ADVANCED OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION – Improve your scuba diving skills up to 30m !

Five sessions can change your confidence underwater. This three-day PADI Advanced Open Water course in Las Galletas helps certified divers reach depths of up to 30 meters, while keeping the group to two people at most. I like the personal instruction from experienced teachers such as Ludovic, Julie, and Daniel, and I like that the schedule can be shaped around your holiday rather than forced into a rigid timetable. The main consideration is the price: at $596.12 per person, this is a serious training purchase, not a casual morning activity.

You need at least 10 logged dives, and you should have a moderate level of fitness. The course includes five adventure sessions, with underwater navigation and the descent to 30 meters required. The other three can include night work, a wreck, and buoyancy practice. Weather can affect the schedule, and the booking is normally non-refundable, so plan carefully.

Key points at a glance

• Small groups of two: You get far more direct attention than in a large class, useful when you are working on navigation or buoyancy.
• Five adventure sessions: The required navigation and 30-meter sessions are joined by three choices such as night work, a wreck, or buoyancy control.
• PADI Advanced Open Water certification: The course is designed to take you beyond basic certification while staying within PADI training and safety standards.
• Flexible holiday planning: The team works with you to arrange the program around your time in Tenerife.
• LJ Diving Tenerife in Las Galletas: The meeting point is at Calle Consuelo Alfonso Diaz-Flores, 16, with the activity ending back there.
• Experienced personal instruction: Ludovic and Julie have built a friendly, family-run center, with Daniel also helping on some sessions.

What the $596.12 price gets you

The cost is easiest to judge if you think of this as a certification course rather than a sightseeing trip. You are paying for five supervised adventure sessions, theory support, instruction, planning, and the chance to qualify for recreational scuba descents up to 30 meters.

That price may feel high beside a single introductory activity, but the comparison is not quite fair. An Advanced Open Water course is meant to improve your judgment and control, not simply give you another underwater outing. You work on navigation, depth awareness, buoyancy, and specialized conditions.

The small group size is important here. With no more than two students per course, you should have time to ask questions, repeat a skill, or discuss something that felt unclear. That matters most for navigation and buoyancy, where a quick demonstration is not always enough.

The course also has a useful personal touch. The schedule is planned with you, which suits a holiday better than a fixed classroom timetable. You can discuss the order of the five sessions and work around the rest of your stay, subject to availability and weather.

Still, I would not book this simply because you want a few fun underwater outings. The price makes the most sense if you genuinely want the PADI Advanced Open Water qualification and intend to use the skills later.

Before you arrive in Las Galletas

You must already have at least 10 logged dives. This is not a beginner course, and the instructor will be helping you extend existing skills rather than teaching you how to make your first underwater descent.

A moderate level of physical fitness is expected. The supplied information does not give a detailed medical checklist, equipment list, or exact daily timetable, so ask LJ Diving Tenerife for those details before paying.

The meeting point is LJ Diving Tenerife, Calle Consuelo Alfonso Diaz-Flores, 16, 38631 Las Galletas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The center is near public transportation, and the activity finishes at the same location.

You can receive confirmation within 48 hours of booking, depending on availability. Since each session is limited to a small number of people, do not assume that a preferred date will be open. The published operating period runs from March 21, 2020, through June 16, 2026, with hours listed as 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

The theory work and course planning

The theory portion can usually be handled through e-learning. If that option does not suit you, the center provides the support material needed for the course.

This is a practical advantage on a short holiday. You can complete much of the academic preparation before meeting the instructor, then spend your time in Tenerife focusing on skills and decision-making. Ask how much theory must be completed before the first session, since the exact arrangement may depend on your booking.

The planning conversation is also worth taking seriously. You are not simply handed five random activities. The course includes two required areas, navigation and a descent to 30 meters, then adds three more adventure subjects from the available choices.

I like this structure because it gives the certificate a clear foundation while leaving room for your interests. If you want a confidence boost, buoyancy work may be the best choice. If you want variety, a wreck or night session may appeal more.

Session one: underwater navigation

Navigation is one of the two required parts of the course. It may sound basic, but it is one of the most useful skills you can take away from advanced training.

You work on finding your way underwater rather than relying entirely on a guide. That means paying attention to direction, distance, and your starting point. The value is not just passing a course requirement. Better navigation can make future shore or boat outings calmer and more organized.

This is also where the small group limit earns its keep. If you are unsure about a compass or lose track of your reference points, you have a better chance of getting immediate help. With only two people in the course, the instructor can watch your technique closely.

Do not expect navigation to feel effortless at first. The underwater environment can make simple directions harder to follow, especially when you are also managing breathing, equipment, and depth. That is exactly why guided practice matters.

Session two: reaching 30 meters

The second required subject is the descent to 30 meters. This is the part most closely tied to the course promise, but it should not be treated as a race to a larger number.

At greater depth, conditions and your body can feel different. The instructor’s role is to help you understand those changes and remain within safe recreational limits. You will be working under PADI standards, with attention to preparation, control, and sensible decisions.

The stated goal is to improve your skills up to 30 meters, not to suggest that every future outing should reach that depth. Good training helps you decide when a particular depth is suitable and when it is better to turn back or stay shallower.

I would ask the center how the session is planned, what equipment is supplied, and how your logged experience is assessed. Those details are not included in the published information, and they are reasonable questions for any certification course.

