Note | The former Advanced Adventurer program standard has been moved to the Appendix for reference purposes. This version remains accessible until the program is officially discontinued for certification processing.
The SSI Advanced Open Water Diver provides certified divers an introduction into five (5) different SSI specialty programs under the direct supervision of an SSI Professional. This certification program is intended to give new divers a variety of unique diving experiences that will hopefully fuel their passion for diving and dive education.
- For all Dedicated Equipment Specialty open water training dives, the instructor must hold a certification as the applicable Specialty Instructor.
Note | This program is designed to be completely focused on practical diving skills. The total number of hours is determined by the individual instructor based on student needs, student ability, and environmental conditions.
Each student must either own or have access to the special equipment required to complete the program skills. Examples include a dive light, compass, or delayed surface marker buoy. The necessary equipment depends on the specific dive being conducted. This ensures that students can safely perform all required skills and meet the program’s performance standards.
Note | Using dedicated equipment or Nitrox is only permitted during the applicable open water training dive, unless the diver holds the appropriate specialty certification.
- Maximum open water depth limit for 12- to 14-year-old students during the Deep Diving open water training dive is 21 meters.
Note | The Deep Diving open water training dive must be successfully completed before conducting any other open water training dives deeper than 18 meters.
- The ratio may increase to 10:2 with one (1) certified assistant or 12:3 with two (2) certified assistants.
- Using certified assistants is recommended but they cannot be used to increase student-to-instructor ratios.
- An active status SSI Divemaster or higher may directly supervise all in-water activities for dives from Ecology Specialty Programs they are certified to teach.
- An active status SSI Assistant Instructor or higher may directly supervise all in-water activities for dives from programs that they are certified to teach (e.g., Boat Diving, Perfect Buoyancy).
- An active status SSI Open Water Instructor or higher must directly supervise all in-water activities for dives from programs that require an Instructor (e.g., Deep Diving, Night & Limited Visibility Diving).
- An active status SSI Specialty Instructor must directly supervise all in-water activities for open water training dives from Dedicated Equipment Specialties.
- Complete the applicable academic sessions and assessments as outlined in the instructor manual for Advanced Open Water Diver.
- Complete the Deep Diving Open Water Training Dive 1 as outlined in the instructor manual for Advanced Open Water Diver.
- Complete the Navigation Open Water Training Dive 1 as outlined in the instructor manual for Advanced Open Water Diver.
Complete three elective open water training dives from the following list as outlined in the instructor manual for Advanced Open Water Diver.
* One (1) pool/confined water session must be conducted as outlined in the Advanced Open Water Diver instructor manual before any open water training dives take place.
- Upon completion of all academic and in-water requirements, an Open Water Instructor may issue the Advanced Open Water Diver digital certification card.
- Certified Advanced Open Water Divers can dive with an equally- or more-qualified buddy in environments equivalent to their training and within the recommended depth limit of 30 meters.
- Students younger than 15 years old will be certified as a Junior Advanced Open Water Diver and can dive under the direct supervision of a dive professional or with a certified adult in environments equivalent to their training and within the recommended depth limit of 21 meters. When turning 15 years old, students can upgrade to adult depth limits by performing an upgrade dive to be conducted between 21 and 30 meters with an Open Water Instructor.
- Students may apply the dives completed in their Advanced Open Water Diver program toward the first training dive of the individual specialty programs.
- The first dive of any qualifying specialty program may also be credited as the applicable Advanced Open Water Training Dive for the Advanced Open Water Diver program.
Training centers may issue an “Advanced Open Water Dive Recognition Card” documenting up to three (3) open water training dives completed as part of the Advanced Open Water Diver program. If the student cannot complete the full program at their current location, the card is proof of completed dives and allows the student to finish the remaining requirements at another training center. The student must be registered for the Advanced Open Water Diver program, and all required training records must be uploaded to MySSI to continue training.