Course overview

Unlock the Galapagos' signature dives with the PADI Advanced Open Water course, run from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Across five adventure dives you extend your depth limit to 30 metres and build the navigation and drift skills needed for current-swept sites like Gordon Rocks, where hammerhead schools gather. You finish certified to dive to 30 metres and ready for the archipelago's best sites.

What you’ll learn

• Plan and execute dives to 30 metres
• Navigate accurately by compass and natural references in current
• Manage drift and entries on current-affected sites
• Refine buoyancy, trim and air management at depth
• Choose and complete three elective adventure dives
• Build the confidence to dive sites like Gordon Rocks

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 12 (Junior Advanced Open Water)
• PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver or equivalent
• Basic swimming ability and comfort in open water
• Diver medical clearance signed by a physician

What's included · What's not

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Deep & navigation dives

   Complete the mandatory deep dive to 30 metres and the navigation dive, plus one elective, building current and depth confidence.
2. Day2
   Elective adventures

   Finish two further elective dives such as drift or fish ID at sites like North Seymour, Mosquera or Gordon Rocks, then certify.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Galapagos.

Frequently asked questions