The Advanced Open Water Diver course moves you a level up in scuba certification, helping you perfect the skills you acquired in your Open Water Course. It is the next step in continuing your dive education, recreationally or professionally. The Advanced course consists of five dives, out of which there are two mandatory dives and three elective dives. The two mandatory dives are deep dive and underwater navigation. For the electives, you can pick between a variety of dives including drift dive, night dive, underwater photography, search and recovery, wreck dive, fish identification among many others. The Advanced course can be completed over 3-4 days. You can be assured that your Advanced dives will be packed with adventure and will make you a more confident and safe diver at the end of the course. We offer the Advanced course at our base in Puducherry, which is easily accessible by road from the airport and the railway station. Waters off the coast of Puducherry make the perfect environment for an Advanced course, particularly if you take up drift diving as an elective, owing to the moderate-strong current in the water. The underwater world in Puducherry is also rich in marine biodiversity allowing you to spot batfish, silver moonies and even whale sharks if you are out on a lucky day! Unlike other dive destinations which are seasonal, Puducherry has suitable conditions for diving throughout the year. While diving activities are conducted on a regular basis, the best time to dive is between February to April for calm water conditions and high visibility underwater.
To sign up for the Advanced Open Water course, one must be a certified Open Water Diver (which is also a course we offer). Similar to the Open Water Course, an eLearning module will be provided, which has to be completed prior to starting the dives. In this module, you will study deep diving and underwater navigation along with the three electives that you pick. It is mandatory to clear the eLearning module.
While signing up for the course, you will be asked to provide your Open Water certificate and a few other documents that would have been handed to you after your Open Water course. And don’t forget to carry your log book to log your dives! Important Note: In case you are travelling by air, please check with us before booking your flight. It is recommended that you do not fly for 24 hours after your last dive to avoid any issues pertaining to decompression sickness.Please note, if you are a beginner looking for an entry point to start out on your scuba diving journey, we also offer a 2-day Discover Scuba Diving program.
Arrival in Pondicherry
The first day is reserved to make your way to Puducherry. The drive from the Chennai airport takes around 3 hours - the road goes by the sea, giving you a taste of the coastal life. The drive takes you through many small towns and villages with tea shops which can serve as worthy pit-stops, if you might need any. Once in Puducherry, you can check into your hotel and have lunch. If you are willing to explore, Puducherry is home to beautiful artisanal cafes and restaurants which offer a variety of cuisines.
You can relax and spend the rest of the day walking around Puducherry’s french colonies and beaches. Since deep dives require significant travel on the boat to the dive site, your dives will only begin early tomorrow. Be sure to get ample rest and take your seasickness medication after consulting your instructor. Your instructor or a member of our team will inform you about the schedule for the next day.
Dive 1 & 2 of the course
Duration: 4-5 hours
Have an early breakfast at the hotel after which we assist you to the dive shop. We can take a fresh sizing or use your Open Water records to get the perfect fit for your gear. You will be escorted to the jetty where you will head out into the ocean on a boat with your instructor and other divers. Your instructor will brief you about the dives either at the dive shop or the jetty. Underwater navigation can be a little tricky so it’s important that you pay attention and ask questions if needed. You know the drill by now!
The boat ride to the deep site can be a long one. Relax and have a good time with your fellow divers. Our boat rides are usually fun filled with divers playing music and singing along! Once you reach the site, you follow the usual routine of kitting up and taking the plunge. During the deep dive, note that we will be going a lot deeper than your Open Water dives. We will be diving to a maximum depth of 30m. This being your first deep dive, it is natural that you will consume more air. Therefore, it is important that you and your dive buddy constantly keep checking each other’s air levels to ensure that you do not run out.
Deep sites, being far from the coast, are extremely rich in marine biodiversity and the underwater visibility is also higher. There is a reason deep dives are highly sought after and all the divers love a trip to the deep sites! Putting your Open Water skills to use, have all the fun you can swimming around the reef and spotting different plants and creatures. Always keep an eye on your air levels and your dive computer to ensure that you are diving in a safe range.
