Comparison
PADI Advanced Open Water vs SSI Advanced Open Water
Compare the five-dive programmes and understand where SSI’s former Advanced Adventurer name fits.
PADI Advanced Open Water and SSI’s new Advanced Open Water Diver programme both use five training dives, including deep diving and navigation plus three electives.
Older comparisons can be misleading. SSI’s current programme replaces Advanced Adventurer; confirm the programme name and training plan with the centre when reviewing an older offer.
Reviewed 30 September 2026 · Official agency sources below
At a glance
| Compare | PADI | SSI |
|---|---|---|
| Training dives | 5 | 5 in the new programme |
| Required core | Deep + Underwater Navigation | Deep Diving + Navigation |
| Electives | 3 | 3 |
| Older SSI terminology | No change to the PADI name | Advanced Adventurer is the predecessor |
PADI Advanced Open Water
Five Adventure Dives, with required deep and underwater navigation dives.
Strengths
- A structured next step after Open Water
- Three elective dives to explore interests
Limits
- Introductory specialty dives are not five complete specialty certifications
- Experience still matters after earning the card
Best for: Divers who find a PADI centre offering useful electives and suitable local sites.
SSI Advanced Open Water
The new five-dive programme includes Deep Diving, Navigation and three electives.
Strengths
- A defined core with room for personal interests
- An updated progression from the former Advanced Adventurer programme
Limits
- Old adverts and certification names require careful reading
- Introductory dives do not complete every specialty
Best for: Divers booking the current SSI programme with electives matched to their next dives.
Ask the centre to identify the current programme explicitly. Historical SSI recognition ratings and older Advanced Adventurer cards should be assessed by their actual training and experience requirements, rather than matched by title alone.
The official SSI announcement linked below describes the new structure. If a centre’s website still uses the old name, request an updated course outline before comparing prices.
Write down where you want to dive over the coming year. Ask the instructor which available electives support those plans, what sites will be used and whether any specialty equipment carries an extra charge.
For example, a diver planning southern Australian shore diving may prioritise buoyancy and exposure-suit practice. Someone booking boat trips may value navigation and the practical routines used by that operator.
Ask for individual feedback on gas management, buoyancy and navigation. A useful course leaves you with specific skills to practise afterwards.
Confirm age-related restrictions and the exact dive operator requirements for your next trip. A qualification name by itself does not guarantee access to a particular site.
The honest answer
Compare the actual five dives, the instructor and the sites. The new SSI structure makes current programme details more useful than the agency-name comparisons found in older articles.
PADI Advanced Open Water vs SSI Advanced Open Water FAQs
Is SSI Advanced Adventurer still the name to compare?
It is the predecessor to SSI’s new Advanced Open Water Diver programme. Check whether the offer you are reading describes the old programme or the current one.
Do I earn five specialty certifications?
No. These courses introduce specialty activities. Completing a full specialty involves its own requirements; ask what credit is available for training already completed.
Sources
What the verified statements on this page are based on. We link primary sources so you can check them yourself — and so you can see the date they were consulted.
- PADI — Advanced Open Water FAQschecked September 2026
- SSI — new Advanced Open Water programmechecked September 2026
Choose your next step
Start with your experience level. Compare the training and the package before choosing a centre.
Start with the PADI vs SSI agency guide →