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diveshack / Courses / Advanced Open Water
Advanced Zone · 18-30m · SSI Certification

SSI Advanced
Open Water

Extend your certification from 18m to 30m. Five open water dives in Malta's clear waters, including a deep dive and wreck or navigation. No pool sessions required.

Enrol Now See the Dives
Certified by SSI
Course Price
€453
€368 course fee + €85 SSI eLearning
✓SSI eLearning access (lifetime): €85
✓Course fee inc. full equipment: €368
✓5 specialty open water dives
✓2 core dives + 3 elective specialties
✓SSI Advanced Open Water card
✓Max 5 students per instructor
Reserve Your Place

Starting OWD too? See our OWD + AOWD bundle

3
Course Days
30m
Cert. Depth Limit
5
Specialty Dives
5
Max Students
OWD
Prerequisite
0
Pool Sessions
Course Overview

From 18m to 30m. Wrecks, depth, navigation.

The SSI Advanced Open Water course is the direct progression from Open Water Diver. Five open water dives covering two core disciplines and three specialty electies of your choice. No confined water sessions: everything happens in the ocean.

In Malta, the Advanced Open Water certification unlocks access to some of the island's most spectacular dive sites. The Um El Faroud wreck, the MV Karwela in Gozo, and the Blue Hole wall all require Advanced certification. Complete this course and Malta's best diving is open to you.

  • Dive to 30m anywhere in the world with full SSI recognition
  • Plan and execute deep dives with correct gas management
  • Navigate underwater using compass and natural references
  • Explore wrecks, night dive, and develop buoyancy mastery
  • Understand nitrogen narcosis and depth-related physiology
  • Qualify to dive Malta's major wreck sites with diveshack
SSI

SSI Advanced Open Water Diver

The second level of SSI recreational certification. Extends your depth limit and introduces specialty disciplines.

Depth Limit 30m Advanced Zone
Prerequisite SSI Open Water Diver or equivalent (PADI, CMAS, BSAC, NAUI all accepted)
Min. Age 10 years (Junior AOWD to 21m for ages 10–14; full 30m cert at 15)
Card issued Digital card via SSI app within 24hrs of completion.
Valid Lifetime. No renewal required.
Next Step SSI Rescue Diver, SSI Deep Diver specialty (to 40m), or Divemaster.
Marine Life

What You Might See

A sample of the species you might actually see at this course's depth. Click any card to read the full species guide.

Course Content

5 dives. 2 core, 3 your choice.

The SSI Advanced Open Water course requires two core dives: deep and navigation: plus three elective specialty dives chosen from SSI's range of specialty programs. All dives take place in the ocean; no pool sessions are required.

Core Dives: Required

Deep Diving

To 30m
Core: Required

Descent to 30m at a Malta site with clear vertical reference and good visibility, typically Cirkewwa or the upper section of a wreck. Covers depth planning, narcosis awareness, and gas management at depth.

  • Controlled descent to 30m with reference
  • Nitrogen narcosis recognition and management
  • No-decompression limit monitoring at depth
  • Gas planning and turn pressure calculation
  • Controlled ascent and safety stop procedure

Navigation

12-18m
Core: Required

Underwater navigation using compass bearings and natural references at a sandy, feature-rich dive site. By the end of this dive you will be able to navigate a basic pattern and return to your start point independently.

  • Compass heading and reciprocal navigation
  • Square and triangle pattern completion
  • Natural navigation using seabed features
  • Distance estimation by kick cycles
  • Search and recovery introduction
Elective Dives: Choose 3

Elective Dive 1

Your choice
Elective

Choose from the SSI specialty electives listed below. Most students begin with Wreck Diving or Buoyancy & Trim: both are immediately useful at Malta's best sites.

  • Selected with your instructor at the briefing
  • Site and equipment chosen to match the specialty

Elective Dive 2

Your choice
Elective

A second elective of your choice. Can be a different SSI specialty entirely or a continuation of the skills introduced in Elective 1.

  • Can be different from Elective 1
  • Night & Limited Visibility popular in Malta

Elective Dive 3

Your choice
Elective

Your final elective and the last dive of the course. Logbook completed, certification signed off, and your SSI AOWD card issued on the same day.

