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    • Home
    • Courses
      • Beginner Courses
      • Refresher Courses
      • Advanced Courses
      • Technical Courses
      • Rebreather Courses
      • Professional Courses
      • EFR CPR and AED Courses
    • Trips
      • Local Dive Trips
      • International Trips
    • Equipment
      • Equipment Sales
      • Equipment Services
      • Equipment Rental
      • YouTube Product Reviews
    • Schedule / Calendar
      • Open Water Pool Schedule
      • Quarry Checkout Schedule
      • Dive Shop Hours
    • About Us
      • Our Team
      • Our Dive Shop
      • Core Values
      • Southern Md Dive Club
      • Shop Policies
    • Contact Us
Southern Maryland Divers, LLC
  • Home
  • Courses
    • Beginner Courses
    • Refresher Courses
    • Advanced Courses
    • Technical Courses
    • Rebreather Courses
    • Professional Courses
    • EFR CPR and AED Courses
  • Trips
    • Local Dive Trips
    • International Trips
  • Equipment
    • Equipment Sales
    • Equipment Services
    • Equipment Rental
    • YouTube Product Reviews
  • Schedule / Calendar
    • Open Water Pool Schedule
    • Quarry Checkout Schedule
    • Dive Shop Hours
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Our Dive Shop
    • Core Values
    • Southern Md Dive Club
    • Shop Policies
  • Contact Us

Advanced AND SPECIALTY courses

PADI Advanced Open Water Course

PADI Advanced Open Water Course

PADI Advanced Open Water Course

Diver on a reef. Advanced Open Water Course. Solomons MD

Ready to take your diving to the next level? This is the course for you!

Extend your depth limit to 100ft Advanced Scuba Classes

Find out more

PADI Rescue Diver Course

PADI Advanced Open Water Course

PADI Advanced Open Water Course

Diver making rescue in Potomac River Solomons MD

The PADI Rescue Diver course prepares you to deal with dive emergencies, minor and major, using a variety of techniques. 

Find out more

PADI Specialty Courses

PADI Advanced Open Water Course

PADI Specialty Courses

Divers using DSMB on reef in blue water. Solomons MD

Interested in a particular underwater activity? There is a PADI Speciality Course to fit you

Find out more

Advanced Scuba Classes

PADI Advanced Open Water Course

EXPLORATION, EXCITEMENT, EXPERIENCES


They're what the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is all about. And no, you don't have to be advanced to take it. It's designed so you can go straight into it after the PADI Open Water Diver course. The Advanced Open Water Diver course helps you increase your confidence and build your scuba skills so you can become more comfortable in the water. This is a great way to get more dives under your belt while continuing to learn under the supervision of your PADI instructor. This course builds on what you've learned and develops new capabilities by introducing you to new activities and new ways to have fun scuba diving.


Try the PADI Advanced Open Water E-learning FREE 


Get started on the PADI Advanced Open Water Course NOW with E-learning!


YOU'LL HONE YOUR SKILLS BY COMPLETING FIVE ADVENTURE DIVES THAT INTRODUCE YOU TO:


Underwater navigation
Deeper water diving (typically anywhere from 18-30 metres/ 60-100 feet)
A sampler of three more Adventure Dives of your choice (based on what local conditions will allow)


THE FUN PART: YOUR CHOICE


One reason youll love the Advanced Open Water Diver course is that you and your instructor choose from 15 types of Adventure Dives to complete your course. You can try your hand at wreck diving, peak performance buoyancy and much more. 


Get credit! Each Adventure Dive in the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course may credit toward the first dive of the corresponding PADI Specialty Diver course.


WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:


The knowledge and skills you get in the Advanced Open Water Diver course vary with your interest and the adventures you have, but include:

  • Practical aspects of deep diving
  • Physiological effects of deeper scuba diving.
  • More ways to use your underwater compass
  • How to navigate using kick-cycles, visual landmarks and time
  • How to better use your dive computer 
  • And much, much more, depending on the Adventure Dives you choose


THE SCUBA GEAR YOU WILL USE:


You use all the basic scuba gear including your underwater compass. Depending on which three adventure dives you pick, you may also try out underwater photography equipment , DPVs (underwater scooters), a dive light a dry suit, lift bags, a dive flag/float or other specialty gear. 


