PADI Courses · Comparison
Open Water vs Advanced Open Water
Tioman Dive Buddy Updated May 2026 7 min read Quick Answer
You must take PADI Open Water first — it's the prerequisite for Advanced Open Water. The Open Water course (3–4 days, 18m depth limit) teaches you basic diving skills and certifies you to dive independently. Advanced Open Water (2–3 days, 30m limit) is the natural next step. Most divers take both on the same dive trip as a combo course.
Key Takeaways
- Open Water is required before Advanced Open Water — they're not alternatives
- Open Water: 3–4 days, 18m depth, RM 1,500 at TDB
- Advanced Open Water: 2–3 days, 30m depth, RM 1,500 at TDB
- Combo course: 5–7 days, both certifications, often discounted
- Most efficient: take both in one trip if your schedule allows
- After AOW, you can take any specialty course (Rescue, Sidemount, Wreck, etc.)
Foundation
PADI Open Water
- Duration
- 3–4 days
- Depth Limit
- 18 metres
- Price (TDB)
- RM 1,500
- Prerequisite
- None
The foundation course of all recreational diving. Teaches you everything from gear assembly to emergency procedures, with 4 open water training dives.
VS Next Step
PADI Advanced OW
- Duration
- 2–3 days
- Depth Limit
- 30 metres
- Price (TDB)
- RM 1,500
- Prerequisite
- Open Water
Extends Open Water with 5 adventure dives: Deep, Navigation, plus 3 electives of your choice. Doubles your depth range and skill set.
The Most Important Point: You Can't Choose
Many new divers ask "should I do Open Water or Advanced Open Water first?" The answer is always Open Water — it's a prerequisite for AOW.
Without an Open Water certification, you cannot enroll in AOW. So the real question is: Should I take just Open Water, or do both back-to-back?
What PADI Open Water Teaches
Open Water Diver is the foundation course of all recreational diving. Over 3–4 days:
- Knowledge development — physics, physiology, equipment, dive planning, environmental awareness
- Confined water sessions (pool or shallow protected area) — mask clearing, regulator recovery, buoyancy, emergency ascents, hand signals
- Four open water training dives — applying skills in actual diving conditions at 5–18m depth
After certification, you can dive worldwide to a maximum of 18m, plan dives with a certified buddy, rent equipment, and book dive trips independently.
What Advanced Open Water Adds
Advanced Open Water (AOW) extends and refines Open Water through 5 adventure dives:
Two Required Dives
- Deep Adventure Dive (extends limit to 30m)
- Underwater Navigation (compass and natural navigation)
Three Elective Dives (you choose)
- Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Wreck Adventure Dive
- Night Adventure Dive
- Underwater Photography
- Search and Recovery
- Multilevel Diver
- Drift Adventure Dive
After AOW certification, you can dive to 30m worldwide, take any further specialty courses, and continue toward Rescue Diver and beyond.
Cost Comparison (Tioman Dive Buddy 2026)
| Course | Duration | Price (RM) | Max Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Water | 3–4 days | 1,500 | 18m |
| Advanced Open Water | 2–3 days | 1,500 | 30m |
| OW + AOW Combo | 5–7 days | 2,800 (save RM 200) | 30m |
Pricing includes equipment, materials, certification, and dives. Excludes accommodation and meals.
Should You Take OW Alone or with AOW?
Take OW only if:
- You're not sure you'll continue diving
- You're testing whether you enjoy it
- Time is limited (less than 5 days)
- You want to dive locally for a year before progressing
Take OW + AOW combo if:
- You're confident diving will be a regular hobby
- You have 5–7 days for a focused dive trip
- You want sites that require AOW (Tiger Reef, Bahara Rock, Soyak Wreck)
- You want max value for your trip's logistics cost
Sample Timeline: OW + AOW Combo
A typical progression at Tioman Dive Buddy:
- Day 1–2: Open Water knowledge + confined water + 2 OW dives
- Day 3: OW dives 3 + 4 → Open Water certification
- Day 4: AOW deep + navigation
- Day 5: AOW elective 1 + 2
- Day 6: AOW elective 3 → Advanced Open Water certification
- Day 7: Optional fun dives + travel out
What Comes After AOW?
- Rescue Diver — 3–4 days, the "best PADI course" most divers say
- Specialty courses — Sidemount, Wreck, Nitrox, Deep, etc.
- PADI Tec 40 — start of the technical diving pathway
- Master Scuba Diver — recognition rating after 5 specialties + 50 dives
- Divemaster — first pro level
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip Open Water and go straight to Advanced Open Water?
No. Open Water is a hard prerequisite for AOW.Can I do Open Water in 2 days?
PADI's minimum is 3 days. Some operators rush it in 2.5 days, but it's not recommended for new divers.Is AOW worth it if I only dive once a year?
Yes — the 30m depth limit and additional skills make any future dive trip more enjoyable.Can I take Open Water in a pool only?
No. You need 4 open water dives in actual ocean (or open water lake) conditions for certification.What if I get my Open Water and then realize I don't enjoy diving?
That's okay — you've learned valuable safety skills regardless. The certification doesn't expire.About the Author
Tioman Dive Buddy — Teaching PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water at our Kampung Genting centre year-round. Combo course available with RM 200 savings.
