Open Water vs Advanced Open Water Certification: Which Do You Need First?
Carolyn Bryan Jun 17, 2026
Open Water always comes first. It is the foundational certification that lets you dive recreationally anywhere in the world. Advanced Open Water is the next step, and you cannot take it until you have completed Open Water.
That said, a lot of students ask whether they should do both back-to-back, or wait. This article answers that question honestly. For a complete overview of the certification process, see our Denver scuba certification guide.
What Open Water certification gets you
PADI Open Water Diver is the entry-level recreational diving certification. When you finish it, you can:
- Dive to a maximum depth of 60 feet
- Rent scuba gear at any dive shop or resort in the world
- Dive independently with a certified buddy (no instructor required)
- Join guided dive trips at any dive destination
The vast majority of recreational dive sites are accessible at 60 feet or shallower. Coral reefs, most shipwrecks, and almost all beginner and intermediate dive destinations fall within Open Water limits. This certification alone will keep you busy for years.
What Advanced Open Water adds
Advanced Open Water is a bit of a misleading name. It does not mean you are an advanced diver. It means you have been exposed to a wider variety of diving conditions.
The PADI Advanced Open Water course requires five specialty dives. Two are mandatory: a deep dive (to 100 feet) and an underwater navigation dive. The other three you choose from a list that includes night diving, photography, drift diving, wreck diving, and others.
After completing Advanced Open Water, you can dive to 100 feet. Some dive operators and certain sites require Advanced certification before they will take you down to specific depths or on particular dive profiles.
Advanced also tends to make you a more confident diver. The five additional dives, especially navigation and deep, build skills that Open Water divers often find they want but do not yet have.
Should you do them back-to-back?
Some students do. It is not a bad idea if you have the time and budget, and if you are already planning a dive trip where deeper sites are on the agenda.
The argument against doing them immediately back-to-back is that you benefit more from Advanced after you have some dives under your belt. The skills covered in Advanced, particularly buoyancy and navigation, build on experience. If you take Advanced right after Open Water, you are practicing those skills with very little diving foundation.
A common and sensible path: complete Open Water, do 10 to 20 dives across a few trips, and then come back for Advanced. By that point, you know what gaps you want to fill. You are more comfortable in the water. The Advanced course is a better experience.
That said, plenty of people do them back-to-back and love it. There is no wrong answer here.
What comes after Advanced?
PADI's certification progression beyond Advanced Open Water includes:
- Rescue Diver: Teaches you to recognize and respond to dive emergencies. Many experienced divers consider this the most valuable course they have taken.
- Divemaster: The first professional-level certification. Divemasters can lead certified divers and assist instructors.
- Instructor: Allows you to teach and certify other divers.
There are also dozens of specialty certifications: wreck diving, night diving, dry suit, altitude diving, underwater photography, and more. Most can be started at the Open Water or Advanced level.
Do you need Advanced to dive in Colorado?
Not for the dive sites we use for certification checkouts. Aurora Reservoir, the Homestead Crater, and the Blue Hole are all accessible to Open Water divers.
If you want to dive deeper sites on future trips, or if certain dive operators at your destination require Advanced certification, that is when it becomes relevant. Check the requirements for your specific planned dive sites before you travel.
Ready to get started with Open Water?
See our current course schedule or read our complete certification guide for everything you need to know before enrolling. You can also call us at 303.988.6725 with questions.
Once you have your Open Water card, ask us about PADI Advanced Open Water for your next step.
Underwater Phantaseas | PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center | Lakewood, CO | uwphantaseas.com
