Small groups for real coaching — 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
Adventure
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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.
Gear for your next stage
Diving More? Familiar Gear Starts to Matter
Advanced Open Water is often the moment when divers realise they are not just trying scuba anymore — they are becoming active local divers. Hiring gear is still perfectly fine, but if you are starting to dive more often, this is a good time to ask what is worth owning and what can wait.
You do not need to buy a full scuba kit just because you are doing Advanced. The goal is to build a sensible setup that improves confidence, familiarity and comfort on the dives you actually do around Sydney.
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.
Yes, you really dive with grey nurse sharks at Magic Point on Day 2 of your Advanced course.
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, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Boat & a Magic Point shark encounter
- Two boat dives, including Magic Point where conditions allow; if conditions are unsafe, an alternative site will be used
- Student Dive Injury & Evacuation Insurance*
- Full PADI eLearning included, usually 6–8 hours
- Small groups with local Sydney instructors
- Flexible scheduling — courses most weekends
- Important gear reminder: You need a complete scuba kit for both days. If you do not own your own gear, including a tank, please book your equipment hire when enrolling.
Gear hire or ownership?
Hiring is fine — but Advanced is a smart time to ask what is worth owning
If you are not ready to buy gear, hire it and keep diving. That is the right decision for many divers. But if you are booking Advanced because you want to dive more often, familiar gear can start to make each dive easier and more confident.
- Own first: personal-fit gear, dive computer, SMB, whistle, compass and practical Sydney safety gear.
- Compare next: regulator and BCD once you are diving regularly enough for familiarity to matter.
- Do not rush: we would rather help you buy the right gear at the right time than push a full kit too early.
How the Course Works
- Complete your PADI eLearning online at your own pace
- Day 1: Three shore dives focused on buoyancy refinement, navigation skills and deep-dive preparation
- Day 2: Two boat dives to 30 m, including a Magic Point shark dive where conditions allow
- Earn your Advanced Open Water certification — enabling deeper dives, wrecks and more advanced dive sites
Course Preparation
- Complete the PADI medical questionnaire
- Finish your Advanced eLearning before your training weekend
- Organise your gear or hire equipment before the course
Practical Training
- Day 1: Three training dives at local shore sites
- Day 2: Two boat dives, including Magic Point where possible, to apply deep & boat diving skills
Important Conditions
- Open Water certification from PADI, SSI, RAID, SDI, ISC or equivalent
- Comfortable swimming 200 m & floating for 10 minutes
- Dive medical may be required in certain circumstances
- Minimum age 12; under 15 requires parental consent
- Allow 18 hours after diving before flying
Terms and Conditions
By booking the PADI Advanced Open Water course with Abyss Scuba Diving, you agree to the following course booking terms and conditions.
- Full refund: Cancel your booking at least 7 days before your course starts for a refund, minus the cost of training materials.
- Non-refundable: Courses booked within 7 days of the start date are not eligible for a refund.
- eLearning materials: The cost of eLearning materials is non-refundable once purchased.
- Course commencement: No refunds are provided once the course has started. If you need to reschedule after starting, a $100 fee applies.
- Transport: Transport is not included in this course.
- Dive medical: A mandatory Dive Medical may be required and must be completed at least 7 days before your course starts. Failure to do so will result in the loss of your payment without a refund.
- Date changes: Changes made 7 days or more before the course start date incur no fee. Changes made within 7 days incur a $100 fee. Changes made within 24 hours incur a $200 fee.
- Medical statement: All course participants must read and confirm they have read the Medical Statement before attending the course.
Please review the full Abyss Scuba Diving Terms and Conditions before completing your booking.
*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 Advanced 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?
You need a complete scuba kit for both days of the course. If you do not own your own gear, including a tank, you can hire it from Abyss and should book your equipment hire when enrolling. If you are starting to dive regularly, Advanced is also a good time to ask us what gear is worth owning first and what can wait.
Should I buy gear before Advanced?
You do not need to buy a full gear package before Advanced. Hiring is still sensible if you are not ready. However, useful ownership steps at this stage often include a dive computer, SMB, whistle, compass and personal-fit gear such as mask, fins, boots, gloves and exposure protection. If you are unsure, ask an Abyss instructor before you buy.
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 are 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 where conditions allow, a Peak Performance Buoyancy dive and other practical local-diving skills.
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 groups small, include two boat dives where conditions allow, and 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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