Bali: 2-Day PADI Advanced Open Water Course

The best part of this two-day PADI course is its clear step up from basic certification. You’ll complete five ocean sessions at two of Bali’s best-known sites, with the mandatory deeper-water and underwater navigation training built into the program.

I like the small group limit of two participants, which should give you more direct time with your instructor. I also like the tidy pricing: at $339 per person, your equipment, boat and port fees, marine park entry, lunch, hotel transport, and PADI materials are included.

The main consideration is the schedule. Pickup starts around 7 AM, and drop-off is listed at about 5:30 PM, so these are full days. You also need to arrive with a PADI Open Water certification and be ready for several hours of active training.

Key points to know before booking

• Five ocean sessions over two days: Three take place at Padang Bai Blue Lagoon, followed by two at Tulamben’s USAT Liberty.
• Two required course skills: Deep-water training and underwater navigation are mandatory parts of the certification.
• Smallest practical group size: The course is limited to two participants, useful if you want close instruction.
• Most costs are bundled: Gear rental, meals, water, tea, coffee, marine park fees, boat charges, porter fees, and transfers are included.
• Pickup covers major south Bali areas: Transport is available from Nusa Dua, Jimbaran Beach, Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and Sanur.
• Bring proof of certification: Your PADI Open Water card is required, along with swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a change of clothes.

What this PADI course is really for

The PADI Open Water certificate lets you begin exploring underwater sites. The Advanced Open Water course is the next practical step, giving you a broader set of skills and experience in different conditions.

You are not simply spending two days looking around underwater. The course requires training in deeper water and underwater navigation, then adds specialty sessions such as boat work, buoyancy control, naturalist observation, search and recovery, and wreck exploration.

That mix matters. You get a structured learning plan, but the lessons take place in the sea rather than in a classroom alone. For someone who has completed basic certification and wants more confidence, this is a useful way to build experience while working toward the next PADI qualification.

The course is designed only for PADI Open Water certified participants. You must bring your certification with you, and participants must be at least 12 years old. The activity is not suitable for pregnant women or people with heart or respiratory problems.

There is no named instructor in the available information, but instruction is offered in English and Indonesian. The group limit of two is a meaningful detail. It can make a difference when you are practicing navigation, checking equipment, or working through a skill that does not feel natural yet.

Day one at Padang Bai Blue Lagoon

Your first morning begins at the training center with registration forms and course paperwork. This is also when you prepare the equipment and help load the vehicles before heading east toward Padang Bai.

Hotel pickup is provided from Nusa Dua, Jimbaran Beach, Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak between 7:00 and 7:15 AM. From Sanur, pickup is scheduled between 7:30 and 7:45 AM. You should wait in the hotel lobby 10 minutes before your assigned time.

The early start is not glamorous, but it is useful. You have equipment preparation, transport, instruction, and three ocean sessions packed into one day. Bring breakfast or eat before pickup if you need more than the included lunch later in the day.

Padang Bai Blue Lagoon is the focus of day one. You complete three ocean sessions here, with your instructor guiding you through the skills needed for the Advanced Open Water course.

The exact order of the training is not specified, so your instructor will determine how the required skills and specialty sessions fit the conditions and your progress. The mandatory deeper-water session and underwater navigation are central to the course. You may also work on buoyancy control, boat procedures, naturalist observation, or search and recovery.

Three sessions in a single day makes this the more demanding half of the program. You will want to stay organized with your equipment and listen carefully during briefings. The small group can help here, since a two-person class gives the instructor a better chance to watch your technique and answer questions directly.

After the morning and midday work, you return to the training center for lunch and light refreshments. Water, tea, and coffee are included. Lunch is welcome after three ocean sessions, though you should not expect a long sightseeing break. This is a training day first and a beach outing second.

Marine park entry fees, boat charges, and porter fees are included, so you are not left sorting out several small payments at the site. That is one of the practical strengths of the package. You can focus on the course rather than keeping track of every access and transport cost.

Day two at the USAT Liberty

The second day takes you to Tulamben to explore the USAT Liberty, the course’s major wreck site. You complete two ocean sessions here.

The Liberty gives the program a clear sense of place. Day one is built around a training site at Padang Bai, while day two adds wreck exploration to the course. Wreck diving is one of the listed training subjects, so this is not just a sightseeing stop added for decoration.

You will also have fewer sessions on day two than on day one. That does not necessarily make the day easy, since wreck procedures and buoyancy require attention, but the pacing should feel less crowded than the first day’s three-session schedule.

The course does not specify the exact parts of the Liberty you will visit or how long you will spend at the wreck. Your instructor will guide the plan. Conditions, training needs, and your progress can affect the order of activities, so keep your expectations flexible.

The Liberty session is especially useful if you are interested in future wreck trips. You learn how to approach a wreck as a training environment, not simply as a dramatic underwater attraction. Search and recovery, buoyancy control, navigation, and wreck work all connect naturally with the setting.

Seven course subjects, with two required

The program covers seven listed subjects:

• Deep-water training
• Underwater navigation
• Boat session
• Peak Performance Buoyancy, also called PPB
• Underwater Naturalist
• Search and Recovery
• Wreck Diving

The first two are mandatory. That means the course is not only a menu of optional specialties. You must complete the deeper-water and navigation elements, while the other subjects round out your Advanced Open Water experience.

