PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
Take your diving further — explore up to 30m depth, develop navigation skills, and complete 5 specialty adventure dives over 2–3 days.
Duration
2–3 days
Max Depth
30m
Min Age
12+
Certification
Advanced Open Water Diver
The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is the most natural next step after your Open Water certification. In just 2–3 days you’ll expand your depth limit from 18m to 30 metres, sharpen your underwater navigation, and complete 5 adventure dives across a range of specialty disciplines.
There’s no exam — just diving. And in Koh Samui, that means boat dives to sites like Sail Rock, Koh Tao, and Chumphon Pinnacle — some of the best diving in the Gulf of Thailand.
Why Do the PADI Advanced Open Water Course?
- Dive deeper — unlock depths down to 30m, including wreck and wall sections only accessible to advanced divers
- Dive smarter — improve your underwater navigation so you never get lost at a dive site
- Build confidence — 5 guided adventure dives with an expert PADI instructor
- Prerequisite for Rescue Diver and access to more challenging dive sites worldwide
5 Adventure Dives — What to Expect
Two adventure dives are mandatory for all PADI Advanced Open Water Divers:
- Deep Adventure Dive — descend to 30m with your instructor, exploring the effects of depth, nitrogen narcosis awareness, and gas management
- Underwater Navigation — use a compass and natural references to navigate precisely underwater
You choose 3 elective dives from our available specialties. Popular options at Silent Divers include:
- Peak Performance Buoyancy — perfect your trim and air consumption
- Search & Recovery — use patterns to locate objects underwater
- Fish Identification — learn to recognise the Gulf of Thailand’s marine life
- Underwater Naturalist — understand the reef ecosystem
- Wreck Diver — explore sunken vessels safely
- Enriched Air Nitrox — dive safer and stay down longer
Course Structure
Day 1 — eLearning review + first adventure dives (typically Deep + Navigation at local sites)
Days 2–3 — Three elective adventure dives by boat to Sail Rock, Koh Tao, or Chumphon Pinnacle depending on conditions and your chosen specialties
Hotel pickup arranged, boat departs around 9am, back by 3–4pm on boat days.
After Advanced Open Water
Your AOWD certification is the prerequisite for the PADI Rescue Diver course — widely considered the most rewarding course in recreational diving. It also opens up deeper dive sites on all our dive tours.
What's Included
- PADI eLearning materials
- PADI certification fees
- Hotel transfers
- Professional dive instructor
- 5 adventure dives (incl. Deep dive to 30m and Underwater Navigation)
- Dive insurance
- All scuba equipment
- Lunch and drinks on boat days
Not Included
- Towels
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
FAQ
Usually we don't take Open Water divers to Chumphon Pinnacle, due to the advanced conditions. The AOWD opens up the full 30m depth of the site — including the best anemone-covered sections.
Typically 2–3 days depending on your chosen elective dives. Some dives can be combined into full boat day trips.
No written exam. The course is all in-water with knowledge reviews completed online via PADI eLearning.
12 years old (Junior Advanced Open Water Diver). Full certification at 15+.
Guests
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your trip
You might also like
Explore more adventures with Silent Divers.
Diving Tour Ang Thong Marine Park
Explore 42 pristine islands in Ang Thong National Marine Park — dramatic limestone cliffs, vibrant coral reefs, and rich marine life in a protected paradise.
Diving Tour Chumphon Pinnacle
Experience one of Thailand's most sought-after advanced dive sites — a granite pinnacle adorned with pink anemones, schooling fish, and the chance to see whale sharks.
PADI Deep Diver
Safely plan and execute dives to 30m — unlock deeper wrecks, walls, and reefs in just 2 days. The most popular PADI specialty course.
PADI Discover Scuba Diving
Try scuba diving for the first time — no certification required. Two open water dives with a professional instructor for ages 10 and up.
