PADI Advanced Open Water Course

Take your scuba diving to the next level with the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, based entirely in Southern California. This course is perfect for divers who want to challenge themselves, explore new underwater environments, and gain advanced skills and confidence. From local beaches to offshore boat dives, Catalina Island, and the Channel Islands, Southern California offers some of the most exciting and diverse dive experiences in the U.S.

📚 What You’ll Learn

• Deep Diving (up to 30 meters / 100 feet): Explore deeper reefs, walls, and kelp forests while mastering safety, dive planning, and buoyancy.
• Underwater Navigation: Navigate like a pro using natural references and a compass.
• Three Specialty Dives: Choose from Night Diving, Wreck Diving, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Search & Recovery, Drift Diving, and more — tailored to your interests.
• Enhanced Skills & Safety Practices: Refine buoyancy, dive planning, and emergency management skills.
• Dive Environment Adaptation: Learn to handle currents, low visibility, and deeper waters commonly found in Southern California.
• Preparation for Specialty & Leadership Courses: Step toward Rescue Diver, Nitrox, Divemaster programs, and beyond.

🌟 Why Take This Course in Southern California?

Southern California is a diver’s paradise, offering kelp forests, colorful reefs, historic wrecks, and diverse marine life — all within reach of beach and boat dives. The Advanced Open Water Diver course equips you with the skills, confidence, and experience to safely explore these environments and prepare for specialty dives or leadership programs.

🏖️ Southern California Dive Experiences

Beach Diving:

• Practice skills and explore shallow reefs, kelp forests, and rocky coves along the coast.
• Ideal for controlled skill development and spotting local marine life.

Boat Diving:

• Access deeper reefs, kelp forests, walls, and wrecks further offshore.
• Experience advanced navigation and adventurous dive locations safely.

Catalina Island & Casino Point:

• Clear waters, colorful reefs, vibrant kelp forests, and abundant marine life.
• Perfect for both beginner and advanced adventure dives.

Channel Islands:

• Explore pristine dive sites at Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and more.
• Dramatic kelp forests, abundant marine life, and historic wrecks.

Other Local Sites:

• From as far South as San Diego where you can discover Wreck Alley, or head down to Coronado Islands to dive with Sea lions, to as far north as the Channel Islands, Southern California offers endless adventure.

Course Options 

• Private Adventure — personalized instruction, flexible scheduling, and dives tailored to your experience level.
• Group Adventure — learn and explore with fellow divers under expert guidance.

Dive deeper, explore further, and embrace the adventure of Southern California diving — sign up today!