advance level dives as one gets more experience in | | | | such as NAUI, PADI and SSI will have an advanced |
| diving without taking another course, it is much more | | | | scuba diver course. All dive schools and operators that |
| ideal to get introduced to more difficult dives with an | | | | have scuba training will have the advanced course |
| instructor. Deep dives, night dives, drift dives and dive | | | | available. At many dive destinations, some dive |
| sites with moderate currents can be too challenging | | | | operators will insist upon a minimum of advanced open |
| for new divers. Even though many advanced dives | | | | water certification in order to take charter dive trips |
| are very exciting and rewarding, doing them without | | | | which involve higher level dive sites. For example, the |
| proper training can be dangerous. There's no such | | | | deeper shipwreck dives of the Spiegel Grove, Duane |
| thing as getting too much education and training in | | | | and the Bibb located off Key Largo all require |
| scuba diving. | | | | advanced or higher certification cards before the local |
| The advanced scuba diver course was designed to | | | | dive operators will allow divers on those particular |
| help divers get the proper training for advanced dives | | | | dives. |
| as well as developing further skills including underwater | | | | |