PADI Advanced Open Water: Is the Course Worth It?
PADI Advanced Open Water: Is the Course Worth It? (Honest Review)
After the Open Water Diver course, many divers ask themselves the same question: do I really need the Advanced course, or is my current certification enough? Here's an honest assessment — based on what the course actually delivers and who really benefits from it at Scuba World Divers.
What Actually Changes with Advanced Certification?
The most important difference: your maximum dive depth extends from 18 to 30 meters. That might sound like a formality at first, but it opens up a different world in the Red Sea. Many of the most spectacular sites — including sections of Elphinstone Reef and the Salem Express wreck — sit at depths only accessible to Advanced-certified divers.
The second major change: navigation skills. The course makes you a noticeably more confident and independent diver underwater.
Course Structure — 5 Specialties in 2 Days
The PADI Advanced Open Water course consists of five dives over two days, two of which are mandatory:
- Deep Diving (mandatory): controlled dives down to 30 meters with depth awareness training
- Underwater Navigation (mandatory): compass and natural navigation techniques
- Three elective specialties chosen from: Night Diving, Wreck Diving, Naturalist, Photo/Video, Drift Diving, Boat Diving, Buoyancy, and more
This flexibility lets you customise the course to your interests. Diving the Salem Express? Choose Wreck Diving as a specialty. Interested in Nitrox? Add it to your plan.
Cost and Duration
The PADI Advanced Open Water course at Scuba World Divers starts from €280 online (10% discount already applied) and typically takes two days. All details and exact pricing for each location are in our PADI course cost guide for Egypt 2026.
Requirements:
- PADI Open Water Diver certification (or equivalent)
- Minimum age 12 years (Junior Advanced Open Water available)
- No minimum number of logged dives required
Is the Advanced Course Actually Worth It?
Yes, if:
- You dive regularly and want to explore beyond 18 meters
- You're interested in deeper or more demanding sites like Elphinstone Reef, Abu Dabbab or the Salem Express
- You're planning to continue toward Rescue Diver or Divemaster — Advanced is a prerequisite for both
- You want to add Nitrox to maximise your bottom time in the Red Sea
Less urgent, if:
- You dive once or twice a year and are happy with shallower house reefs
- Your goals are mostly snorkel-adjacent areas
What Many Don't Know — A Real Safety Boost
Beyond the depth extension, the Advanced course delivers a noticeable safety benefit that most divers don't expect going in. The navigation exercises significantly improve underwater orientation — and better spatial awareness means calmer, more controlled diving at any depth.
Scuba World Divers holds a 6.0/6.0 — Excellent rating on HolidayCheck — partly because our instructors teach Advanced courses in small groups with personalised feedback on exactly these skills.
How Does Advanced Compare to Other Next Steps?
| Course | Duration | What It Unlocks | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Open Water | 2 days | 30m depth + navigation | Most divers |
| Nitrox | 1 day | Longer bottom times | Active divers |
| Rescue Diver | 3 days | Emergency response skills | Safety focus |
| Divemaster | 2-3 months | Professional leadership | Career divers |
Many divers combine Advanced Open Water + Nitrox in the same week — both courses take just 3 days total and the combination is the most effective upgrade for Red Sea diving.
What Sites Open Up After Advanced?
Completing your Advanced certification at Scuba World Divers gives you immediate access to:
- Elphinstone Reef — one of the world's top shark dive sites, reaching 30m+ along the wall
- Salem Express — historical wreck at 10-30m, one of the most moving dives in the Red Sea
- Abu Dabbab — dugongs and sea turtles in deeper sandy bays
- Full Dolphin House dive zone — the deeper reef section below the snorkel zone
- All Makadi Bay dive sites including deeper reef walls and the El Mina wreck
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take Advanced right after Open Water?
Yes — there's no mandatory waiting period or minimum logged dives between courses. Many guests complete both during the same trip. If you're new to diving, read our beginner's guide to Marsa Alam first.
Is the Advanced course physically demanding?
Not significantly — the focus is on new skills and situational awareness, not fitness. Most divers find it less physically demanding than expected.
Can I add specialties from Advanced separately later?
Yes — individual PADI specialty courses can be booked at any time as standalone courses.
What's the difference between Advanced Open Water and the Rescue Diver course?
Advanced focuses on your own skills and depth range. Rescue Diver focuses on helping others in emergencies — and is the course most divers describe as the most transformative of all.
Can children take the Advanced course?
Yes — the Junior Advanced Open Water Diver is available from age 12, with certain depth restrictions that are lifted at age 15.
Book Your PADI Advanced Open Water Course
Scuba World Divers offers the PADI Advanced Open Water course at all our Red Sea locations — Marsa Alam, Makadi Bay, El Gouna, Soma Bay and Sahl Hasheesh — plus Zanzibar. Book online and save 10%.
Not yet Open Water certified? Start with our PADI Open Water Diver course and complete Advanced in the same trip.