Check with us about gear rentals and packages offered with this course. You can find most everything at our scuba diving shop.


THE LEARNING MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED:


PADI's Adventures in Diving Manual and DVD provide information on more than 16 types of specialty diving. You'll use them as a guidebook to improve your diving skills and prepare for new experiences and adventures. 


Curious about night diving? Flip to the night diving chapter. Once youve previewed the skills, your instructor will guide you on your first night diving adventure. Having trouble with underwater navigation? Review the underwater navigation section then sign up for the Navgation Adventure Dive with your PADI Instructor. 


To purchase this product, contact Southern Maryland Divers. 


PREREQUISITES: 

To take this course, you must be:

  • A PADI Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
  • 15 years old (12 for Junior Advanced Open Water Diver)​ 


PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is part of PADI eLearning. The Advanced Open Water Diver Course Online gets you started right now with the background information you need for the seven of the most popular Adventure Dives (though you and your instructor can still choose any of the Adventure Dives.) Contact us to get your E-Learing Online code or get started now by clicking HERE.


We offer the PADI Advanced Open Water Course at any of our Quarry Checkout Weekends. If you dont see a class that fits your schedule on our class schedule, please contact us and we will work with you to get you into a class that does.


Course Fee: $295.00


*Course fee includes book, instruction, and certification card upon successful completion. Divers are responsible for all other fee's associated with the training. (Quarry entry, gear rental, air fills, etc)


Taking Open Water with us? Checkout THIS VIDEO which explains how you can save over $180 by starting your Advanced Class the same weekend as your Open Water checkout dives!


Our Advanced Open Water Course can be taught during any of our Quarry Checkout Weekends and will require both Saturday and Sunday to complete. Click HERE for our schedule.



scuba diver using compass underwater during advanced open water course

Underwater Navigation Skills

Click on the image for our schedule

Diver providing rescue breaths during PADI Rescue Diver Course in Patxuent River in Solomons MD

PADI Rescue diver course

PADI Rescue Diver Course

Who should take this course?


Scuba divers describe the PADI Rescue Diver course as the most challenging, yet most rewarding course they’ve ever taken. Why? Because you learn to prevent and manage problems in the water, and become more confident in your skills as a diver, knowing that you can help others if needed. During the course, you learn to become a better buddy by practicing problem solving skills until they become second nature. Plus, the course is just fun – it’s serious, but still allows for lots of laughter in between the focused learning.


PADI (Junior) Adventure Divers who are at least 12 years old and have completed the Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive may enroll in a Rescue Diver course. You also need to have Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months. You can complete this training during the Rescue Diver course. Your instructor may also offer the PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider specialty diver course at the same time.


What will you learn?


The PADI Rescue Diver course prepares you to deal with dive emergencies, minor and major, using a variety of techniques. Through knowledge development and rescue exercises, you learn what to look for and how to respond. During rescue scenarios, you put into practice your knowledge and skills. Topics include:

  • Self rescue
  • Recognizing and managing stress in other divers
  • Emergency management and equipment
  • Rescuing panicked divers
  • Rescuing unresponsive diver


You may be able to get college credit for the Rescue Diver course – ask your instructor.


How can you start learning now?


Register for Rescue Diver Online – PADI’s eLearning option – to start now. You progress through five knowledge development sections using a web-based system that lets you learn at your own pace through an easy-to-use, interactive program. You also have access to an online version of the Rescue Diver Manual for reference during and after the course.


If you prefer, you can choose to study with the Rescue Diver Manual and watch the Rescue Diver Video (a book and DVD package). Go to your local PADI Dive Center and Resort to enroll in the course, get your materials and start learning. Your PADI Instructor will meet with you to schedule knowledge review sessions along with your rescue exercises and scenarios.


The Scuba Gear you will use:


You’ll use your basic scuba equipment and will need a pocket mask to practice in-water resuscitation. During exercises, you’ll work with an oxygen unit, floats, marker buoys and perhaps CPR mannequins. Your PADI Instructor will explain the equipment that you need and may suggest additional gear, such as your own first aid kit, which will be useful throughout your diving career.


Stop into the shop to get advice about everything you need for your diving adventures.


