Course overview

Expand your range with the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification, run from Khao Lak with access to the Similan Islands national park. Across five adventure dives you tackle deep and underwater-navigation training plus three electives, building the depth clearance to 30 metres and current skills you need for marquee sites like Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.

What you’ll learn

• Plan and execute dives to a maximum of 30 metres
• Navigate underwater using compass and natural references
• Manage gas, buoyancy and trim at greater depth
• Apply skills from three elective adventure dives
• Build experience in moderate-current conditions
• Increase confidence and situational awareness on real sites

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 12 (Junior) / 15 for Advanced Open Water
• PADI Open Water Diver or qualifying certification
• Basic comfort and buoyancy 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

   Complete the deep and underwater-navigation core dives, building skills on a national-park or local site.
2. Day2
   Elective dives & certification

   Finish three elective adventure dives across the Similan, Koh Bon or Koh Tachai reefs and earn the Advanced Open Water rating.

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 Similan Islands.

Frequently asked questions