As a PDA Open Water Diver (or equivalent other diving associations) with only 5 dives you can register for the PDA Advanced OWD course. After passing the PDA AOWD course you are allowed to dive to a maximum depth of 30 meters. An extension up to 40m is possible, if the special course deep diving was completed with another open water dive, this additional training is also possible during the PDA AOWD course.

(The Rescue Diver course is recommended afterwards)

In contrast to the OWD which is the basic dive training, the AOWD is designed for the learning of optional procedures and techniques. In this course, the instructor combines theory and practice in one, i.e. practice-oriented course. In the AOWD course 5 areas have to be completed. 2 of them given and 3 at your discretion. In this course you will learn the basics, which you can of course deepen later with special courses.

The prescribed areas are:

Navigation and deep diving (buoyancy is additionally recommended depending on the level of training).

Then you have the choice between:                                                                                                                                         Search and Recovery, Night Dive, Group Guiding, Boat Dive, etc. Your instructor can advise you on this.

As described before, deep diving is in the foreground. In order to carry out deep diving safely, a good buoyancy control is necessary. Also the navigation in larger depths is not to be neglected.

Navigation:

After a briefing in using the compass, the exercises will be carried out. Usually these are triangle diving and square diving, both left and right. Another component is natural navigation (including the surroundings).

Deep diving:

Since all dives are no decompression dives, the dive table will be dealt with intensively during this course. A good command of this table is essential for deep dives. The appropriate equipment must be chosen according to the environmental conditions. (Lamp, compass, breathing apparatus etc.)

Buoyancy:

Here the main focus is on keeping yourself safely constant at any depth. Various exercises will be directly put into practice after instruction.

Optional dives:

Depending on your wishes, the 3 further dives will be carried out after a briefing with your diving instructor.

After successful completion of these dives you will have passed your AOWD and will receive your AOWD certification, which entitles you to participate in dives up to 30 meters worldwide.