PADI Advanced Open Water Course in Hurghada: Age, Depth, Dives and Cost

The PADI Advanced Open Water course Hurghada divers ask about is the second recreational PADI certification, and it is more approachable than its name suggests. This guide covers age, prerequisites, structure, depth limits and what competitors in Hurghada claim about price and duration. For the entry-level course, see our PADI Open Water guide.

What is the PADI Advanced Open Water course?

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is a five-dive programme for people who already hold an entry-level certification. According to PADI, it builds skills and confidence with an instructor beside you, through five "Adventure Dives" rather than a classroom syllabus. PADI says it has very little classroom time and no written exams.

An adventure dive is a guided dive that introduces one activity, such as deep diving or night diving. PADI states that each adventure dive can count as the first dive of the matching PADI Specialty Diver course.

PADI also says plainly that you do not need to be an advanced diver or have advanced skills to take it. Some divers complete Open Water and Advanced back to back.

Who can take it: what are the age and prerequisite rules?

According to PADI, the only prerequisite is PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open Water Diver, or a qualifying entry-level certification from another agency. No extra logged dives are needed. Divers aged 15 and over earn Advanced Open Water, and ages 12 to 14 earn the Junior version.

Ages 10 and 11

PADI says divers aged 10 to 11 can earn a Junior Adventure Diver certification. After turning 12 they can complete the deep dive and earn Junior Advanced Open Water. Our course listing states a minimum age of 12, and the instructor confirms each student's eligibility before the course starts.

Medical form

According to PADI's certification FAQ, all student divers complete a brief scuba medical questionnaire. If any condition applies, a doctor must assess fitness to dive before in-water training.

What do the five adventure dives cover?

Two dives are required: Deep and Underwater Navigation. You choose the other three. PADI's blog says there are more than 30 options, with common choices including Peak Performance Buoyancy, Night, Wreck, Fish Identification, Underwater Naturalist, Search and Recovery, Digital Underwater Imaging, Enriched Air and Dry Suit.

• Deep: an instructor takes you below the Open Water depth limits, within the 18 to 30 m range, according to PADI.
• Underwater Navigation: you practise compass and navigation skills on land first, then underwater, per PADI.
• Three electives: chosen with your instructor. Which ones run depends on conditions and the centre's programme, so we confirm options before you start.

How deep can you dive after the course?

PADI states that Advanced Open Water qualifies you to dive to 30 metres (100 feet) if you are 15 or older. Divers aged 12 to 14 with Junior Advanced Open Water are limited to 21 metres (70 feet). Open Water divers are limited to 18 metres (60 feet).

Source: PADI blog, "PADI diving restrictions", read 2026-10-05. PADI notes that deeper recreational diving, to 40 m (130 ft), needs the separate Deep Diver course.

How many days does it take, and can you do eLearning first?

PADI says the course is offered as eLearning, which takes six to eight hours online. The five in-water dives are often finished over a single weekend, though PADI states there is no rule that it must be that fast. The real schedule depends on sea conditions and instructor availability.

Competitors in Hurghada describe it as a two-day course (see the table below). We follow the PADI course schedule and confirm your exact days when you enquire. Doing the eLearning at home first usually leaves more of your holiday for diving.

How much does it cost in Hurghada?

There is no single price. Two Hurghada operators we read on 2026-10-05 state different figures: divingaround.com lists PADI Advanced Open Water at €250, and Egypt Divers lists €350 online against a standard €450. These are their claims, not ours. The gap usually comes from what is bundled in.

The two pages also disagree on age: one gives 15 with a junior band, the other gives 12. PADI's own rule is 12, with the Junior certification for ages 12 to 14.

What to ask any quote to list

• Is the PADI eLearning or manual and certification card included?
• Is equipment included, or rented per item?
• Are boat, park or coast guard fees included?
• Are hotel transfers included, and from which areas?
• Is Nitrox included if you choose it as an elective?

What does Advanced Open Water not certify?

According to PADI, the course does not make you a specialty diver, a professional or an instructor, and it does not authorise wreck penetration. Adventure dives give credit toward specialty courses, but they do not certify the specialty on their own. It is also not a technical or deep-diver rating.

What comes after Advanced Open Water?

The most common next step is Rescue Diver. PADI states that its prerequisites are the Underwater Navigation adventure dive plus current Emergency First Response training within 24 months, with a minimum age of 12. Your navigation dive on Advanced covers the first part.

Many divers simply keep logging dives. Certified divers can join a full-day diving trip. Before flying home, read how long to wait in can you fly after diving. Younger students may want our scuba diving for kids guide, and all levels are compared on the PADI courses in Hurghada page. See the full programme on diving in Hurghada.

How does Divers Trips handle the Advanced Open Water course?

Our PADI Advanced Open Water course has five adventure dives with a PADI Instructor, with Deep and Navigation required. The price is on request because it depends on your package. We confirm schedule, dives and price after you send your details.

• Included: training, instructor, course materials per the PADI package, required adventure dives, tanks and weights, equipment per your package, certification processing, and hotel transfers in Hurghada where included in your package.
• Not included: Nitrox, photos and videos, additional dives, personal expenses, any medical examination required, and any fee not specifically included.
• Bring: your certification card and logbook.

Not yet certified? Start with the PADI Open Water course. To enquire, use booking or contact us with your start date, number of students, current certification, logged dives and hotel.