Course Fee: $300.00

Course fee includes the PADI Rescue Diver manual and slate, instruction, tanks for pool work, and certification card upon successful completion of the course. Students are responsible for all other gear, tanks and fills for the quarry weekend, quarry entry fee's, travel and lodging. Rental gear is available on a first come first served basis.

Learn More

The Rescue Diver course consists of 2 days of training. The first day is skill building with the final day consisting of several scenario based evaluations. 


2023 Rescue Diver Course Dates


MAY 27/28
JUNE 17/18
JULY 29/30
AUGUST 26/27
SEPT 23/24
OCT 14/15


All dates are being held at Lake Phoenix 


Contact us to get signed up

PADI Specialty courses

AWARE Coral Reef Conservation

AWARE Coral Reef Conservation

AWARE Coral Reef Conservation

Scuba diving underwater life

This course helps you appreciate the complexity of coral reef habitats and teaches how you can help conserve these vital systems.

Find out more

AWARE Fish Identification

AWARE Coral Reef Conservation

AWARE Coral Reef Conservation

Scuba diving turtle

Enjoy dives even more when you can recognize and identify fish families and their characteristics.

Find out more

Boat Diver

AWARE Coral Reef Conservation

Cavern Diver

Scuba diving from a boat

This course helps you expand your knowledge about boats from small inflatables to large liveaboards. You'll gain experience scuba diving by completing two dives from a boat.

Find out more

Cavern Diver

Digital Underwater Photography

Cavern Diver

Scuba diving underwater cave

Gain the knowledge and skills to explore caverns correctly and safely. This course guides you to enter far enough for adventure, but stay within the light zone for an easy exit to open water.

Find out more

Deep Diver

Digital Underwater Photography

Digital Underwater Photography

Scuba diving reef coral

Explore deeper dive sites with confidence at depths down to 40 metres/130 ft. Learn to manage your gas supply, go over buddy contact procedures, and buoyancy control.

Find out more

Digital Underwater Photography

Digital Underwater Photography

Digital Underwater Photography

Scuba diving with underwater camera

The most popular diving specialties course. It’s easy and fun to capture images of your underwater scuba adventures.

Find out more

Diver Propulsion Vehilce

Diver Propulsion Vehilce

Diver Propulsion Vehilce

Scuba diving using an underwater propulsion vehicle

Propel your way through the water and glide over reefs, buzz around a large wreck or weave through a kelp forest. You must be at least 12 years old and a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver or higher.

Find out more

Drift Diving

Diver Propulsion Vehilce

Diver Propulsion Vehilce

Scuba diving in current or drift diving

Drift diving can be relaxing and exhilarating. The course teaches you how to enjoy going with the flow as you scuba dive down rivers and use ocean currents to glide along.

Find out more

Dive Against Debris

Diver Propulsion Vehilce

Emergency Oxygen Provider

Scuba diving while cleaning the water

Pay the ocean forward by helping clean it up on your next dive. Learn about the problems of marine debris, conducting Dive Against Debris surveys, and how divers are a part of the solution to keeping our oceans clean.

Find out more

Emergency Oxygen Provider

Emergency Oxygen Provider

Emergency Oxygen Provider

Scuba diving oxygen

Immediately recognize scuba diving illnesses treatable with emergency oxygen and be prepared to offer aid. There are no prerequisites or age restrictions. This course is open to everyone.

Find out more

Drysuit Diver

Emergency Oxygen Provider

Equipment Specialist

Scuba diving fish identification

Becoming a dry suit diver allows you to expand your boundaries and dive more places, more often. This suit seals you off from the water and keeps you comfortable, even in surprisingly cold water.

Find out more

Equipment Specialist

Emergency Oxygen Provider

Equipment Specialist

Scuba diving gear repair

Learn to manage basic scuba diving equipment repairs and adjustments. Understand routine care and maintenance procedures and how dive gear works.

Find out more

Enriched Air "Nitrox"

Enriched Air "Nitrox"

Enriched Air "Nitrox"

Shore diving from beach

The most popular PADI specialty course. Scuba diving with enriched air nitrox gives you more no decompression time, especially on repetitive scuba dives.

