There is a common misconception among new divers about continuing education. Many believe you have to be an experienced, “advanced” diver with dozens of logged dives before you can sign up for the next level.
Here is the secret: The course is not for advanced divers. It is designed to make you an advanced diver.
You can—and should—take the SSI Advanced Adventurer course immediately after your Open Water certification. It’s about gaining experience under the supervision of an instructor. And there is perhaps no better classroom in North America than San Carlos. With our deep vertical walls, purpose-sunk wrecks, and vibrant night life, we can offer a training experience that is exciting, diverse, and practical.
What is the Advanced Adventurer Course?
Forget long hours in the classroom. The SSI Advanced Adventurer course is all about diving. It is the perfect “sampler platter” of advanced training. To earn the certification, you must complete five different specialty dives. It allows you to try out different areas of diving to see what you love the most.
Here is how San Carlos turns these training dives into unforgettable adventures.
The Core Skills: Adventures for the Sea of Cortez
Deep Diving (Isla San Pedro Nalasco)
This is the big one. Your Open Water limit is 60 feet (18 meters). This dive extends your limit to 100 feet (30 meters). In many places, a deep dive is just staring at sand. In San Carlos, we take you to the dramatic walls of Isla San Pedro Nalasco. You’ll descend past the thermocline to see where the black coral forests begin, feeling the pressure change and learning to manage your gas supply while surrounded by the beauty of a vertical drop-off.
Navigation
Getting lost is frustrating; knowing where you are is empowering. Our rocky reef structures are the perfect place to master compass use and natural navigation. You’ll learn to read the ripple patterns in the sand and use landmarks to find your way back to the boat like a pro.
The Electives: Choose Your Adventure
This is where San Carlos really shines. You get to pick three more adventure dives, and we have world-class options for the most popular choices:
Wreck Diving (The SAAS Reef)
Most students can only dream of diving a shipwreck during their training. Here, it’s a highlight. You can choose a Wreck Diving adventure on one of the SAAS vessels, like the Suchiate or Santos. You’ll learn how to safely ascend and descend on a line, navigate the structure, and identify potential hazards, all while exploring a massive artificial reef teeming with fish.
Night Diving
If you haven’t seen the reef at night, you haven’t truly seen it. We conduct amazing night dives at accessible sites like Window Rock. You’ll turn off your light to see the bioluminescence sparkle and watch octopus hunt in the dark. It’s an adrenaline rush that opens up a whole new world of diving.
Perfect Buoyancy
Want to hover effortlessly like the divemasters? The SSI Perfect Buoyancy dive focuses on fine-tuning your weighting and breathing. It’s the single best skill for protecting the reef and extending your bottom time. Plus, having perfect buoyancy is the best way to interact safely with our curious sea lions!
Why Do It Here?
Taking your SSI Advanced Adventurer in San Carlos isn’t just about getting a new digital card for your profile. It’s about confidence. You aren’t training in a quarry or a featureless lake. You are training in the dynamic waters of the Sea of Cortez, dealing with real currents, real depth, and real structures.
When you finish your course here, you won’t just be certified; you’ll be a capable, confident diver ready to explore anywhere in the world.
Ready to go deeper and see more? Contact us to book your SSI Advanced Adventurer course on your next trip!