Each of the five dives required for this certification focuses on a different skill area (see Dive Categories) and are designed so that you can complete them on a schedule that is convenient to you.
Each dive is preceded by an "at-the-site" lecture, and post dive review, and is designed to be self contained. The three dives described below are required.
Navigation 1 Dive: Students will learn basic use of a compass underwater. Buddy teams will practice locating objects underwater and swimming planned courses which return them to their starting point.
Night Dive: Students will learn proper lighting and other procedural techniques for diving at night. Students should have completed the Navigation 1 Dive and have logged 7 total dives before the night dive.
Deep Dive: Students will make a dive to depths between 50 to 100 feet.
The remaining two dives may be chosen from the Dive Categories list. When you register for the program you will receive a manual and course outline. You then sign-up for one of the dives and complete any reading or workbook assignments. Your course manual will outline the reading assignments, required equipment or other preparations you must complete before the day of the dive.
Whenever you have completed the dive requirements, you earn the certification.
This part of the program is designed to extend the range of environments in which a diver feels comfortable, and to provide additional information on topics covered briefly or not at all in Open Water courses.
To earn this certification a total of ten supervised dives must be completed. (The five from the Advanced Open Water course count toward these ten.) The ten must include a least four Deep Dives, a Search and Recovery Dive and an additional Navigation Dive. The dive requirements for this course are typically completed over a period of several months.
In addition to the dives, several lectures are required. ( Yes, it's back to the classroom ! ) The classroom lectures are:
Prior to certification students must pass a written exam and have a current CPR certification.
Join the program at any time. Earn Advanced Open Water Diver after completing the first five dives, and earn Silver Star Advanced when the additional requirements have been completed