  • Certification sign-off after this dive
  • Drift Diving popular as final elective at Cirkewwa
Available SSI Elective Specialties at diveshack

Wreck Diving

External exploration of Um El Faroud or MV Karwela. Malta has some of the best wreck diving in the Mediterranean.

Buoyancy & Trim

Master your horizontal trim and hover. The skill that improves every dive you make from here on.

Night & Limited Visibility

Torch signals, communication and nocturnal marine life. Malta's reefs transform after dark.

Photography & Video

Composition, lighting and camera settings for clear Mediterranean conditions.

Drift & Beach Diving

Reading currents and diving relaxed in flow. Ideal for Cirkewwa and St. Paul's Bay.

Search & Recovery

Grid patterns, lift bags, and methodical search technique on Malta's sandy seabeds.

Fish & Invertebrate ID

Identify Malta's resident species: grouper, moray, barracuda, octopus and more.

Boat Diving

Entries, exits, mooring lines and surface procedures from a dedicated dive boat.

Typical Schedule

What to expect each day

Day 1

Briefing + Core Dives

Morning: eLearning review, instructor briefing, elective selection, and equipment check. Afternoon: Deep Diving to 30m followed by Navigation dive. Logbook entries completed.

Briefing Deep 30m Navigation
Day 2

Electives 1 & 2

Two elective specialty dives at appropriate Malta sites. Sites and timing are selected the evening before based on your chosen specialties and conditions on the day.

Elective 1 Elective 2
Day 3

Elective 3 + Certification

Final elective dive, logbook sign-off, and your SSI Advanced Open Water digital certification card issued on the same day.

Elective 3 Certified
Flexible Scheduling

Your pace, your dates.

The AOWD course can be completed over a single weekend or spread across multiple days to suit your schedule. The eLearning modules are completed independently in your own time before the water sessions begin.

  • ✓Standard course runs over 3 consecutive days
  • ✓3-day option if combining with sites
  • ✓Morning or afternoon dive slots available
  • ✓eLearning started before you arrive in Malta
  • ✓Night dive option adds one evening session
What's Included

Everything you need

SSI eLearning

Lifetime access to SSI Advanced Open Water digital training materials. Study before you travel. Available in 30+ languages.

Full Equipment

BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, tanks and weights for all five dives. Torch provided for Night & Limited Visibility elective.

Boat Dives

All five specialty dives conducted from our dive boat or shore entry at the most appropriate Malta site for each discipline.

SSI Certification

Digital SSI Advanced Open Water Diver card issued on the day of completion. Worldwide recognition, lifetime validity.

Not included: Nitrox fills (available +€5 per dive), underwater camera, DAN dive insurance (recommended). Night diving elective may incur a small surcharge for torch hire if you do not own one.
Requirements

What you need before you start

The only prerequisite is a recognised Open Water Diver certification. A minimum of 24 logged dives is required before starting this course, though more experience always helps.

  • RequiredSSI Open Water Diver or equivalent (PADI OWD, CMAS*, BSAC Ocean Diver, NAUI)
  • RequiredMinimum age 15 for full 30m certification
  • RequiredBring your certification card (digital or physical) and logbook
  • RequiredMinimum 24 logged dives (SSI AOWD prerequisite)
  • NoteIf your last dive was more than 12 months ago, we recommend a refresher dive before the course

Starting from scratch?

If you don't yet hold an Open Water certification, consider our OWD + AOWD bundle at €910: complete both courses back-to-back and save compared to booking separately.

Other Agencies

Certified with PADI, CMAS or BSAC?

Your existing certification is fully accepted. There is no crossover course required. Bring your card and logbook and we'll enrol you directly onto the SSI Advanced Open Water course.

Accepted Equivalent Certifications
  • ✓PADI Open Water Diver
  • ✓CMAS * (1-star) Diver
  • ✓BSAC Ocean Diver
  • ✓NAUI Scuba Diver
  • ✓Any WRSTC-member agency equivalent

Not sure if your certification qualifies? Contact us before booking and we'll confirm within one working day.

Pricing

Course options

AOWD Course
€453

€368 course fee + €85 SSI eLearning. Five open water dives and full certification.

