What Are the Benefits of the SSI Advanced Adventurer Course?
The Advanced Adventurer (AA) course is more than just a new level; it is a gateway to the most exciting underwater opportunities. It serves as a bridge between a beginner and an experienced explorer, offering:
Expanded Depth Limits: Increase your maximum depth from 18 meters to 30 meters, opening up access to deeper coral reefs, canyons, and shipwrecks.
Enhanced Confidence: Experience advanced diving techniques in a guided environment, helping you handle diverse conditions and feel more relaxed underwater.
Discover Your Interests: Sample five different specialty areas before deciding which full Specialty Diver certifications you want to pursue.
The Pathway to Advanced Open Water: The AA course is a vital stepping stone toward earning your Advanced Open Water Diver rating (achieved after completing four full specialties).
Course Structure: 5 Adventure Dives
The SSI Advanced Adventurer course requires the completion of five specialized dives, each focusing on a different area of expertise.
Duration: Typically 2 days of boat diving.
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver (OWD) certification.
1. Core Dives (Required)
Deep Diving: Venture between 18m and 30m to understand the physical and physiological changes that occur at greater depths.
Navigation: Master the use of a compass and natural references to find your way—an essential skill for independence and autonomy.
2. Elective Dives (Choose Three)
Select three additional dives from Delight Diving’s specialty list. Popular choices include:
Perfect Buoyancy: Perfect your hover, save air, and protect the marine environment.
Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN): Learn to dive with oxygen-enriched air for longer “no-decompression” times.
Night & Limited Visibility: Discover the mysterious world of nocturnal marine life after the sun goes down.
Photo & Video: Learn to optimize your diving skills and gear for professional-quality underwater media.
Advanced Adventurer: Nha Trang or Phu Quoc?
Delight Diving offers the AA course at both locations. Depending on the season, you will experience the best sites to practice your new skills:
Location | Season | Ideal AA Dive Sites |
Phu Quoc | October – May | Hon Buom & Hon Kho: Perfect for deep diving and navigation practice around the islands. |
Nha Trang | May – October | Hon Rom (Madonna Rock) & Hon Noc: Excellent for deep dives and experiencing unique rock formations. |