Let’s be real…
You got your PADI Open Water Certification and you’ve started to think, “Now what?”
You’re bopping around, doing some fun dives here and there…
Seeing beautiful fish and reefs but you’re starting to wonder…
How do I get to the next level?
You’re dreaming of having the freedom to dive more than 60 feet below the surface.
Not to mention that you keep hearing the word “Nitrox” thrown around and you’re itching to know what all the hype is about!
Wrecks are practically calling your name and you’re wondering why you haven’t committed to taking your scuba education one step further.
At the same time, you’re probably thinking about investing in your personal dive gear trying to weigh your options... class or gear?
With us, you don’t have to choose between taking the course and buying top of the line gear.
We offer exclusive deals to all of our students, especially those who are willing to commit to the next level of Advanced Open Water.
Keep reading to learn how you can save BIG and tackle the new diver catch-22… More courses or gear?
Course Structure
The best part about the PADI Advanced Open Water (AOW) course is the course structure.
To earn this certification, you will need to complete 5 ocean dives.
That’s it?
Yup, that’s it and of course, self-study beforehand.
No classroom sessions…
No pool session…
Just out in the open ocean like us divers are supposed to be.
Let’s break it down.
Two of the five dives are required by PADI: Underwater Navigation and Deep.
Underwater Navigation is pretty self-explanatory - you’ll learn how to use a compass on the surface and translate those skills underwater.
You’ll learn how to estimate distance, follow natural clues, and practice finding your way back to the boat or shore.
Deep diving during the AOW course means you will experience diving to 100 feet/30 meters.
Note: if you want to get certified to the recreational limits of 130 feet/40 meters, you will need to take the full PADI Deep Diver specialty course.
Now you have to choose 3 other adventure dives to complete your AOW certification.
At DXDIVERS, we offer the following dives:
- Search and Recovery
- Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Wreck
- Drift
We offer these classes because they are the most beneficial skills and modalities of diving you will experience in Florida and the Caribbean.
Search and Recovery is highly recommended because it requires many skills that will serve you in the long run.
Peak Performance Buoyancy will focus on getting you to that beautiful, nearly effortless hover that all divers strive for.
Wreck diving will give you the chance to scout a wreck - learn about it, determine if there’s dangers or hazards, entry & exit points, and history about the wreck.
Drift diving is the kind of diving you’ll mostly do in FL and the Caribbean, boat drops you off, you let the current take you and the boat will pick you up.
With drift diving, you learn how to use a flag and reel, navigation, and how to use a delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB).
Our standard Advanced Open Water Course costs $449.00
If you would like to choose other adventure dives not listed above such as Digital Underwater Photography, Dive Against Debris, Dry Suit, Fish Identification, Night, or Underwater Naturalist…
You will opt for the private Advanced Open Water Course for an added cost of $170.00
Additionally, we highly recommend you tack on the Enriched Air Diver course - which adds a huge benefit to your diving while being a fairly simple certification to earn.
All you have to do is purchase the PADI eLearning (or the physical manual) plus the course, then schedule a one-hour classroom session with an instructor.
During the classroom session, they will walk through what you learned during the eLearning then show you how to properly analyze your tanks.
Once you can do it yourself, the instructor signs you off.
There are several benefits to diving with nitrox including:
- Increasing your bottom time
- Shortening your surface interval
- And as some report, decreasing overall fatigue
So you might be wondering how the gear packages fit in…
Scuba Equipment = Life Support Equipment
So here we are, the new scuba diver catch-22… More courses or gear?
If you ask us, you shouldn’t have to choose.
It’s very important to get your own set of scuba gear so you can get acclimated to how the gear works.
Not all gear is made equal, and as a new diver, there will be a bit of a learning curve.
To end this age old debate, we have put together some gear packages so you can get everything you need.
After all scuba equipment = life support equipment.
