Once you are certified as an Open Water Diver and obtain your C-card, you will be able to dive without an instructor and will be able to dive in places that you cannot reach on an introductory dive.

There are different ranks for C cards, and the beginner rank only allows you to dive to a depth of 18m, but if you are certified as an intermediate rank ``Advanced Open Water Diver'', you will be able to dive to a depth of 30m.

This time, we will introduce how to obtain a license based on the PADI certification system, which accounts for 60% of the world's C-card issuances.

 

 

■Features and benefits of obtaining

Diving qualification benefits

If you want to fully enjoy diving, you will need a C-card (license), but C-cards are issued independently by diving training organizations not only in Japan but all over the world, so the ranks and contents of C-cards vary widely depending on the training organization.

PADI, one of the training organizations, ranks C cards and provides an environment where you can step up.

At the beginner level, you can only dive at easy spots, but it's perfect for enjoying the beautiful scenery of coral reefs and vibrant marine life such as tropical fish.

However, as you enjoy diving, it is not uncommon to gradually want to try new environments or diving in more difficult spots than before.

For such divers, we recommend stepping up to the Advanced Open Water certification.

Once certified, you will be able to dive up to 12m, 30m deeper than before, and will also enjoy a variety of other benefits.

 

- Learn more basic techniques

・It becomes possible to dive in environments that require skill, such as complex terrain.

・Gain deeper knowledge

・You will be able to use new equipment and expand the scope of your diving

 

The intermediate and above ranks have great benefits for people who are no longer satisfied with their current diving, as they will be able to dive in a wider variety of places.

In particular, the opportunity to dive into complex terrain that has never been explored before is extremely appealing.

 

 

■How to obtain a license

Diving license

To take this course, you must be PADI Open Water Diver certified or have an equivalent certification from another organization.

There is no academic test like in open water, and in addition to the required dives of underwater navigation and deep diving, you can choose any three of 24 adventure dives and complete them to receive certification.

The course consists of only five ocean dives and no tests, so you can get certified in as little as two days.

However, since this is a step up from open water diving, you must have a solid grasp of basic diving techniques and knowledge, such as buoyancy control and navigation skills.

For this reason, some diving shops even require a certain number of fun diving experiences as a requirement for taking the course.

The cost of the course is usually around 6 yen, but this will vary depending on the shop and the time of the course, and there may also be additional fees for applying for a certification card and renting equipment.

To allow you to enjoy fun diving while also progressing to the next level, some shops offer great value plans that include course fees and rental fees in the tour price, and some even hold certification tours at resorts in Okinawa and other areas, so it's a good idea to check in advance.

 

 

This time, we introduced how to obtain the Advanced Open Water Diver certification based on the PADI certification system.

There are many diving spots where you can dive even with just the beginner-level open water certification, so you can enjoy diving to the fullest. While you are still getting used to it, it is important to improve your skills at a pace that suits you without forcing yourself.

If you want to gain experience and enjoy deeper diving, why not try taking the exam?