Queensland Scuba Diving Company PADI Advanced Open Water Course

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Take your Open Water card further on the Gold Coast: five dives over two days, including a deep dive and an underwater navigation dive, plus three electives you choose yourself. You finish with the PADI Advanced Open Water certification.

Days

2 days, about 4 hours each

Group size

Instructor-led course

Start / finish

Chevron Island, Surfers Paradise / Chevron Island

Return

See itinerary for details

Accommodation

No accommodation is included

Transport

Dive boat Discover from the Chevron Island centre

Meals

No meals are listed as included

Route

Map of Queensland Scuba Diving Company PADI Advanced Open Water Course

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Included experiences

Deep dive — core skill dive with your instructor
Underwater navigation — core skill dive
Three electives — choose from drift, photography, fish identification and more
PADI Advanced Open Water card — your next certification

Queensland Scuba Diving Company PADI Advanced Open Water Course

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Itinerary

Map

STARTING AT CHEVRON ISLAND

Your Advanced course starts at Queensland Scuba Diving Company's PADI Five Star centre on Chevron Island, a small residential island in the Nerang River joined by bridges to Surfers Paradise. Bring your Open Water card or an equivalent qualification. The course is five dives over two days of about four hours each, and the dive times move with the tide, so your instructor confirms them when you book. All equipment hire is included, along with the PADI Advanced Open Water ebook. The centre's boat, Discover, heads up the Broadwater every day, the calm estuary sheltered from the Pacific by South Stradbroke Island.

THE TWO CORE DIVES

Two dives are the same for everyone. The deep dive takes you further down than your Open Water training, and teaches you how to plan for depth, manage your air and recognise the fuzzy-headed effect divers call nitrogen narcosis. The underwater navigation dive teaches you to find your way with a compass and with natural markers such as sand ripples and the shape of the bottom, so you can lead a dive and come back to the boat or the anchor line instead of surfacing to look.

THREE ELECTIVES OF YOUR CHOICE

The other three dives are yours to choose from seven: a boat dive, search and recovery, peak performance buoyancy, a drift dive, underwater photography, fish identification and the underwater naturalist dive. Keen on photos? Pair photography with fish identification. Want to hang perfectly still above the bottom? Peak performance buoyancy is the one for you. Each elective adds a real skill, so shape the course around the diving you want to do next.

YOUR ADVANCED CARD

Finish the five dives and you're a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, qualified to plan dives to 30 metres, which opens up most of the world's famous wreck and reef sites. You don't have to do the two days back to back. Separate weekends work fine, and you have 12 months from your start to finish.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Queensland Scuba Diving Company, 19 Karloo Street, Chevron Island, Surfers Paradise.
Departure time: Dive times move each day with the tide, between 7am and 2pm. Your start date and times are confirmed when you book.
Duration: Two days of about four hours each. They can be on separate weekends, and you have 12 months to finish once you start.
Suits: Certified divers with PADI Open Water Diver or an equivalent qualification.
Please note: Chevron Island has free timed public parking, buses 740 and 731 stop two minutes' walk away, and Surfers Paradise tram station is about 10 minutes' walk. Limited return transfers run from selected Surfers Paradise hotels.

What to bring

Swimwear
Towel

What is included

PADI Advanced Open Water course: five dives over two days
All equipment hire
PADI Advanced Open Water ebook
PADI Advanced Open Water eCard

Not included

PADI e-book and registration fee, $99, paid to the dive centre
A doctor's dive medical, if your questionnaire answers mean you need one

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.