  • ✓SSI eLearning licence (€85)
  • ✓Course fee inc. full equipment (€368)
  • ✓5 specialty dives
  • ✓2 core + 3 elective dives
  • ✓SSI AOWD certification card
  • ×Nitrox fills
  • ×Underwater camera
Book This
Best Value
OWD + AOWD Bundle
€910

€629 combined course + €281 eLearning. Learn to dive and advance to 30m in one booking.

  • ✓SSI eLearning for both courses (€281)
  • ✓Combined course fee (€629)
  • ✓Full Open Water Diver course
  • ✓Full Advanced Open Water course
  • ✓9 open water dives total
  • ✓Two SSI certification cards
  • ✓Certified to 30m on completion
Book Bundle
Group Pricing
Enquire

Contact us for group rates. We accommodate groups of all sizes with dedicated instruction.

  • ✓Everything in AOWD Course
  • ✓Priority scheduling
  • ✓Dedicated instructor for group
  • ✓Flexible start dates
  • ×Min. 3 participants
  • ×Must book same dates
  • ×Max 5 per group
Enquire

All prices include VAT · Deposit of €100 required to secure your place · Balance due on Day 1 · See cancellation policy

Why diveshack

Malta's SSI Diamond Instructor Training Centre

1992
Diving in Malta since
2400+
Divers certified
5
Max students per instructor
4.9★
Average student rating
SSI
DIAMOND
ITC

SSI Diamond Instructor Training Centre

The highest SSI facility rating. Awarded to centres that consistently meet the highest standards of instruction, safety and student satisfaction.

REG
DIVE
0022

Malta Tourism Authority Registered

Fully registered dive operator with the MTA. All instructors hold current SSI ratings and valid first aid certifications.

DAN
DIVE
SAFE

DAN Partner Dive Centre

Emergency oxygen and first aid equipment on site and on every dive boat. DAN Europe insurance recommended for all students.

FAQ

Common questions

Do I need more logged dives before starting?▾
SSI requires a minimum of 24 logged dives before starting the AOWD. Beyond that, no additional specialist training is needed beyond your Open Water certification.
Can I choose any two electives?▾
Yes, from the list of electives we offer at diveshack. The choice is finalised with your instructor at the Day 1 briefing based on your interests, the conditions on the day, and which sites are best suited. Night diving requires an evening session and may add a day to the schedule.
How deep does the deep dive actually go?▾
The deep dive descends to 30m, which is the maximum recreational certification depth for this course. At 30m you will be at the keel level of the upper part of several Malta wrecks. The dive is planned with a short bottom time at depth and gradual ascent through shallower zones to manage your no-decompression limits safely.
My OWD is from PADI: is that accepted?▾
Yes. PADI, CMAS, BSAC, NAUI and all WRSTC-member agency certifications are accepted as equivalents to SSI Open Water Diver. Bring your card and logbook. No crossover course is needed.
Will this certification let me dive Um El Faroud or MV Karwela?▾
The SSI Advanced Open Water certification (30m) qualifies you to dive the upper sections of both wrecks, which extend from around 19m to 30m on Um El Faroud and 19m to 30m on MV Karwela. For the deepest sections (36m on Um El Faroud, 42m on Karwela) you would need the SSI Deep Diver specialty or equivalent, which takes you to 40m.
What is the cancellation policy?▾
Cancellations made more than 7 days before the course start date receive a full refund of the deposit. Cancellations within 7 days forfeit the €100 deposit but the balance is not charged. If we cancel due to weather or operational reasons, you receive a full refund or complimentary rebooking.
Continue Your Training

What comes next

18m · Safe Zone

SSI Open Water Diver

Not yet certified? Start here. The OWD + AOWD bundle at €910 gets you both certifications back-to-back.

View Course →
40m · Deep Rec Limit

SSI Deep Diver

Push your certification to 40m. Essential for full access to Malta's deepest wrecks: Um El Faroud and MV Karwela keel sections.

View Course →
Leadership

SSI Rescue Diver

The course that makes you a better diver. Manage emergencies, assist other divers, and build the awareness that underpins Divemaster training.

View Course →

Book or enquire

Ready to dive?

Fill in the form and we will get back to you with availability, pricing confirmation, and everything you need to know before arrival.

Usually within a few hours. We confirm your dates, answer questions, and send full joining instructions.

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+356 9999 3483  ·  WhatsApp

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