Here are some packages and what you get:
Scubapro Hydros X Mens or Womens Black Tech Carbon Package
- Package includes: Hydros X BCD w/BPI, MK25/A700 Black Carbon Regulator, S270 Octopus, G2 Wrist w/ Trans or Console Computer
- This is the Rolls-Royce of scuba gear - BUY THIS PACKAGE AND GET ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE, NITROX COURSE & 2 TRIPS ON LADY GO DIVER FREE*
Scubapro Hydros X Mens or Womens Flagship Package
- Package includes: Hydros X BCD w/BPI, MK25/A700 Regulator, R195 Octopus, G2 Wrist w/ Trans or Console Computer
- For the diver who likes the finer things in life - BUY THIS PACKAGE AND GET ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE, NITROX COURSE & 1 TRIP ON LADY GO DIVER FREE*
Scubapro Seahawk Package (Mens)
- Package includes: Seahawk BCD, MK25/S620Ti Regulator, R095 Octopus, Aladin H Console Computer with quick release hose
- For the diver who wants lightweight convenience - BUY THIS PACKAGE AND GET ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE & NITROX COURSE FREE*
Scubapro Bella Titanium Womens Package
- Package includes: Bella BCD, MK25/S620Ti Regulator, R095 Octopus, Aladin H Console Computer with quick release
- For the diver who wants lightweight convenience - BUY THIS PACKAGE AND GET ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE & NITROX COURSE FREE*
Aqua Lung Leg3nd Elite Package
Package includes: Dimension BCD, Leg3nd Elite Regulator, Leg3nd Octopus, i550C Computer with compass and quick disconnect
For the diver who only wants the best of the best - BUY THIS PACKAGE AND GET ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE & NITROX COURSE FREE*
Aqua Lung Womens Lotus Leg3nd Package
- Package includes: Lotus BCD, Leg3nd Regulator, Leg3nd Octopus, i550C Computer w/ Compass
- For the diver who wants sleek, quality gear - BUY THIS PACKAGE AND GET ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE & NITROX COURSE FREE*
- Package includes: Dimension BCD, Leg3nd Regulator, Leg3nd Octopus, i550C Computer w/ Compass
- For the diver who wants sleek, quality gear - BUY THIS PACKAGE AND GET ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE & NITROX COURSE FREE*
As you can see, almost every scuba gear package we offer comes with Advanced Open Water and Nitrox for free.
Here are some packages that comes with Advanced Open Water (Nitrox not included):
Aqua Lung Men’s Helix Pro / Women’s Lotus Helix Pro Package
- Package includes: Axiom or Dimension BCD, Helix Regulator, Helix Pro Octopus, i300C or i330R console computer
- For the diver who wants to optimize their breathing performance - BUY THIS PACKAGE AND GET ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE FREE*
Scubapro Men’s Level Basic / Women’s Bella Package
- Package includes: Bella BCD, MK11/C370 Regulator, R095 Octopus, Aladin Sport Matrix 2G Console Computer
- For the new diver who wants simplicity and reliability - BUY THIS PACKAGE AND GET ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE FREE*
So while you’re in the market for new gear, you can rest assured that you don’t have to choose…
You can have it all.
Without compromise.
Quality, brand new gear and continued education to further develop your skills, while you put the new gear to use!
Please note: PADI course materials are not included with any of the packages*
One aspect of getting your own gear before starting a new course that is underlooked, is the opportunity you have to use the new gear under the guidance of an instructor.
The instructor is very familiar with all types of gear and brands, helping you navigate and learn more of the ins and outs of this highly specialized equipment.
Just another reason to get your gear before you start AOW!
TLDR; (Too Long Didn’t Read)
At this point as a certified PADI Open Water diver, you know that scuba is a unique sport, mainly due to the intricate gear used.
We want you to feel comfortable knowing that your scuba gear will keep you safe even at 130 feet below the surface.
Take the lead on your dives with confidence as you dive deeper, experience more intricate dive sites, and put your new skills to use.
The knowledge doesn’t stop there.
Get your Nitrox certification at the same time and get ready to dive some of the big name wrecks right here in South Florida and around the world.
To recap…
Cost of the Advanced Open Water course: $449.00
Cost of the Enriched Air Diver course: $99.99
Cost of Advanced Open Water with Nitrox course: $548.99
Cost of brand new, high quality gear $1843 - $4567+
Cost of your life: priceless
Ensure you’re using safe gear that is familiar to you while you continue your education.
Basically…
Get your new gear AND Advanced Open Water Course AND Nitrox (and 1-2 free trips depending on the package selected) - MINIMUM SAVINGS of $548.99
Ultimately, the answer here is courses AND gear plus savings - no compromise.
Let us know which gear package you’re thinking about in the comment below!
Happy diving!