Once you finish the dive and climb onto the boat, drink plenty of water and help yourself to the snacks that are stocked up. During your surface interval, make sure you change your cylinder and get some rest while the boat moves on to the next site.
The underwater navigation dive usually happens at a shallow site. During this dive, you will learn how to use a compass underwater to navigate and move around. Being underwater can be disorienting and hence it is extremely important to pay attention to these skills in order to not swim too far away from the boat. Your instructor will teach you how to move around in different directions using the compass. Once you have performed the skills to a satisfactory level, you can swim around the site and enjoy your surroundings!
We head back for the day and get ample rest and lots of food to energise ourselves for tomorrow!
Dive 3, 4 & 5 of the course
Duration: 4-5 hours
Today we head out to complete your three elective dives. These dives depend on your choice of elective and the availability of the same on that particular day. You can pick from a variety of elective dives offered by us. These include:
You can speak to our dive professionals or your assigned instructor to arrive on which elective choices suit your interests and abilities the most. Should you require any clarifications or further information, be assured that our team will be happy to discuss the same with you.
After completing your dives, we head back to the dive shop where you can log your dives using your dive computer. A member of our team will update your dives on the PADI portal to register you as an Advanced Open Water Diver and provide you with the certificate. Congratulations, you have now reached the next level in scuba certification! In the event that you want to take your dive education further, you can discuss the same with your instructor who will guide you through it and provide you comprehensive feedback on your current abilities and how you can build them.
You have the rest of the day in Puducherry to celebrate your achievement! Be sure to hydrate and get lots of rest as doing three dives in a day can be extremely tiring. You can spend the night in Puducherry and drive back towards Chennai the next day to make your onward journey.
If you're looking to do a Discover Scuba Diving program, then no, swimming skills are not a prerequisite. However, you should be able to swim 200m and float for 10 minutes to take part in the Open Water Diver course.
Yes, you can. It is recommended that you use a menstrual cup or tampon while diving.
No, you should not be diving in the event that you are experiencing symptoms of cold, cough or throat pain. It could lead to complications during the dive, so it's best to avoid it.
There is no fitness benchmark as such to be able to scuba dive. However, an average fitness level will help you dive better and enjoy your time underwater. Those enrolling for the Open Water course need to be able to swim 200m and float for 10 minutes.
Yes, you can still dive if you wear prescription glasses. Vision underwater is a lot more magnified so people with low power do not have to wear lenses or prescription masks while diving. However, if your power is high, you might need your lenses or a prescription mask. Please check with our dive professionals about the same during your enrollment.
As a Discover Scuba Diver, one will be diving to a maximum depth of 12m or 40 ft. As an Open Water Diver, one will be diving to a maximum depth of 30m or 100 ft.
If you are someone who experiences motion sickness, it is highly likely that you will get seasick. However, this is very common on the boat and we prescribe medicines to avoid the same.
All Open Water and Advanced Open Water divers will be certified by PADI at the end of their course. The Discover Scuba Diving program is not a PADI certified course but you will be receiving a certificate from us for completing the same.
Typically, dives last anywhere between 30-45 mins. It could be less or more than that depending on your air consumption underwater.
No, running out of air underwater is extremely unlikely as you and the dive professional assisting you would constantly keep tabs on how much air you have left using the gauge which is part of your equipment.
Yes. It is a safe diving practice to let your instructor or dive professional know in case of any issue or discomfort that you are facing. The first goal of scuba diving is to always return safely back to the surface. Please do not hesitate from ending the dive in such situations.
Carry a towel, change of clothes, sunscreen and a bottle of water.
The minimum age requirement is 10 years and there is no upper limit.
The dive package does not include your transfers from the airport/railway station, accommodation and food. Please make arrangements for the same. You can reach out to us for any assistance in making these arrangements.
The course costs include the rental fee for scuba equipment. However, you may choose to purchase your own equipment as you progress further and plan to take up scuba professionally.
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Prajjwal Rawat 07 September 2022
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