Advanced Diver Course
Your next step in advancing your scuba skills on Vancouver Island
SDI Advanced Adventure Scuba Diver Certification in Nanaimo
Build confidence, explore new diving environments, and take the next step in your training.
If you’ve completed your SDI Open Water Scuba Diver certification and want to continue developing your skills, the SDI Advanced Adventure Diver course is your natural next step. This program introduces you to a variety of SDI specialties so you can experience new types of diving without committing to full specialty courses right away.
Training with Nanaimo Dive Outfitters lets you advance your diving in one of the most fascinating cold-water environments in the world, right here in Nanaimo and Central Vancouver Island.
Who is the Advanced Adventure Diver course for?
The SDI Advanced Adventure Diver course is designed for certified divers who want to:
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- Build on the skills learned in their Open Water course
- Continue their training and explore new types of diving
- Try a variety of SDI specialties before committing to full specialty certifications
Minimum age for participation is 18, or 10–17 with parental consent depending on agency standards, and students must already hold an SDI Open Water certification or equivalent. The biggest challenge for younger divers in our cold-water environment is our heavy gear. A diver may enter the water with 80 pounds or more of equipment during ocean dives.
Advanced Adventure course format (Nanaimo Dive Outfitters)
We typically run a new SDI Advanced Adventure course every month. The eLearning portion of your training is completed at your own pace and the classroom and ocean dive portion usually occur on a weekend.
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- Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Ocean adventure dives 1 and 2 (dive 3 is typically a night dive)
- Sunday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Ocean adventure dives 3, and 4 are typically on our boat.
This schedule gives you the time you need to learn the skills for each specialty dive, build confidence, and get ready for your open water adventure dives.
What you’ll learn in your Advanced Open Water course
The Advanced Adventure Diver course has three main phases:
#1. Knowledge development
Complete your SDI eLearning at home before class. You’ll learn:
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- An overview of the SDI Deep Diver and Navigation Diver specialties
- How to plan dives with clear depth limits and stay within pre-planned boundaries
- How compass patterns such as out-and-back, squares, and triangles are used underwater
- How your three additional specialty choices introduce new diving skills
#2. In-water training
In the water, you’ll learn and practice:
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- The required skills for both Deep Diver and Navigation Diver
- How to test and check all of your equipment before each dive
- How to descend to your planned depth without exceeding limits
- How to perform navigation patterns on the surface and at depth
- How to complete dive one of each of your three chosen specialties
- How to safely ascend, complete a safety stop, and log every dive
You get focused time with your instructor to prepare for your ocean dives.
#3. Open-water ocean dives
You’ll complete your open-water adventure dives at local Nanaimo sites that could include:
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- Finn Beach
- Charlaine Boat Ramp
- Tyee Cove
- Oak Leaf Park
- Rivtow Lion (wreck)
- Snake Wall (deep dive)
Here you’ll apply your deep and navigation skills in real conditions while completing your additional specialty dives under instructor supervision.
Your gear you will use in the Advanced Adventure Diver course
You’ll use standard scuba equipment for all of your adventure dives, including your underwater compass. Depending on which three additional specialties you choose, you may also work with items such as a dive light, lift bag, surface marker, or other specialty gear used in our local Vancouver Island conditions.
During the Advanced Adventure course your gear will be included. You’ll use:
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- Mask, snorkel, fins
- BCD and regulator
- Dive computer
- Cylinder and weight system
- Wetsuit or drysuit depending on the conditions
- Any specialty equipment required for your selected adventure dives
Wetsuit or drysuit?
Most of your ocean dives will take place in 8°C to 10°C water, so a drysuit is often the most comfortable choice for deeper dives and multiple adventure dives in a day. Our team will help you choose the right exposure protection and make sure you’re fitted properly so you can stay warm and focused throughout the course.
Cold-water training, warm-water confidence
Learning to dive in British Columbia gives you a strong foundation for diving anywhere in the world. Once you’re comfortable in our local conditions, warm-water diving feels simple. Your SDI certification is recognized globally and prepares you for future training such as deep, night, navigation, and other specialty courses.
What’s included
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- SDI eLearning
- All required training dives
- All essential scuba gear
- Experience toward your selected adventure specialties
- Ocean dives at local Nanaimo sites
- Small class sizes for personal attention and a high instructor-to-student ratio
Student perks: You’ll receive discounts when purchasing your own gear. You’re also welcome to join our regular club dives.
Coming from out of town?
If you’ve already started your Advanced Adventure Diver course elsewhere, we can finish it through a multi-agency referral. Contact us for details.
Advanced Adventure Diver course FAQ
What is the SDI Advanced Adventure Diver course?
It’s a program that lets certified Open Water divers try five different SDI specialties. Two dives are required, Deep Diver and Navigation Diver, and the other three you choose based on your interests.
Do any of the adventure dives count toward full specialty certifications?
Yes. Each adventure dive can be applied toward the matching SDI specialty course if you decide to continue that training later.
Do I need my own gear?
We encourage students to purchase their personal gear which would include a mask, snorkel, and fins. However, we can provide you with all of the required gear.
Do I need a certain amount of experience before enrolling?
You need to be an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver (or equivalent) to take the course. No additional logged dives are required, but good buoyancy and comfort in the water help.
How long does the Advanced Adventure Diver course take?
Most divers complete the course in one or two days of open water diving, depending on scheduling, local conditions, and the dive center running the course.
Will I be certified to dive deeper after the course?
You’ll gain supervised experience with deeper diving, but to earn full deep-diving certification you must complete the SDI Deep Diver specialty.
What happens during the Navigation dive?
You’ll practice compass skills on the surface and at depth, including out-and-back navigation plus square and triangle patterns.
How many students are in a class?
There are typically 8 students maximum per class. We keep class sizes small enough to provide a safe, comfortable learning environment with lots of instructor attention.
Is this course difficult for new divers?
Most divers find it very manageable. You build on skills you learned in Open Water and get guidance from an instructor during each specialty dive.
Is there a final exam?
Your eLearning includes knowledge checks, and your instructor will review key concepts with you. There is no separate written final exam.
Start Your Adventure
Are you ready to start your journey to becoming a scuba diver?
