The Advanced Open Water certification is the PADI course that pushes your depth limit from 18 to 30 meters and opens the door to specialty dives like navigation, deep diving, night diving, or underwater photography. If you already hold your Open Water certification you earned as a beginner and you’re wondering what comes next, this is it. Playa del Carmen also happens to be the perfect place to take it: warm water year-round, shallow sites ideal for your first skill-building dives, and direct access to deeper, more demanding spots like the Mama Viña wreck—no need to travel anywhere else.
What do you need to get the Advanced Open Water certification in Playa del Carmen?
You’ll need an Open Water Diver certification (from any agency) and be at least 12 years old. The course includes five adventure dives—two mandatory (navigation and deep) and three electives—all done in open water with a certified instructor, usually over two days.
The dives that make up your Advanced Open Water certification
The navigation dive teaches you to use a compass and natural references to find your way underwater, a skill you’ll rely on for the rest of your diving life. The deep dive takes you down to 30 meters, where you’ll feel mild narcosis for the first time and learn to manage it calmly. For the electives, we typically recommend underwater photography, perfect buoyancy, or night diving here in Playa del Carmen, depending on what you want to work on. Every instructor adjusts the plan based on your interests and comfort level in the water.
The Mama Viña: the ideal deep dive for your Advanced Open Water certification
The Mama Viña, a former shrimp boat sunk in 1995 just off Playa del Carmen, is one of our go-to sites for the course’s deep dive: its hull sits between 21 and 28 meters, right in the range for your certification dive. The steady current has carpeted the wreck in soft corals and sea fans that sway with the water, and exploring a real shipwreck during your course is a different experience from any natural reef—many students call it the best dive of the whole Advanced course.
Small groups and gear ready to go for your course
We cap our ocean dives at 4 divers per guide, which matters a lot during a course—you get real hands-on attention, not just group supervision. Full gear (BCD, regulator, mask, fins, and wetsuit) is included in the course price at no extra cost, so all you need to bring is yourself.
The logistics: we leave straight from Playa del Carmen
Our course dives run out of “La Jefa,” our own boat for diving in Playa del Carmen, which lets us adjust schedules and sites based on the day’s conditions and each student’s pace. There’s no long transfer, no complicated waiting around—you board, you dive, and you move through your Advanced Open Water certification without friction. For available dates and exact package pricing, the fastest way to confirm is through WhatsApp.
FAQ
How long does the Advanced Open Water certification take in Playa del Carmen?
It’s usually completed in two days, with two to three dives per day, depending on sea conditions and how fast the student progresses.
Can I include bull shark diving as part of my course in Playa del Carmen?
Bull shark diving isn’t part of the certification’s standard dives. If your course falls between November and March, we can arrange an additional trip to Shark Point, always subject to prior agreement with Deep Mexico.
Do I need prior experience before taking the Advanced Open Water course in Playa del Carmen?
All you need is a current Open Water Diver certification. No extra experience is required, though if it’s been a while since your last dive, we can arrange a refresher before you start.
Is dive gear included in the course?
Yes, full gear is included in the course price at no extra cost.
If you’re ready to level up as a diver and explore the Mama Viña during your course, Book your Advanced Open Water course with Deep Mexico, reach out on WhatsApp, or email us at booking@deepmexico.com and we’ll set up your Advanced Open Water certification in Playa del Carmen.
Need help choosing the right dive outing?
Message us and we will help you compare options, logistics and budget based on your level and your trip.