Three elective sessions to match your interests

After navigation and the 30-meter session, you complete three more adventure subjects. The listed choices are night work, a wreck session, and peak performance buoyancy.

A night session changes your use of familiar skills. Visibility is more limited, and you need to stay attentive to your group and equipment. It can be exciting, but it may also feel demanding if you are still building basic confidence. Ask whether night training fits your current comfort level.

A wreck session adds a different kind of setting and focus. The information does not promise a specific wreck or describe penetration, so do not assume you will enter the structure. The useful point is learning how to approach a wreck environment responsibly and observe the site without treating it like an obstacle course.

Peak performance buoyancy is the most broadly useful choice. Better buoyancy can help you control your position, reduce unnecessary effort, and move with more care around the underwater environment. It is less flashy than a night session, but I would consider it a smart option if your main goal is to become a calmer and more efficient recreational diver.

The final mix should be discussed with your instructor. The course description lists the available subjects, but it does not confirm that every option is offered on every date.

A relaxed teaching style with firm safety standards

The center’s tone appears friendly and personal, but the course is still described as rigorous and conducted within PADI safety and training standards. That balance is useful. You want an instructor who can make the process comfortable without treating certification as a casual holiday game.

Ludovic and Julie are central to the center’s personal feel. Returning customers have built long relationships with them, and one person came back to Tenerife after a first scuba experience with the pair several years earlier to complete the Advanced course. That suggests continuity, which can be valuable if you prefer instruction from people who remember your progress.

The center is family-owned, and the atmosphere includes small human touches. Clean equipment, disinfected masks and regulators, and coffee after a session were all part of the positive impression created by the center. Those details do not replace proper instruction, but they make a multi-day course more pleasant.

Daniel is also mentioned as an instructor and local helper. One customer specifically praised his knowledge of good spots for ceviche and mojitos, which is a useful reminder that the center can help with the wider Tenerife experience as well as the formal training.

What the three-day format feels like

The course lasts about three days, but the exact timetable is planned with you. That flexibility is helpful, though you should avoid filling every hour of your holiday with other commitments.

A likely rhythm is theory preparation followed by the five adventure sessions spread across the available days. The information does not provide exact start times or session lengths, so request a day-by-day plan before arrival.

Three days gives you time to discuss each session rather than rushing from one skill to the next. It also allows room for questions and feedback, which can be just as useful as the underwater work itself.

The limitation is that weather can interrupt the plan. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That protection helps, but it does not guarantee that a replacement date will fit your flight schedule, so leave some margin if the certification is important to you.

Who will get the most from this course

I would recommend this experience to a certified diver with at least 10 logged dives who wants more structure and a recognized next qualification. It suits someone who values personal coaching over a large commercial class.

It is especially appealing if you want to improve navigation, become more comfortable at greater depth, or work on buoyancy. The course also fits people who enjoy a friendly center where instructors take time to talk rather than rush groups through a schedule.

You may want to reconsider if you have very little recent experience, dislike fixed safety procedures, or only want one relaxed recreational session. You should also think twice if your Tenerife schedule is tight, since the course takes about three days and bad weather can affect the timetable.

Solo visitors should find the small-group format reassuring, while couples or friends may appreciate that the activity is private and limited to their own group. The supplied information does not promise a particular language, equipment package, transfer service, or accommodation, so confirm those points before booking.

Booking, cancellation, and practical checks

The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason if you cancel or request an amendment. Book only after checking your dates, fitness, certification status, and travel plans.

Confirmation arrives within 48 hours, subject to availability. Since the course has limited places, contact LJ Diving Tenerife if you need a particular sequence or date.

Ask these practical questions before payment:

• Which three elective subjects are available during your dates?
• Is e-learning included, and when must it be completed?
• What equipment is included?
• What happens if a session is postponed but you leave Tenerife soon afterward?
• Are there any medical forms or additional certification documents required?

Those questions are not signs of fussiness. They help you compare the $596.12 cost with what you actually need.

Should you book the Advanced Open Water course?

Book it if you want a real skills upgrade, not just another holiday activity. The strongest reasons are the two-person maximum, flexible planning, five focused adventure sessions, and the friendly instruction associated with Ludo, Julie, and Daniel.

The price is high enough that the qualification should be your main goal. If it is, the personal attention may make the cost worthwhile, especially compared with a crowded class where you get little time to practice.

I would book early, complete the theory work promptly, and leave room in your Tenerife schedule for weather changes. For a certified diver ready to build confidence up to 30 meters, LJ Diving Tenerife offers a focused and personal route to the PADI Advanced Open Water certification.

FAQ

Where does the course begin?

It begins at LJ Diving Tenerife, Calle Consuelo Alfonso Diaz-Flores, 16, 38631 Las Galletas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

Where does the activity finish?

The activity finishes back at the meeting point in Las Galletas.

How long does the certification course take?

The course lasts approximately three days.

What certification do I receive?

The course is for the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

How many logged dives do I need?

You need at least 10 logged dives before taking the course.

How deep does the course allow me to train?

The course is designed to improve your scuba skills up to 30 meters, with the 30-meter session included as a required part of the program.

Which subjects are required?

Underwater navigation and the 30-meter session are required.

Which other adventure subjects may be available?

The listed options are a night session, a wreck session, and peak performance buoyancy.

What happens if poor weather cancels the activity?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if the activity is canceled because of poor weather.