Find out more

Full Face Mask Diver

Enriched Air "Nitrox"

Enriched Air "Nitrox"

Full face mask diving with communications

Diving with a full face mask allows you to breathe from your nose and mouth, and provides added comfort in colder water. The mask can also be fitted with communication gear, which can be useful for various types of specialty diving.

Find out more

Night Diver

Enriched Air "Nitrox"

Peak Performance Buoyancy

Diving at night underwater

The underwater world changes as day creatures retire & nocturnal organisms emerge. If you've wondered what happens underwater after the sun goes down, enroll in the PADI Night Diver Specialty course.

Find out more

Peak Performance Buoyancy

Peak Performance Buoyancy

Peak Performance Buoyancy

Diving on an underwater wreck

Observe aquatic life without disturbing their surroundings. Improve the buoyancy skills you learned as a new diver and elevate them to the next level.

Find out more

Project AWARE Specialist

Peak Performance Buoyancy

Project AWARE Specialist

Scuba diving protecting the planet

Uniting scuba divers and water enthusiasts to make a difference. By earning this certification, you’ll learn how you can make a difference for ocean protection every time you dive or travel.

Find out more

Public Safety Diver

Peak Performance Buoyancy

Project AWARE Specialist

Scuba diving with a full face mask

Work with local authorities, be part of a rescue team and, quite possibly, assist in underwater criminal investigations.

Find out more

Self Reliant Diver

Search and Recovery Diver

Search and Recovery Diver

Diving Deep with pony bottle

Although diving with a buddy is the norm, there are reasons for an experienced diver to develop self-reliance and independence while diving. Learning to carry out dives without a partner can make you a stronger diver in most dive situations.

Find out more

Search and Recovery Diver

Search and Recovery Diver

Search and Recovery Diver

Search and recovery diving with lift bag

Retrieve lost items that have fallen overboard or over a dock. Learn effective swimming patterns and using a lift bag for heavy objects.

Find out more

Sidemount Diver

Search and Recovery Diver

Underwater Navigator

Sidemount Diving with two tanks

A sidemount configuration (scuba tanks alongside of the diver) offers more flexibility and better steamlining options. Learn about the many benefits of diving with a sidemount configuration.

Find out more

Underwater Navigator

Underwater Videographer

Underwater Navigator

Diving while navigating underwater

Fine-tune your underwater observation skills and learn to use your compass more accurately. This course may count towards college credit, ask your instructor.

Find out more

Underwater Videographer

Underwater Videographer

Underwater Videographer

Diving Photography

Capture the sights, sounds, and the dynamic motion of the underwater world as a videographer. Cover the fundamentals and create interesting, entertaining video worth watching again and again.

Find out more

Wreck Diver

Underwater Videographer

Underwater Videographer

Wreck diving on underwater wreck

Ships, airplanes and even cars are fascinating to explore and usually teem with aquatic life. Each wreck dive offers a chance for a new discovery.

Find out more

PADI Public Safety diver course

PADI Public Safety Diver Course

Who Should Take this Course?


If you have the opportunity to work with local authorities and be part of a scuba diving rescue team, or conduct search and recovery dives, and maybe even underwater criminal investigations, this is the course for you. Although public safety diving can be a fun and exciting adventure, it’s serious and requires special training. The PADI Public Safety Diver Specialty course gives you a solid foundation to build upon and teaches you both surface and underwater skills that you may need on the job.


Who Should Take this Course Diver course, you must be certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and at least 18 years old. You will also earn your PADI Rescue Diver certification by the end of the course which is included in the course fee.


What will you learn?


You’ll be introduced to the special procedures, equipment, scene handling, communications and documentation requirements for a public safety diving operation. During four open water dives you’ll practice compass navigation, knot tying, arc search techniques, victim recovery, rope-pull communications and rescue techniques for a distressed public safety diver, plus plenty more.


How can you start learning now?


Visit Southern Maryland Divers LLC and get your PADI Public Safety Diver Manual to read before class. Also, see if there is a Public Safety Diver Workshop scheduled in your local area.


Course Fee: $495.00


**We need a minimum of (4) students to hold this class locally. To travel to your site within the Maryland, Virginia, DC, Pennsylvania, and Delaware area, we need a minimum of (6) students**


Public Safety Diver in full face mask using tether for search patterns Solomons MD

Public Safety Diver using tether for search patterns

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