Underwater navigation is valuable because it makes you less dependent on simply following an instructor. You practice paying attention to direction and position, skills that become more important as you visit unfamiliar sites.

Peak Performance Buoyancy focuses on control in the water. Better buoyancy can make your movement more efficient and help you avoid accidental contact with the bottom or underwater features. The course information does not give a detailed lesson plan, so your instructor will explain the specific exercises.

The Underwater Naturalist session gives the course a different pace. Instead of concentrating only on equipment and movement, you pay attention to the surrounding underwater environment. The details of the marine life and observation tasks are not specified, so the exact content will depend on the instructor and site conditions.

Search and Recovery adds a practical problem-solving element. It is a useful subject for anyone who wants more than basic sightseeing, though the supplied information does not state what objects or search patterns will be used.

The boat session and wreck work help broaden your experience beyond a standard shore-based outing. Together, the seven subjects make the course feel varied rather than repetitive.

Is $339 a fair price?

At $339 per person, the value depends on how much of the included package you would otherwise need to arrange yourself. This is not just a two-day site visit. The price covers instruction, equipment rental, PADI materials and certification, hotel transfers, lunch, refreshments at the training center, marine park entry, boat costs, and porter fees.

That list matters in Bali, where separate transport, gear, access, and boat charges can quickly make a lower headline price less useful. Here, many of the common extras are already bundled.

The two-person group size also strengthens the value. Private instruction is not advertised, and the course is not described as one-on-one, but a maximum of two participants is close to private attention without the full cost of a private course.

The strongest praise attached to this experience focuses on value, communication, and flexibility. Marcello from Switzerland called it fantastic value for money and praised the team. Vaclav from the United Kingdom highlighted very good communication and flexibility with requests, and said he would use the company again for future underwater activities.

Those points are helpful because they address the parts of a course that can cause trouble. Clear communication matters when pickup times are early, equipment must be prepared, and your certification needs to be checked. Flexibility also helps if your plans require a small adjustment, though you should confirm any special request before booking.

Transport, timing, and what to pack

Pickup is included from six main south Bali areas. The listed morning windows are:

• Nusa Dua, Jimbaran Beach, Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak: 7:00 to 7:15 AM
• Sanur: 7:30 to 7:45 AM

Drop-off is listed at about 5:30 PM. Since each day is long, choose practical clothing and keep your morning simple. You will need swimwear, a hat, sunscreen, your own towel, and a change of clothes.

A towel is specifically listed as something to bring, so do not assume one will be supplied. Sunscreen is equally important, even though much of the course takes place underwater. A hat can help during the surface portions of the day and while waiting around the port or training center.

Equipment rental is included, which saves you from transporting a full kit from your hotel. You should still bring your PADI Open Water certification card. Without proof of the required qualification, you may not be able to take part.

Water, tea, and coffee are available at the training center, and lunch is included. The supplied details do not describe the lunch menu, so bring any personal snacks you need for a long day, especially if you have dietary requirements that have not been discussed in advance.

Who will enjoy this course most?

This is a good fit for you if you already hold a PADI Open Water certification and want a structured next step in Bali. It suits people who prefer learning through several different subjects rather than repeating the same type of session.

You will likely appreciate it most if you value close instruction. A group capped at two participants is a major advantage for anyone who wants questions answered quickly or who feels more comfortable learning without a large class.

The course also works well for visitors staying in the covered south Bali areas. Hotel pickup removes the need to arrange transport to the training center, and the included port and boat costs reduce the number of details you need to organize.

It may be less suitable if you want a relaxed, half-day activity. The early pickup, three sessions on day one, two sessions on day two, paperwork, equipment preparation, and evening return make this a serious two-day commitment.

You should also consider your health and certification before booking. Participants must be at least 12, must hold PADI Open Water certification, and must not have the listed heart, respiratory, or pregnancy-related restrictions.

Booking flexibility and the final decision

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Starting times depend on availability, so check the schedule before committing your Bali plans around the course.

I would book this if you want a compact PADI progression with real site variety, especially if the USAT Liberty is high on your list. The two-person limit and broad range of included costs make the $339 price easier to justify.

I would pass if your Open Water certification is not current or if you want an easy sightseeing day with little instruction. For everyone else, this is a focused, well-organized option that combines required training with Padang Bai and Tulamben, two very different settings, over a sensible two-day format.

FAQ

Do I need a PADI Open Water certification?

Yes. Participants must already have PADI Open Water certification and must bring proof of it to take part.

How old must participants be?

Participants must be at least 12 years old.

How many ocean sessions are included?

You complete five ocean sessions in total. Day one includes three at Padang Bai Blue Lagoon, and day two includes two at Tulamben’s USAT Liberty.

Which course skills are mandatory?

Deep-water training and underwater navigation are mandatory parts of the course.

What other subjects are covered?

The listed subjects also include a boat session, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Naturalist, Search and Recovery, and Wreck Diving.

Is equipment rental included?

Yes. Equipment rental is included in the price, along with PADI materials and certification.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is included from Nusa Dua, Jimbaran Beach, Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and Sanur. You should wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a hat, sunscreen, your own towel, a change of clothes, and your PADI Open Water certification.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.