PADI Advanced Open Water Course in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah

The PADI Advanced Open Water (AOW) course is for divers who have already completed an Open Water course and want to deepen their skills and widen the sites they are qualified to dive. The programme lasts two days and combines training in Abu Dhabi with a diving day in Fujairah. The aim is to make you a safer, more skilled diver, more comfortable underwater.

The first day takes place in Abu Dhabi and is devoted to navigation and Peak Performance Buoyancy. These two skills affect every dive: a diver in control of buoyancy uses less air, harms the environment less and enjoys the dive more. The training is with a certified PADI instructor.

The second day takes place in Fujairah, on the UAE's east coast. You make three adventure dives: a deep dive, plus two specialty dives of your choice from boat, wreck, drift or night diving. Exactly which options run on a given day may depend on conditions and the instructor.

What is included: a diving instructor, diving equipment, a changing room, a shower and a toilet. Five adventure dives are included: two mandatory, deep and navigation, plus three of your choice. What is not included: the PADI eLearning material, a towel and swimwear. It is wise to finish the study material before day one, so check your booking confirmation for how to receive it.

Entry requirement: you must be a certified Open Water diver. The certification is a requirement, and you cannot join the course without it. This page does not state a minimum age; ask the centre before booking if you have a question about it.

What to bring: a towel, swimwear and your Open Water certification. Arrive fresh and rested, because two days of diving take energy. On days with travel between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, plan your arrival at the meeting points in advance; you receive them with the booking.

The course cannot be cancelled or refunded once confirmed, so book when your dates are final. Sea conditions and weather may affect the schedule, and the decision rests with the dive instructor.

Why continue to an advanced course? The course is meant to make you a more proficient diver: you widen your experience, learn new skills and build on existing ones. It lets you sample several specialty areas, such as wreck diving, night diving and drift diving, before deciding which to focus on. Those who complete it are qualified to dive deeper and reach more dive sites around the world. The exact details of the certification, such as any further minimum requirements, are not on this page and should be checked with the dive centre.

Who is it for? Divers who completed a basic course and want to keep learning, travellers who want to complete a certification during a trip, and sea lovers who want to dive deeper and try specialties such as wreck diving.

The certification standard for the course is built on 5 adventure dives. Two of them are mandatory: the deep dive and the navigation dive. You choose the other three from a wide range, and the choice depends on what is available at the dive site and what the instructor can offer. An instructor accompanies you throughout the adventure dives.

On the deep dive the instructor takes you below the depth limit of the entry-level course. You learn to plan the dive within no-decompression limits, to notice that air is used faster at depth, and to recognise the early signs of narcosis so you know how to respond if it appears.

On the navigation dive you practise navigation and compass use first on land, and only then underwater. Underwater you navigate by counting fin kicks, using natural landmarks and swimming for set times.

The buoyancy topic also covers balancing your equipment on your body and choosing the right amount of weight, so you are neither too light nor too heavy in the water.

Anyone who chooses a night dive meets a different sea. Daytime fish hide or sleep, and many fish barely move. You may see an octopus pass by. The 'all OK' signal is shown with a large circular motion of the dive light.

On a drift dive the current carries the diver from one point to another. It can be less tiring than a regular dive, because the main goal is buoyancy control rather than swimming. Often a boat accompanies the divers.