The Advanced Open Water Course
More Confidence, Better Skills, and Real Diving Experience
Are you already an Open Water Diver and looking to improve your diving skills, confidence, and understanding of the underwater world? Then the Advanced Open Water Course at Oceans 5 Gili Air is the natural next step in your diving journey.
Many divers think the Advanced Open Water Course is only about going deeper or collecting another certification card. At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we see it very differently. This course is about becoming a better diver—more relaxed, more aware, more skilled, and more confident underwater. It is not about ticking boxes or rushing through dives. It is about quality training, personal attention, and real improvement.
Located on the peaceful island of Gili Air, inside the protected Gili Matra Marine Park, Oceans 5 Gili Air offers an Advanced Open Water Course that is designed for divers who genuinely want to progress, not just participate.
Why Continue After Open Water?
After finishing your Open Water Course, you are certified to dive independently with a buddy. But many divers quickly realise that there is still so much to learn. Buoyancy control can be challenging, navigation feels uncertain, deeper water brings new sensations, and currents or low-light conditions may feel intimidating.
The Advanced Open Water Course bridges that gap.
It allows you to:
- Gain experience under the supervision of an instructor
- Improve buoyancy, trim, and finning techniques
- Learn how to plan and execute deeper dives safely
- Understand navigation techniques that make you more independent
- Discover new types of diving in a controlled and supportive environment
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we don’t see this course as “advanced” in the sense of difficulty. We see it as advanced learning—a structured way to build confidence step by step.
A Flexible Course Designed Around You
One of the biggest differences between the Advanced Open Water Course at Oceans 5 Gili Air and many other dive centres is flexibility.
While some dive shops follow a fixed program with five mandatory dives, we believe that every diver is different. Interests, comfort levels, and learning goals vary—and your course should reflect that.
Two Required Dives
There are only two required dives in the Advanced Open Water Course:
- Deep Dive
- Navigation Dive
These dives are essential for developing safe diving habits and situational awareness, and they form the backbone of the course.
Three Elective Dives – Your Choice
The remaining three dives are chosen by you, from a wide selection of specialty dives. Popular options include:
- Drift Diving
- Night Diving
- Enriched Air (Nitrox)
- Wreck Diving
- Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Underwater Naturalist
- Fish Identification
This approach allows you to focus on the type of diving you actually enjoy or want to learn more about, rather than being forced into a rigid program.
The Deep Dive – Going Deeper with Understanding
The Deep Dive introduces you to depths of up to 30 meters, always within training limits and under close supervision.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, the deep dive is not about reaching a number. It is about learning:
- How depth affects air consumption
- How nitrogen absorption works
- How to plan a dive properly
- How to maintain buoyancy and awareness at greater depths
We take time to explain why things happen, not just what to do. This knowledge helps you feel calm and in control, rather than rushed or overwhelmed.
The Navigation Dive – Becoming a Confident Diver
Many divers rely heavily on their guide because they never truly learned navigation. During the Navigation Dive, you will practice:
- Compass navigation
- Natural navigation using reef features
- Distance estimation
- Awareness of current, light, and terrain
This dive often becomes a turning point for divers. Understanding where you are and how to get back builds confidence that stays with you for the rest of your diving life.
Real Dive Times – No Rushing, No Shortcuts
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, dive time matters.
Our dives last until:
- 50 bar remaining, or
- A maximum of one hour,
whichever comes first.
There are no rushed 40-minute dives and no pressure to surface early just to fit a schedule. This gives students time to:
- Relax
- Practice skills properly
- Improve buoyancy
- Observe marine life without stress
Learning happens best when you are calm, comfortable, and not watching your watch.
Small Groups, Personal Attention
Oceans 5 Gili Air may look like a big dive centre at first glance, but the reality is very different.
The facilities are spacious by design, not crowded. Courses are taught in small groups, allowing instructors to give real attention to each student. You are not a number here, and you are never rushed through a skill because another group is waiting.
This teaching philosophy allows instructors to:
- Adjust explanations to individual learning styles
- Spend more time on buoyancy and trim
- Address small issues before they become habits
- Create a relaxed and supportive learning environment
Conservation Is Part of the Course, Not an Add-On
The Advanced Open Water Course at Oceans 5 Gili Air is fully integrated with our conservation philosophy.
We believe that better divers are safer divers—and safer divers are better for the ocean.
Key principles include:
- Perfect buoyancy control
- Neutral trim
- No touching policy
- Respect for coral, marine life, and the marine park
You will learn how small movements affect the reef, how finning techniques can reduce impact, and how awareness prevents damage. These are not abstract ideas—they are practiced on every dive.
Diving inside a marine park comes with responsibility, and we make sure our students understand that from the start.
Diving in the Gili Islands – The Perfect Classroom
The dive sites around Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan offer ideal conditions for an Advanced Open Water Course.
You can experience:
- Gentle to moderate currents for drift diving
- Sloping reefs and walls for deep dives
- Sandy areas and reef structures for navigation
- Wreck sites like the Glenn Nusa
- Rich marine life including turtles, reef fish, and macro species
All dive sites are close to the dive centre, reducing travel time and allowing for relaxed schedules.
Nitrox and Skill Progression
Many Advanced Open Water students choose to include Enriched Air (Nitrox) as one of their elective dives. This not only introduces you to safer diving practices for repetitive dives, but also prepares you for future courses and longer dive days.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, the Advanced Open Water Course is often the starting point for further development:
- Specialty courses
- Conservation programs
- Divemaster training
We make sure you leave the course with a clear idea of where you can go next—without pressure or sales tactics.
A Dive Shop Focused on Quality, Not Quantity
Oceans 5 Gili Air has built its reputation on quality teaching, not volume. The dive centre follows strict standards, uses well-maintained equipment, and invests heavily in instructor development.
Even though the centre is well equipped and professionally run, the atmosphere remains relaxed and personal. Many students describe Oceans 5 as feeling more like a dive family than a commercial operation.
Will the Course Improve Your Diving?
Yes—if it is taught properly.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, the Advanced Open Water Course is not a formality. It is a carefully structured learning experience that focuses on:
- Skill improvement
- Confidence building
- Environmental awareness
- Real diving experience
You will leave the course not just with a new certification, but with noticeably better control, awareness, and enjoyment underwater.
Dive With Confidence at Oceans 5 Gili Air
If you are ready to move beyond basic certification and want a course that genuinely improves your diving, the Advanced Open Water Course at Oceans 5 Gili Air is designed for you.
No rushed dives.
No big groups.
No shortcuts.
Just quality teaching, real dive time, and respect for the ocean.
Don’t hesitate to dive with Oceans 5 Gili Air—a dive centre that may look big, but in reality is spacious, personal, and fully focused on creating better divers.