The PADI Advanced Open Water Course consists of five more open water dives which introduce exciting new areas of diving. The duration of the course is two or three days depending on which dives you choose.
Two of the dives are mandatory - the deep dive and underwater navigation dive.
In the deep dive we'll take you right down to 30 meters. We'll make a test to see if you suffer any nitrogen narcosis, examine a pressure related object to appreciate the surrounding four atmospheres and make a depth gauge comparison to demonstrate the differences between analogue and digital meters. We'll then explore the site and make a slow ascent up to safety stop depth. Providing weather conditions are good we'll make this dive at Koh Bon - you should get to see large grey reef sharks and giant groupers around the base of the islands - awesome!
During the underwater navigation dive we'll explain the principles we use to find our way around the dive sites. This includes compass work and using a timing device, combined with natural navigation such as depth, bottom composition, contour, rock formations, corals and sunlight. You'll complete some simple exercises such as measuring distances and navigating a square pattern, and then armed with a map of the dive site you'll lead us around the reef and hopefully back to the boat in a timely fashion. Sounds easy?
The other three dives are optional - you can discuss with your instructor which dives will benefit you most. Options include;
Peak performance buoyancy: In this dive we aim to get you moving through the water more efficiently, resulting in reduced air consumption (so longer dives). We'll concentrate on how much weight you're wearing and where you are positioning them, how you are controlling your breathing and ensuring your equipment is streamlined. We'll play lots of games underwater to make you focus on your buoyancy control. Choosing this dive can make a big improvement to your diving.
Night Dive: Something completely different and not to be missed! Armed with an underwater flashlight you'll plunge down into the darkness to explore the reef by night. We'll probably make this dive at White Rock - we get giant barracuda coming in for night time hunting action. The barracudas follow in your shadow, darting out to snap up small rabbit fish! Also expect to see corals filter feeding, lots more crabs plus increased stingray activity.
Multi level & Computer Dive: Deep diving is fun as it extends the limits of your exploration, but bottom time becomes limited if you follow a single level dive profile. If we move to a more sophisticated planning technique, using a multi level plan (and back this up by wearing a dive computer) we can vastly increase our available bottom time. This also allows us an opportunity to make another great deep dive.
Underwater Naturalist: Learn more about the aquatic realm, appreciating the relationships between different species and starting to identify some of the marine organisms that we see.
Search and Recovery: Find out how to execute underwater search patterns such as a U - search or expanding square. When you locate an object, what if it is too heavy or bulky to safely lift it using your BCD? We'll show you how to utilize a lifting device such as a lift bag, to safely recover the object.
Underwater Photography: Have a go at capturing some underwater snaps using a digital camera with underwater housing. First we'll teach you a few simple rules to improve your chances of getting the perfect shot. We'll make the dive then later download the images to a computer and use Photoshop to touch up your photos. We'll burn the photos onto CD so you have a nice souvenir to take home. Costs 2500 baht extra.
Drift Dive: Why fight against a strong current for half a dive when you can 'go with the flow' and have the boat move and pick you up. Great fun flying effortlessly along in the current. |
