Advanced Open Water: What Should You Do After Open Water?
You finished Open Water in Belyounech—or at home—and the next question arrives immediately: fun dives forever, or keep training? Advanced Open Water (AOW) is the most common answer, but the name confuses people. It is not “expert” diving. It is a structured package of five adventure dives that broaden experience: deeper profiles toward 30 m, underwater navigation, and three electives you choose with your instructor.
For divers planning a Morocco holiday on the northern Mediterranean—rocky reefs below Jebel Moussa, ferry access from Spain, calm training bays when the Strait of Gibraltar cooperates—AOW often fits naturally in the same trip as Open Water. Two extra days unlock depth limits, optional electives such as Night or photography that match Chems Diving’s strengths, and a stronger foundation for Rescue training later.
At Chems Diving, we teach PADI Advanced Open Water and SSI Advanced Adventurer alongside CMAS two-star paths. This guide compares what changes after OW, how to pick electives wisely, local 2026 pricing, and where AOW sits on the ladder toward Rescue Diver and specialties—not a rushed card collectathon.
The Essential Rule: Advanced Means Broader Experience, Not Mastery
Open Water teaches survival skills to 18 m with a buddy. Advanced Open Water introduces deeper diving concepts, navigation under instructor supervision, and specialty sampling—but it does not magically fix overweighting, rushed ascents, or weak equalisation. Many holiday divers collect the card and still dive like beginners until they log real experience.
The mistake is treating AOW as mandatory prestige—or skipping it while diving to 30 m on holiday because a shop looked the other way. Instructor-guided adventure dives with debriefs matter more than the logo on the card—but the card documents training shops expect when you book deeper boat profiles worldwide.
Fix common OW habits first: read beginner mistakes and equalization. Compare agency philosophies in PADI vs SSI vs CMAS.
Quick Comparison: Open Water vs Advanced
Open Water Diver
Ideal for: new divers certifying to 18 m—foundation skills, safety, first open water dives (3–4 days, from 4,125–5,500 DH).
Advanced Open Water
Ideal for: OW graduates wanting 30 m training, navigation, and elective specialties in ~2 days (PADI 5,000 DH / SSI 3,750 DH).
CMAS Two-Star (P2)
Ideal for: federation-oriented divers wanting European club-culture advanced path (4,500 DH at Chems)—parallel, not stacked blindly with AOW.
PADI Advanced Open Water: Five Dives, Two Core, Three Electives
PADI AOW requires five dives under instructor supervision. Two are core: a deep dive beyond OW depth toward the 30 m recreational limit with narcosis awareness, and underwater navigation using compass plus natural references on Mediterranean reef structure. Three electives are chosen with your instructor based on conditions and goals.
Popular electives at Chems include Peak Performance Buoyancy, Night Diving, Underwater Photography, Fish Identification, and Drift where sites allow. Duration is roughly two full days plus theory (digital or classroom). Price: 5,000 DH in 2026 including equipment and certification per courses notes.
Why divers choose PADI AOW in Belyounech
- Global brand recognition when travelling after your Morocco course
- Night elective (if chosen) authorises night diving within agency limits—night guide
- Deep dive introduces 30 m planning on local sites from sites guide
- Natural continuation the same week after PADI Open Water (5,500 DH)
See full PADI path on PADI courses.
SSI Advanced Adventurer: Modular Digital Progression
SSI Advanced Adventurer requires four dives under instructor supervision: Deep, Navigation, and two electives—one fewer than PADI’s five-dive structure. Price at Chems: 3,750 DH in 2026—often attractive value versus PADI for divers already on the SSI line from Open Water (4,125 DH).
SSI’s digital materials and logbook integration suit travellers who want theory on tablet before arriving in Belyounech. Electives mirror PADI options—buoyancy, night, photo—mapped to local conditions on calm days.
