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

Tenerife’s PADI Advanced Open Water course gives you more than a quick qualification. Over roughly three days, you complete five adventure dives and work toward a maximum depth of 30 meters, with Ludo, Julie, or another LJ Diving Tenerife instructor guiding the training.

I like the two-person course limit, which gives you room to ask questions and repeat a skill without feeling rushed. I also like the flexible planning: you can choose from night, wreck, and buoyancy specialties alongside the required deep and navigation sessions. The main consideration is price. At $596.12 per person, this is a serious holiday expense, and the course requires at least 10 logged dives before you begin.

Key points to know before booking

• Two people maximum per course: You receive close attention instead of joining a large class.
• Five adventure dives: Deep and navigation training are required, with three additional specialties selected from the available options.
• Certification to 30 meters: The course is designed to extend your depth and confidence beyond entry-level training.
• Three-day format: The schedule is spread over about three days, with plans adjusted around your holiday.
• Ludo and Julie lead a personal center: LJ Diving Tenerife is family-owned, and repeat customers return for further qualifications and guided underwater trips.
• At least 10 logged dives required: This is for certified beginners building experience, not a first scuba course.

Why this Tenerife course is worth considering

The best reason to choose this course is its size. LJ Diving Tenerife limits each session to two people, a rare advantage for anyone who wants calm, direct instruction. You are not simply following a group from one exercise to the next. You have space to ask why a skill matters, discuss what felt awkward, and get useful correction before the next descent.

That close format also suits different levels of confidence. You may already hold an Open Water certification but still feel unsure about navigation, buoyancy, or deeper water. A private or near-private setting lets the instructor adjust the pace rather than treating every student as if they arrived with the same experience.

The course is led by experienced instructors, including Ludovic and Julie, who have built a family-owned center in Las Galletas. Julie and Ludo are also described as PADI Elite instructors, with five years in that role. Daniel may also assist with guiding and local arrangements. The tone is friendly, but the training remains tied to PADI standards and safety.

I especially like the balance between structure and choice. Two sessions are fixed: the descent to greater depth and underwater navigation. The remaining three can include a night session, wreck exploration, or Peak Performance Buoyancy. That gives you a clear learning path without turning your holiday into a rigid classroom timetable.

Starting in Las Galletas

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

The stated opening hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Your exact schedule is arranged with the instructor, so you should confirm the available dates before making firm plans around the course. Booking confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability.

Las Galletas is a practical base for a scuba course because you return to the same center after each session. That makes the three-day format easier to manage. You do not need to spend your holiday guessing where the next meeting point is or carrying your plans from one unrelated operator to another.

You should arrive with a moderate level of physical fitness. Scuba training involves carrying equipment, entering and leaving the water, and managing several tasks while underwater. The course is not presented as a first-time introduction, so you should already have your Open Water certification and a minimum of 10 logged dives.

The five adventure dives

The course includes five adventure dives. Think of these as practical lessons rather than sightseeing trips with a certificate attached. Each session gives you a new problem to solve underwater while the instructor watches your technique and helps you build control.

Deep training toward 30 meters

The deep session is mandatory. It is the part of the course most closely tied to the headline goal: extending your permitted training depth to 30 meters.

Greater depth changes how you manage a session. You must pay closer attention to air use, buoyancy, time, and how you feel underwater. The value here is not simply reaching a number on a depth gauge. It is learning to plan and behave sensibly when conditions differ from a shallow Open Water session.

This session may appeal most if you have already completed some enjoyable recreational scuba trips but still feel cautious about going deeper. It also gives you a chance to ask practical questions in a controlled training setting. Remember that certification to 30 meters does not mean every future site at that depth will be suitable for you. Conditions, experience, comfort, and local guidance still matter.

Underwater navigation

Navigation is the second mandatory session. It focuses on using your compass and natural references so that you can understand where you are going and how to return.

This is one of the most useful skills in recreational scuba. Poor navigation can turn a simple outing into a confusing one, while good navigation helps you stay with your buddy and use your time underwater well. The lesson may seem less dramatic than a wreck or night session, but it has lasting value.

I like that navigation is required rather than treated as an optional extra. It gives the qualification a practical backbone. You are learning how to plan your route, monitor your position, and make better decisions instead of simply collecting specialty names.

Night training

Night training is one of the optional choices. It changes the way you use familiar equipment and communicate underwater, since your light becomes a central part of the experience.

The appeal is obvious: Tenerife looks and feels different after sunset, and a night session can sharpen your attention to small details. It also asks you to stay calm and organized. Before choosing it, consider your own comfort. If you are still working on basic buoyancy or feel uneasy in low visibility, you may prefer to build those skills first.

The course plan is discussed with you, so you can choose the combination that best matches your goals rather than selecting a specialty only because it sounds exciting.

Wreck training

Wreck training is another option. A wreck session can introduce you to site awareness, careful positioning, and the need to respect boundaries around underwater structures.

The key distinction is that wreck certification does not automatically mean penetration training. The information provided does not promise entry into any wreck, and you should ask the instructor exactly what the session includes before booking. That is a useful question for any course, especially if wrecks are the main reason you want the qualification.

Peak Performance Buoyancy

Peak Performance Buoyancy is perhaps the most useful choice for everyday scuba. Good buoyancy helps you use less energy, disturb the bottom less, and move with more control.

