Boracay’s clear waters, colorful coral reefs, and diverse marine life make it an ideal location for divers looking to advance their skills. If you’ve completed your Open Water Diver certification and are eager for a new challenge, the Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD) course is a great way to enhance your underwater abilities and explore more of what the ocean has to offer.

This post highlights the key signs that you’re ready to take the next step in your diving journey by pursuing an Advanced Open Water certification. From gaining confidence underwater to feeling the pull of adventure, here’s how to know if it’s time to level up your diving experience.

1. You Want to Explore Deeper Dive Sites

One of the major reasons divers pursue the AOWD certification is the opportunity to explore greater depths. With Open Water certification, divers are generally limited to a maximum depth of 18 meters (60 feet), but the Advanced Open Water course allows you to dive as deep as 30 meters (100 feet).

In Boracay, this depth increase means gaining access to deeper dive sites like Yapak and Camia Wreck. At these depths, divers encounter a wider range of marine life, including larger fish species, reef sharks, and more intricate coral formations. If you find yourself yearning to go beyond 18 meters, the Advanced Open Water course is a natural next step.

2. You’re Ready to Expand Your Skills

The Advanced Open Water Diver course is all about expanding your skillset and gaining new experiences. The course consists of five dives, two of which are mandatory—the Deep Dive and Underwater Navigation dive. These core dives teach essential skills for exploring deeper waters and navigating underwater terrain confidently.

Alongside these two core dives, you’ll also get to choose three elective dives, tailored to your interests. In Boracay, popular choices include:

• Night Diving: Experience the underwater world in a whole new way as nocturnal creatures come to life.
• Drift Diving: Boracay has several sites with currents, providing an ideal environment to learn drift diving techniques and enjoy the thrill of moving with the water.
• Fish Identification: This dive helps you better understand the reef’s inhabitants, making each dive even more enjoyable as you learn to recognize different species.

If you’re excited to learn new techniques and want to build your confidence underwater, the Advanced Open Water certification is a great choice.

3. You’re Ready for More Adventure and Specialty Dives

Are you craving new experiences underwater? The Advanced Open Water Diver course is designed to let divers try out specialty dives and explore a wider range of environments. Boracay offers a variety of sites that are perfect for specialty dives, including wrecks, night dives, and unique ecosystems that aren’t accessible with only Open Water certification.

For instance, the Camia II Wreck is a favorite among advanced divers. This former fishing vessel rests at around 30 meters and has transformed into an artificial reef, teeming with marine life like lionfish, sweetlips, and sometimes even larger pelagic species. With an AOWD certification, you can explore wreck sites and challenge yourself to try dives that go beyond the basics, all while learning alongside experienced instructors.

If the thought of drifting along currents, navigating wrecks, or exploring the underwater world at night excites you, you’re ready to move to the next level and gain advanced skills.

4. You Want to Improve Your Underwater Navigation Skills

Navigation can be one of the trickiest aspects of diving, but it’s a critical skill that all divers should feel confident in. As an Open Water Diver, you’ve likely followed guides or relied on visual landmarks to orient yourself. However, being able to navigate independently is a valuable skill, especially if you’re interested in exploring less-frequented dive sites.

During the Advanced Open Water course, the Underwater Navigation dive provides hands-on experience with navigation techniques. You’ll learn how to use a compass effectively, recognize natural landmarks, and manage distances underwater. These skills can improve your confidence and make you a more self-reliant diver.

Boracay’s dive sites, with their distinct coral formations and sandy patches, provide an ideal setting to practice navigation. After this training, you’ll feel more confident exploring both familiar and new dive sites, knowing you have the skills to find your way underwater.

5. You’re Eager to Dive with Confidence and Independence

Gaining confidence is one of the biggest benefits of advancing your diving certification. The AOWD course is structured to give divers more autonomy, allowing you to make your own decisions underwater and deepen your understanding of diving safety. This course emphasizes critical thinking and situational awareness, ensuring you’re prepared for a range of diving scenarios.

If you’re feeling increasingly comfortable underwater and find yourself wanting more independence, the Advanced Open Water certification will reinforce these abilities. By the end of the course, you’ll be better prepared to handle various dive conditions, such as currents, visibility changes, and deeper depths.

In Boracay, where dive sites range from relaxed reefs to more challenging deep-water spots, having the confidence to adapt and handle these different environments will make every dive more enjoyable. New Wave Divers Boracay provides expert guidance throughout the AOWD course, helping you master each new skill so you can dive with a renewed sense of confidence.

Why Choose Boracay for Your Advanced Open Water Certification?

Boracay is an ideal location to pursue your Advanced Open Water certification for several reasons. With its diversity of dive sites, clear waters, and vibrant marine life, it offers an environment where divers can truly immerse themselves in a variety of underwater experiences.

• Rich Marine Life: From turtles and reef sharks to colorful corals and schooling fish, Boracay’s marine life makes every dive memorable. The deeper depths also allow for encounters with larger pelagic species, enhancing the thrill of the experience.

• Experienced Instructors: With New Wave Divers Boracay, you’ll be guided by experienced instructors who know the local dive sites intimately. Their knowledge of the area ensures a safe, exciting, and personalized experience tailored to your level and interests.

• Variety of Dive Sites: Boracay’s range of dive sites—from shallow coral gardens to deeper walls and wrecks—offers plenty of variety. Whether you’re practicing buoyancy on a reef or learning drift diving along a coral wall, Boracay provides an ideal backdrop for divers to grow and develop their skills.

• Ideal Conditions: Boracay boasts warm, clear waters and moderate currents, creating favorable conditions for divers of all skill levels. These conditions make it an inviting location for divers to tackle new challenges and gain advanced skills in a comfortable, scenic setting.

Additionally, for divers coming from other parts of the world, organizing your trip to Boracay is straightforward with the help of a bespoke travel agency. They can assist with flights, accommodation, and ensure you have everything lined up to enjoy an unforgettable diving experience.

Final Thoughts

If you’re passionate about scuba diving and looking to deepen your skills, the Advanced Open Water Diver certification is the perfect next step. Boracay’s diverse underwater landscapes, clear waters, and abundance of marine life make it an exceptional place to enhance your diving abilities.

With New Wave Divers Boracay, you’ll have the opportunity to train with experts in a stunning tropical environment, building your confidence and skills to tackle more advanced dive sites and explore the ocean in exciting new ways. So, if you’re feeling the call of the deep and ready to embrace more challenging dives, Boracay is the perfect place to take that next step in your diving journey.

Wish to know more about the diving in Boracay? Our team will be delighted to answer your questions and let us know why we should be your first choice when planning your dive vacation to the Philippines. We hope to hear from you soon!