PADI Advanced Open Water

Private Course in Cabo San Lucas

You need an Open Water certification from PADI or another recognized agency, and to be at least 12 years old. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. All students complete a PADI medical questionnaire before diving. If you answer yes to any condition, such as asthma, heart problems or a recent surgery, you'll need written clearance from a doctor, so we recommend checking the form as soon as you book.

Not at all. You can start the Advanced course right after your Open Water, although we always recommend feeling comfortable and relaxed as a diver first, so you get the most out of it. Either way, your private instructor adapts the pace to your skill level, for a safe and enjoyable step into deeper diving.

After completing your Deep Adventure Dive, you'll be certified to dive down to 100 ft (30 m), compared with 60 ft (18 m) as an Open Water diver. Junior divers aged 12 to 14 are certified to 70 ft (21 m). This opens the door to deeper reefs, wrecks and dive sites around the world, and to the full beauty of the Sea of Cortez.

The course includes five dives. Deep Diving and Underwater Navigation are mandatory, and you choose the other three. In Cabo, you can choose from Peak Performance Buoyancy (highly recommended), Fish Identification, Underwater Photography, Shark Conservation, Boat Diving, Dive Against Debris, DSMB and Search and Recovery. Nitrox and Night Diving are also available for an extra fee. Adventure dives like Altitude, Ice, Dry Suit or Cavern aren't offered in Cabo.

The course takes two half days in the ocean: two dives one day and three the next. Many students do them on consecutive days, but you can also spread them out, for example one session on Monday and the other on Thursday. Just complete your eLearning before we start, and we'll coordinate the dates that work best for your trip.

Yes, full high-quality gear is included with no hidden rental fees. We use XDEEP BCDs with a backplate and wing for better trim and comfort, along with well-maintained regulators, wetsuits and dive computers. We also provide the specialized tools for the course, like underwater compasses and surface marker buoys, plus microfiber towels and reef-friendly sunscreen.

No. The night dive is an optional adventure dive. You can choose daytime electives like Fish Identification or Peak Performance Buoyancy, which are already included in the course schedule. If you'd like to discover Cabo's nocturnal marine life, we can arrange a night dive at Pelican Rock for an additional fee.

In a large group, the instructor's attention is divided and the pace is set by the slowest diver. With our private format, the focus is entirely on you: more time to master your buoyancy, better air management and a safer, more relaxed experience in the best dive sites of the Sea of Cortez.

The price depends on whether you train alone or with a friend or family member, and it includes private instruction, PADI eLearning, five adventure dives, full premium scuba gear, drinks and snacks. You'll find the current prices in the Price & What's Included section of this page. Nitrox and night dive add-ons are available for an extra fee.

• Swimsuit, sunglasses and a hat or cap • A sweater or jacket for the boat • Seasickness medication, taken before boarding, if you need it Personal travel or medical insurance is not included, and gratuities for the captain and crew are always welcome but entirely up to you.

Since the course includes five dives over two days, we recommend waiting at least 24 hours after your last dive before flying. If your flight is close to the end of your course, let us know when you book and we'll plan the schedule around it.