Explore More with PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Certification!

Take your diving skills to the next level and dive into new adventures with Sail Fish Scuba in Key Largo, Florida. The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification is your gateway to deeper exploration, helping you build confidence while expanding your abilities underwater. You’ll hone your navigation skills, experience a deep dive, and choose three Adventure Dives to explore.

Our passionate PADI-certified instructors are here to guide you every step of the way, offering expert instruction in a fun, supportive environment. You'll master essential techniques while discovering the true adventure that lies beneath the surface!

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PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course

PADI Advanced Open Water dive on USS Spiegel Grove in Key Largo. Guided scuba diving tour Key Largo

Develop New Skills

Build on the skills you mastered during your Open Water course by exploring exciting new activities that enhance your abilities and boost your confidence—all with expert guidance from a PADI Instructor.

To earn your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification, you’ll complete five adventure dives: two required dives—Underwater Navigation and Deep Diving (up to 30 meters / 100 feet)—plus three additional adventure dives of your choice.

PADI Advanced Open Water Course Key Largo. Key Largo guided scuba diving tours. Key Largo PADI

Choose Your Adventure Dives

For your three additional adventure dives, you have an array of options to choose from, including Peak Performance Buoyancy, Drift Diving, Night Diving, Boat Diving, Enriched Air, Wreck Diving, Digital Underwater Imaging, Fish Identification, Dive Against Debris, Underwater Naturalist, and Search and Recovery.

Pick the specialties that excite you and tailor your PADI Advanced Open Water course to your interest!

PADI ADVANCED OPEN WATER DIVE KEY LARGO. GUIDED SCUBA DIVING TOUR KEY LARGO. KEY LARGO SCUBA

Expand Your Diving Horizons

Ready to take your diving to the next level? As your top-rated, 5-star PADI dive center, Sail Fish Scuba offers expert instruction and personalized guidance to help you expand your skills and explore new underwater adventures.

The PADI Advanced Open Water course is your gateway to deeper dives, specialized skills, and greater confidence beneath the waves. Don’t just dive—dive smarter, safer, and with more purpose!

Take the plunge and unlock new underwater horizons today.

Book your PADI Advanced Open Water course with Sail Fish Scuba today!

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What are Customers Saying?

"We drove up from Key West to do some diving in Key Largo with Sail Fish Scuba, and all we can say is WOW.

Everything about our time diving with SFS was magical, starting with the painless booking process. When we got to the shop, Michaela was super helpful in making sure we had all of the rental equipment we needed to dive over the course of two days.

We started out with two afternoon reef dives with Megan as our guide and saw some awesome wildlife. That evening, we went on a night dive with Tarek to the Benwood (or the “Turtle Hotel”). The next day, we did wreck dives to the Bibb and Spiegel Grove, plus some more reef dives in the afternoon.

By the end of the trip, we had earned our Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air PADI certifications! Tarek was an excellent instructor — extremely kind, patient, and knowledgeable. We felt safe and taken care of the entire time, especially important as we are both still novice divers. My partner was initially a little nervous for the wreck dives, but Tarek did a great job of explaining everything and provided her with the reassurance she needed to turn the nervousness into excitement. The Spiegel Grove was her favorite!...

Both Tarek and Michaela were also kind enough to give us recommendations for the area, so we knew where to go and what to do when we were in town.

Overall, we can’t say enough good things about SFS and the shop owners. We had a fantastic experience with them and look forward to coming back to Key Largo soon!"

Review by Gordon K.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at info@sailfishscuba.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

How Many Dives Do You Need for the Advanced Open Water Diver Course?

To start the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, you only need to hold your Open Water Diver certification. There’s no need for extra dives beyond those completed during your Open Water training—you just need to have finished all the dives required for that certification. In the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, you’ll complete five dives known as “Adventure Dives.” Two of these dives are mandatory: Deep Dive and Underwater Navigation. The other three dives are up to you. Discuss your preferences with us to explore the range of Adventure Dive options available!

Which Specialty Dives Does Sail Fish Scuba Recommend?

At Sail Fish Scuba, we recommend Peak Performance Buoyancy, Night Diving, and Wreck Diving as popular Adventure Dives. Peak Performance Buoyancy helps divers improve their buoyancy control, allowing them to dive with less weight, stay underwater longer, feel more relaxed, and enjoy better encounters with marine life. Since poor buoyancy control is a leading cause of diver injuries, we place high value on mastering these skills for safer, more enjoyable, and environmentally responsible diving. Night Diving offers a chance to experience the underwater world in a new light, as many marine creatures become more active after dark. Night diving requires different skills than daytime diving, and at Sail Fish Scuba, we guide you step-by-step to help you become a safe and confident night diver. Wreck Diving lets you explore fascinating sunken ships, learn about their history, and develop the specialized skills needed to dive safely around these unique sites. Key Largo is renowned for its incredible wreck dive sites, including the famous USS Spiegel Grove, making it a top destination for wreck diving enthusiasts.

What’s the Minimum Age for PADI AOW?

The minimum age to begin the Advanced Open Water Diver course is 12 years old. Divers aged 15 and older receive an Advanced Open Water Diver certification. Divers between 12 and 14 years old earn a Junior Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

Divers aged 10 to 11 can earn a Junior Adventure Diver certification. Once they turn 12, they may complete the deep dive and upgrade to a Junior Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

Junior Advanced Open Water Divers are automatically upgraded to an Advanced Open Water Diver certification on their 15th birthday. Any replacement certification card or eCard issued after a diver’s 15th birthday will show the Advanced Open Water Diver certification rather than the junior version.

Course prerequisites for PADI Advanced Open Water: PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open Water Diver, or a qualifying entry-level certification.

Do I Need Medical Clearance to Scuba Dive?

All students must fill out the Diver Medical Questionnaire before enrolling in a scuba course. Scuba diving requires a certain level of health and fitness. If you have chronic medical conditions, are on specific medications, or have recently had surgery, you might need written approval from a physician before diving. Completing the questionnaire helps determine if medical clearance is necessary and ensures your safety underwater.

I've earned My PADI Advanced Open Water Certification! What’s Next?

While completing your Advanced Open Water course, you’ll have the chance to try a variety of specialty dives that help you uncover what types of diving you enjoy and sharpen your skills. Even better, each dive can count toward a specialty certification. For instance, if wreck diving sparks your interest, that dive can be credited toward your Wreck Diver certification.

Consider these courses as your next steps:

If you like diving several times a day or embarking on longer dive trips, the Enriched Air Nitrox certification lets you stay underwater longer, explore greater depths, and spend less time on the surface.
To boost your confidence and enhance your ability to assist others underwater, the PADI Rescue Diver course is a great next step.

Why Sail Fish Scuba?

At Sail Fish Scuba, we’re dedicated to helping you take your diving skills to the next level with the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course. This exciting program is designed for certified divers ready to expand their experience and explore new underwater adventures.

We keep our groups small, with an instructor-to-student ratio of 4:1 or fewer, ensuring you get personalized guidance and support throughout the course. Our experienced instructors will lead you through five adventure dives, including deep diving, underwater navigation, and specialty dives tailored to your interests.

Dive confidently as you explore vibrant reefs, fascinating wrecks, and diverse marine life—all while sharpening your skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Join Sail Fish Scuba for your Advanced Open Water course and unlock new underwater horizons with expert guidance every step of the way.