Why divers choose SSI Advanced Adventurer
- Strong value on Chems 2026 price list
- Flexible digital learning before travel—travel planning
- Four specialty samples help you choose full specialties later (from 2,800 DH each)
- Consistent agency line if you started SSI Open Water
Explore SSI courses for full specialty list.
Choosing Electives Wisely on Mediterranean Sites
Electives are not random checkboxes—they shape your next season of diving. Chems instructors recommend based on your weaknesses and Morocco conditions, not only what sounds exciting on paper.
Peak Performance Buoyancy is the best first elective if you still fin constantly or contact the bottom—every future dive improves. Night opens dark-water diving with proper training. Underwater Photography matches centre expertise but demands stable hover—photo tips. Enriched Air (Nitrox) is often a separate specialty after AOW—nitrox guide—though some divers stack it on a long trip if prerequisites are met.
Why elective choice matters in Belyounech
- Calm training bays favour buoyancy and photo electives over fighting surge
- Autumn clarity rewards navigation and photography—season guide
- Night elective requires calm evening forecast—flexibility built into scheduling
- Deep elective stays within recreational 30 m—not tech diving
Wrong elective order wastes holiday days. Discuss honestly with Chems when booking.
Which Progression Path Fits Your Goals?
If you just certified Open Water and have four extra days in Morocco, choose AOW the same trip—continuity beats rust if you wait a year.
If you are a holiday fun diver with no interest in 30 m or Rescue, choose fun dives first (from 650 DH)—AOW can wait until you know you will dive regularly.
If you plan Divemaster or serious leadership, choose AOW then log dives then Rescue—see Rescue guide for the full ladder.
Any path works with good instruction. Rushing AOW exhausted after OW exams produces weak adventure dives—not a card worth carrying.
Why Divers Choose Chems Diving in Belyounech
AOW adventure dives need instructors who debrief honestly—not rush five tick-box descents before lunch.
Serious training standards
Deep and navigation dives include real planning, gas awareness, and narcosis discussion—not just descending because the card allows 30 m.
Multilingual instruction
English, French, Spanish, and Arabic—navigation briefings must be understood before you lead compass legs on reef.
Transparent packages
AOW prices include listed equipment, five training dives, certification—PADI 5,000 DH, SSI 3,750 DH. No hidden boat fees on standard packages.
Weather flexibility
Electives swap when conditions change—night moves to another evening, drift cancels if surge builds. Safety outranks fixed itinerary.
Our Honest Recommendation
Take AOW soon after OW if you will dive more than a few times per year or want night and deep training properly.
Take fun dives only if you are unsure diving is a long-term hobby—AOW can wait.
Take SSI Advanced Adventurer if value and digital tools matter; take PADI AOW if global brand visibility is your priority—both train you well at Chems.
Whichever agency you choose, log dives after the card—experience is not printed on plastic.
Start Your Advanced Training in Belyounech
Send your OW certification, agency, dates, and elective interests. We build a two-day AOW schedule around weather and your travel window from Tangier, Ceuta, or Casablanca routes.
Still on Open Water? Finish cert first on courses or try Discover Scuba if not yet certified. Questions? Contact us.
Summer AOW slots fill in small groups. WhatsApp +212 715501866 for 2026 availability and elective advice matched to your level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AOW required to fun dive in Morocco?
Open Water is enough for many 18 m guided dives. AOW unlocks 30 m training depth and stronger skill base—some shops prefer AOW for deeper boat profiles. Chems briefs site-appropriate limits regardless of card.
Can I do AOW immediately after OW?
Yes—many students continue the same week. Rest adequately; do not stack OW exams and deep adventure dive on zero sleep.
Is Advanced the same as experienced diving?
No. The card documents five supervised adventure dives. Mastery comes from logging dives afterward with good habits—not from the certification date alone.
CMAS two-star instead of AOW?
CMAS P2 is a parallel advanced path—CMAS courses. Pick one agency line for clarity unless you have specific federation needs.