Small groups for real coaching — just 8 divers per instructor, giving you personal guidance, safer dives and more time to build confidence.
PADI Advanced Open Water – Continue Your Diving Journey in Sydney
PADI 5‑Star Centre
Shark Dive at
Magic Point
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⭐ 4.9 ★ average from 2,400+ divers — Sydney’s most trusted dive centre.
Upcoming Advanced Open Water Courses
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✅ Certified elsewhere? You’re in the right place.
More than one-third of our Advanced students started their training with another agency. There’s no retraining required—simply continue your diving journey with us and earn your globally recognised PADI certification.
SSI, RAID, ProDive/ISC or any other agency—you’re welcome, and you’re ready.
See What Your Advanced Weekend Looks Like
A quick look at the dives, schedule and what to expect on your PADI Advanced Open Water weekend with Abyss in Sydney.
Why Choose Abyss for Your Advanced Course?
Trusted by Sydney divers who want to feel confident, safe and excited underwater.
Five exciting adventure dives — including Deep, Navigation, PPB, Boat & an iconic shark dive at Magic Point. This course isn’t just training — it’s an experience.
Globally recognised PADI certification — upgrade your licence to 30 m and open up more sites, more trips and more epic dives worldwide.
Two days — and no stressful exam — browse the online theory at your own pace, then enjoy two fun, skill-building days in the water.
Abyss Scuba Diving – Sydney’s Leading Dive Centre
As the only PADI 5-Star Career Development Centre in NSW and winner of over 15 national dive industry awards, Abyss Scuba Diving is Sydney’s most awarded dive centre — recognised for excellence in diver training, safety and customer experience.
With more than 20 years of experience and over 40,000 certified divers, we’ve helped thousands of Sydney divers continue their journey after Open Water. Our expert instructors are patient, supportive and highly experienced in guiding divers through the Advanced course — whether you're building confidence, expanding your skills or converting from another training agency.
To ensure the best possible training, we keep small class sizes, provide personalised coaching and run courses from our custom-built dive facility designed for comfort and safety. When you choose Abyss, you’re not just signing up for a course — you’re joining a welcoming community of divers who love exploring Sydney’s underwater world.
What’s Included
- Globally recognised PADI Advanced Open Water certification
- Five adventure dives — Deep, Navigation, PPB, Boat & a Magic Point shark encounter
- Two boat dives (including Magic Point)
- All scuba equipment provided (tanks, regs, BCDs, dive computer)
- Student Dive Injury & Evacuation Insurance*
- Full PADI eLearning included (6–8 hours)
- Small groups — max 8 divers per instructor
- Flexible scheduling — courses most weekends
How the Course Works
- Complete your PADI eLearning online at your pace
- Day 1: Three shore dives focusing on buoyancy, navigation & deep-dive prep
- Day 2: Two boat dives to 30 m, including Magic Point shark dive
- Receive your Advanced certification — ready for deeper sites, wrecks & reef exploration
Course Preparation
- Medical questionnaire
- Complete your Advanced eLearning before your training weekend
Practical Training
- Day 1: Three training dives at local shore sites
- Day 2: Two boat dives (including Magic Point) to apply deep & boat skills
Important Conditions
- Open Water certification (PADI, ISC, SSI, RAID, SDI or equivalent)
- Comfortable swimming 200 m & floating for 10 minutes
- Dive medical may be required in some circumstances
- Minimum age 12 (under 15 requires parental consent)
- Wait 18 hours after diving before flying
*Policy sub-limits and excess apply while under instructor supervision.
What Advanced Divers Say
⭐ Rated 4.9 Stars average across 2,400+ reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions about the PADI Advanced Open Water course in Sydney? Here are the ones we’re asked most often.
When should I do Advanced after Open Water?
The best time is soon after your Open Water course. Your skills are still fresh, you’re comfortable in the water, and you’ll build confidence quickly under an instructor’s guidance. If you wait too long you can feel rusty; doing AOW now keeps your momentum going and opens up dives like Magic Point.
Is Advanced harder than Open Water?
No. Most divers find Advanced easier and more fun. There are no exams or long classroom sessions — just five guided dives with short knowledge reviews. It’s relaxed, practical and focused on real diving, not theory.
How long does the course take?
The course runs over one weekend. You’ll usually do three dives on Saturday and two on Sunday. Beforehand, you complete 6–8 hours of online PADI eLearning at your own pace from home.
Do I need my own gear?
No. All essential scuba equipment is included: wetsuit, BCD, regulators, tanks, dive computer, compass and any specialty gear. If you own a mask, fins or computer you’re welcome to bring them, but nothing extra is required.
I’m certified with SSI / RAID / another agency — can I join?
Yes. As long as you have an entry-level Open Water certification from a recognised agency, you can enrol in PADI Advanced with Abyss. You don’t need to repeat your Open Water course — you simply continue your training and gain a globally recognised PADI certification.
What dives are included? Do we really dive with sharks?
You complete five Adventure Dives: Deep and Underwater Navigation (required) plus three electives designed around Sydney’s best sites. With Abyss this includes a boat dive at Magic Point to see grey nurse sharks, a Peak Performance Buoyancy dive and usually Naturalist or Fish ID. Day 1 is shore dives, Day 2 is boat dives.
Why do divers choose Abyss for Advanced?
Abyss is Sydney’s only PADI 5-Star Career Development Centre and the most awarded dive shop in NSW. We keep group sizes small, include two boat dives and the Magic Point shark dive, and use high-quality gear. Our local instructors know the sites inside out, so you get a safe, friendly and confidence-building experience.
What does becoming an Advanced Open Water diver let me do?
Your depth limit increases to 30 m, you refine your buoyancy and navigation, and you gain access to a wider range of dives — deeper reefs, wrecks, drift and night dives. Each Adventure Dive also counts towards a specialty course, making Advanced the perfect stepping stone in your dive journey. Your PADI card is recognised worldwide.
Still unsure if Advanced is right for you? Get in touch with our team and we’ll talk you through your options.
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