It can also make every later session easier. Once your trim, breathing, and movement improve, navigation becomes simpler and deeper work feels less demanding. If you are choosing between specialties and want a skill that transfers to almost every future outing, this is a strong option.

How the instruction feels

The training is described as relaxed but rigorous. That combination matters. Relaxed should mean you can ask questions and learn without pressure. Rigorous should mean the instructor still checks that you can perform the required skills safely and within PADI standards.

Ludo and Julie are praised for being calm, friendly, and available. One returning student specifically valued Ludo’s calm manner and the lack of pressure during advanced and deep certification. That style can make a real difference if you are capable in the water but tense about evaluation.

The small groups are the other major strength. With a maximum of two students, you have much more direct contact than in a large class. You can expect the instructor to notice details in your buoyancy, navigation, and equipment handling that might be missed in a crowded group.

The center also provides support material for the theory portion. Many course sections are available through e-learning, which lets you complete the academic work before or during your holiday. If e-learning is not available for your dates, support material is provided. Ask how much theory you should finish before arriving, since that can protect your water time.

A course built around your holiday

The provider does not present this as a fixed, one-size-fits-all timetable. Planning is defined with you, and the course normally takes about three days. That is useful if you want to fit training around other Tenerife plans.

Still, you should keep those days reasonably flexible. Five adventure dives, theory, equipment preparation, and weather changes can make a tightly packed holiday schedule stressful. The course requires good weather, and poor conditions may lead to a different date or a full refund. It is wise not to schedule your flight immediately after the final session.

The activity begins and ends at the Las Galletas center. No hotel transfer is listed, so you should arrange your own way to the meeting point. The center is near public transportation, which helps if you are not driving, but the exact transport route is not provided.

Equipment, hygiene, and small comforts

One useful detail is the attention to equipment care. The center’s masks and regulators have been described as disinfected, and the equipment as clean. That does not remove the need to check your own fit, but it is reassuring when you are using shared gear.

After at least one session, coffee was offered at the center. It is a small touch, yet it fits the relaxed, personal character of a family-run operation. The atmosphere is friendly without suggesting that safety or training standards are being treated casually.

You may also find the center a good fit if you enjoy returning to the same instructors. Several people have completed more than one qualification with Ludo and Julie, and some have returned over several years. That continuity is useful when you want an instructor to understand your progress rather than start from zero each time.

The $596.12 price in context

At $596.12 per person, this is not a budget activity. You are paying for a three-day certification program, instructor attention, theory support, and five adventure dives. The value is strongest if you genuinely want the PADI Advanced Open Water qualification and will use the added skills after your holiday.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want a few casual underwater outings. In that case, a standard recreational session may suit you better. This course asks for preparation, five training dives, and a commitment to learning.

The two-person limit improves the value. Large classes can cost less, but you often receive less direct time with the instructor. Here, the small format means your questions, mistakes, and progress receive more attention. For a certification course, that personal instruction may be worth more than a lower headline price.

Before paying, confirm exactly what is included in the quoted amount, especially equipment, certification processing, course materials, and the three optional specialties available on your dates. Those details are not fully specified here, and a clear question before booking can prevent surprises.

Who should book this experience?

This course suits you if you already have an Open Water certification, at least 10 logged dives, and a real desire to improve. It is especially useful if you want to reach 30 meters under PADI training, improve navigation, or gain experience in a night, wreck, or buoyancy setting.

You will likely appreciate it if you prefer a personal instructor rather than a large school. The calm style associated with Ludo, Julie, and their team should also suit you if you learn best through conversation and steady feedback.

It is less suitable if you have never used scuba equipment, want a single short activity, or are looking for a fully fixed schedule. You also need enough physical fitness for the course and enough time to complete the five adventure dives.

The course is a particularly good match for repeat visitors to Tenerife. If you already know you enjoy the island and want to return for another qualification, the welcoming relationship at LJ Diving Tenerife may be a strong reason to choose this center.

Should you book the Advanced Open Water course?

Book it if you want a genuine step beyond entry-level scuba and value close instruction. The combination of two required skills, three selected specialties, and a maximum of two people gives the course a clear purpose and a personal feel.

Think carefully if the $596.12 cost stretches your budget or if you have only just completed your first certification. You need at least 10 logged dives, and the course will be more useful when you are ready to absorb the skills rather than simply collect the card.

For a certified scuba enthusiast with three flexible days in Tenerife, LJ Diving Tenerife offers a thoughtful way to build experience. Ask about the available specialty choices, what the fee includes, and the exact schedule before booking. If the answers fit your plans, this is a strong choice for taking your underwater skills up a level.

FAQ

How long does the Advanced Open Water course take?

The course lasts approximately three days. The exact plan is arranged with you around your holiday and the available course schedule.

How many logged dives do I need before starting?

You need a minimum of 10 logged dives.

How many people are in each course?

The course is limited to two participants, making it a private or near-private activity.

What dives are required?

The deep training session and underwater navigation are mandatory. You then choose three additional adventure dives.

Which optional specialties are available?

The available options listed are night training, wreck training, and Peak Performance Buoyancy.

Where does the activity begin and end?

You meet at LJ Diving Tenerife, Calle Consuelo Alfonso Diaz-Flores, 16, 38631 Las Galletas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.