Do I Need Advanced Open Water Certification for Komodo?

Is Advanced Open Water Necessary for Komodo Diving?

Strictly speaking, you do not need Advanced Open Water (AOW) to dive in Komodo — Open Water certified divers can enjoy excellent sites. However, AOW certification is strongly recommended and will significantly expand what you can experience.

What AOW Unlocks in Komodo

The AOW Course in Komodo

The PADI Advanced Open Water course involves 5 adventure dives over 2 days — no exams, no pool sessions. Two dives are mandatory (Deep Dive to 30m and Underwater Navigation), and you choose three elective dives from options like drift diving, night diving, peak performance buoyancy, fish identification, and underwater photography.

Taking your AOW course in Komodo means your training dives take place at actual Komodo dive sites. Your deep dive might be at Batu Bolong. Your drift dive might be at Tatawa Besar. Your night dive could be at Gili Lawa Laut. These are training dives that double as spectacular fun dives.

AOW for Liveaboard Access

Many liveaboard operators require AOW certification as a minimum for booking. Even those that accept Open Water divers typically require 30 to 50 logged dives as a compensating experience threshold. AOW combined with 20+ dives meets the entry criteria for virtually every Komodo liveaboard.

Our recommendation: If you have the time and budget, completing AOW before or during your Komodo trip is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your diving. It transforms your Komodo experience from good to extraordinary.