PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course

Ready to advance your diving skills? The Maldives is the ideal place to complete your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification, and Fulidhoo Dive offers some of the most spectacular dive sites to take your diving experience to new depths!

Whether you're planning to dive five or more times during your stay, we highly recommend upgrading to the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course. With amazing dive sites around Fulidhoo that reach depths of up to 30 meters, this course is the perfect way to explore deeper waters and unlock a range of exciting adventure dives.

What to Expect from the Course

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course consists of five adventure dives designed to build on your skills, knowledge, and experience. There's no exam – just plenty of diving fun! The course includes two mandatory adventure dives:

• Deep Diver – Explore depths of up to 30 meters and experience the thrill of deep diving.

• Underwater Navigator – Master underwater navigation using a compass and natural references.

In addition to these two dives, you can choose from several other adventure dives, such as:

• Drift Diver – Glide effortlessly with the current in Fulidhoo’s beautiful drift dives.

• Fish Identification – Learn to identify local marine life and enhance your underwater observations.

• Night Diver – Discover the nocturnal world of the reef and see how the ocean changes after dark.

• Underwater Naturalist – Dive deeper into the world of marine ecology and learn more about the environment.

• Peak Performance Buoyancy – Improve your buoyancy skills and become more efficient and relaxed underwater.

• Underwater Imagery – Perfect for those with an underwater camera, this dive focuses on improving your photography skills.

The course is typically completed over 2-3 days, with the Underwater Navigator dive usually taking place in our calm lagoon, while the other dives are part of the regular boat trips.

Why Choose the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course in Fulidhoo?

• Multiple Dive Sites: Experience a variety of dive sites, ideal for deep dives, drift dives, and adventure dives, with diverse marine life all around.

• Personalized Attention: We follow PADI standards, but our small class sizes (rarely more than 4 students per instructor) allow for more focused, personalized instruction.

• No Exam: The course is about diving, not testing. You’ll complete knowledge reviews after each chapter, but there’s no final exam.

• Option to Earn Specialty Credit: Some of the adventure dives you complete during the course may count toward specialty certifications, such as Deep Diver or Drift Diver.

Learning Materials

Most students prefer to study from the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver manual, which can be completed during your stay. While digital learning is available, it doesn't include the Drift Diver chapter (our most popular choice), so we recommend using the book for this course.

Prerequisites & Good to Know

• Medical Questionnaire: You must complete the PADI Medical Questionnaire to ensure you are fit to dive.

• Minimum Age: The course is open to divers 12 years or older. For Junior Open Water Divers, the Junior Advanced Open Water Diver course is available (with a 21-meter depth limit until age 15).

• Theory & Knowledge Reviews: There are 5 chapters of theory and 5 knowledge reviews, but no final exam.

• Student-to-Instructor Ratio: We keep groups small, with a maximum of 4 students per instructor, ensuring more personal attention and a better learning experience.

Other Considerations

• Timing: While some believe you should have 50 dives before taking the Advanced course, we recommend taking the course as soon as you feel comfortable and ready. PADI’s Advanced course is designed to "advance" your knowledge and skills, not just for experienced divers. You’ll be a safer, more confident diver with the extra training!

• Insurance: Diving insurance is required for all divers. You can buy your own or purchase Divers Alert Network (DAN) insurance from us for just 15 USD per week.

• Flight Regulations: Please remember that you cannot dive 12 hours after flying or 24 hours before your flight.

Ready to Take Your Diving to the Next Level?

Contact us today to book your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course or to learn more about how you can enhance your diving experience with us in Fulidhoo!