Private Advanced Open Water Certification in El Cajon, CA
Difficulty
challenging
Duration
3–5 days
Fitness Level
Participants should have good cardiovascular health, strong swimming skills, and the ability to handle moderate physical exertion underwater.
Overview
Elevate your diving skills with a private Advanced Open Water Certification in El Cajon, CA. Personalized lessons and expert guidance prepare you for thrilling new underwater experiences.
Private Advanced Open Water Certification
Ages 15+ • 2-Part Course • Fine Tune Your Skills!
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About This Adventure
Please note, required e-Learning must be completed prior to any in-water class sessions.
Please select the date on the calendar that you wish to begin your e-Learning and our staff will reach out to you at this time to provide further details and work with you to create your customized course schedule.
About
The Advanced Open Water Course fine-tunes the skills you’ve developed in your Open Water course and opens up new opportunities such as deep diving, search and recovery, night diving, underwater photography, and more.
More Info
The course is broken up into two sections: Knowledge Development and Ocean Dives. A specific schedule will be developed on a per student basis. When booking, please select the desired date for UnderWatters to contact you about course details and scheduling.
Knowledge Development: You will complete eLearning training materials prior to getting into the water. They will cover all the knowledge, skills, and concepts we will use during your course.
Ocean Dives: The Advanced Certification consists of five ocean water training dives. The two required dives are Deep Dive (over 60ft) and Underwater Navigation. The other three dives are up to you and your interests! You can choose specialty adventure dives such as night diving, search and recovery, peak performance buoyancy, or underwater photography. Courses can be completed in as little as three days or up to a few weeks, depending on scheduling.
Costs is transparent: includes customized scheduling, private instruction, gear for all sessions, PADI fees, certification cards, air fills, towels/refreshments, etc.
PLEASE NOTE: The only thing NOT included in price is the PADI eLearning materials, which can be purchased directly on the PADI website with easy to follow instructions from us!
Prerequisites
- Open Water Scuba Certification
- 15 Years of Age or Older
Adventure Tips
Check Your Equipment Before Each Dive
Ensure regulators, gauges, and buoyancy control devices are functioning perfectly to avoid issues underwater.
Stay Hydrated and Rested
Diving demands focus and stamina; drink plenty of water and get good rest before your sessions.
Practice Controlled Buoyancy
Maintaining neutral buoyancy maximizes safety and enjoyment underwater—focus on fine motor control during training.
Monitor Weather and Water Conditions
Conditions like currents and visibility can change rapidly—always check latest updates before heading out.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- California sea lions
- Garibaldi fish
History
El Cajon has a long legacy of outdoor sports and is located near historic Mission Trails Regional Park, blending nature adventure with California heritage.
Conservation
Local diving operators promote reef-friendly practices and support marine protected areas to preserve biodiversity and water quality.
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Adventure Hotspots in San Diego
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Wetsuit (5mm or thicker)
Keeps you warm and comfortable in varying water temperatures, especially during cooler months.
fall specific
Dive Computer
Monitors depth, dive time, and no-decompression limits for safer and more controlled dives.
Underwater Compass
Essential for practicing navigation skills during advanced open water training.
Surface Signaling Device
Important for alerting boats or dive boats of your position during surface intervals.