Details
Push your limits and unlock new underwater worlds with eight exhilarating dives designed to transform you into a confident, skilled diver.
This comprehensive certification combines expert instruction with thrilling dive adventures, taking you from compass navigation to 100-foot depths, kelp forest exploration to nocturnal marine encounters.
Requirements
Minimum age
12
Number of Pool Water Sessions
0
Total Specialty dives needed
8
Maximum Deep Dive Depth
100ft
Suggested duration in hours
6
Number of Academic Sessions
4
Class Prerequisites
Physically fit to swim. Open Water Diver Certification from a qualified agency.
More Exploration, More Excitement, More Experiences
Continue your Advanced Open Water adventures and get the Specialty dives necessary to obtain this Advanced Certification. If you completed the Advanced Open Water class, then you only need 3 more specialty dives to earn the SSI Advanced Specialty Diver rating. If you are taking this course instead of Advanced Open Water, then you will need to complete 8 specialty dives.
The Advanced Specialty Diver certification class is designed to enhance your diving skills and introduce you to new activities.
This rating is a display your competency and builds a solid base for more adventures to come. If you can’t decide which Specialty programs are the best choice for you, take SSI’s Advanced Open Water program! SSI´s Advanced Open Water was created so that you can try out 5 Specialty Programs before you commit to completing one or more full programs. It’s a great way to experience what advanced training is all about with the option to receive credit towards the full Specialty certification any time after. Save with our popular Divemaster Specialty bundle. This enticing bundle is a great way to get certified to dive deeper, enjoy longer dives, go night diving and more – ensuring you are on the right track to qualify for the coveted SSI Divemaster rating and got the necessary qualifications to fully explore the world’s most iconic dive sites.
Course Highlights
- 8 unforgettable dives
- Expert instruction
- Small groups for personalized coaching
- All the adventure, all the expertise
What will I need?
-
Advanced Bundle Digital Kit.
Includes specialty learning materials, digital certification card, and logbook. -
Full scuba equipment setup.
Mask, fins, snorkel, exposure protection, and complete scuba gear. -
Dive computer and compass.
Required for navigation and deep diving activities. -
Transportation and lodging.
Typically required for Monterey training weekends. -
Boat trip fee.
Required for the boat diving portion of the class. -
Optional Basic Nitrox Course add-on.
Recommended for extended bottom times and added safety margins.
Investment in Your Diving
-
Course Fee: $399.00
(Regularly $600 — save $200) - Boat Trip: $140.00
- Certification Card: $25.00
-
Advanced Bundle Digital Kit: $279.99
(Save $100)
Take It Further: Add Nitrox
Want to get even more out of your dives?
Add our Basic Nitrox Course and experience one of the biggest advantages in modern diving—longer bottom times and added safety margins.
When you bundle:
- Save an additional $25
- Receive one FREE Nitrox cylinder rental (a $50 value)
Using Nitrox during your Advanced dives gives you a noticeable edge—and sets you up for future training like Advanced Nitrox and Rebreather courses.
Typical Advanced Specialty Weekend (8 dives)
Let the Adventure begin:
Friday - Navigation & Night Diving:
Kick off your adventure with advanced compass navigation training on a specially designed underwater treasure hunt course. Master precision navigation techniques while exploring the breakwater’s hidden corners and achieving perfect buoyancy control. As darkness falls, dive into the extraordinary world of night diving—witness the incredible transformation as nocturnal creatures emerge and bioluminescence illuminates your path.
Saturday - Boat Diving & Deep Dives:
Take your skills to new depths—literally—with professional boat diving instruction. Master essential boat etiquette and procedures, then prepare for the ultimate challenge: two deep dives pushing toward 100 feet, where few recreational divers venture. That evening, return to the Breakwater for another mesmerizing night dive, refining your buoyancy mastery while encountering the bay’s most elusive nocturnal species.
Sunday - Kelp Forest Adventure at Monastery Beach:
Weather permitting, experience the crown jewel of California diving: Monastery Beach’s legendary kelp forest. Descend into a cathedral of swaying kelp, where sunlight filters through towering fronds and vibrant marine life thrives in every crevice. Under expert instructor guidance, you’ll explore this world-class dive site and discover why divers return here again and again. By weekend’s end, you’ll have mastered buoyancy control, conquered challenging depths, and emerged as the confident, capable diver High Sierra Divers is known for creating.
By taking this program you will have increased confidence and skills to dive at many sites. If you completed the Advanced Open Water class, those dives are credited toward completion of this specialty class.