The Journey from Open Water to Advanced Diver

‍RAID Certifications Greater Manchester | SDI Certifications Greater Manchester | Learn to Scuba Dive Lancashire

So, you’ve completed your Open Water Diver Course in Manchester—congrats! You’ve taken your first steps into an incredible new world. But what comes next?

The answer most divers ask is: “How do I become an Advanced diver?”

In the UK—especially in the colder, more challenging waters of Lancashire and the North—being “advanced” isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about building true competence, confidence, and control in a range of conditions. And the path you take matters.

In this post, we break down the differences between the major “Advanced” programs—RAID Advanced 35, SDI Advanced Diver, and PADI Advanced Open Water—to help you choose the right route for your diving journey.

What Does "Advanced" Really Mean?

Here’s the truth: “Advanced” can mean different things depending on the training agency.

• For some, it’s a weekend of taster dives.
• For others, it’s structured progression.
• For us? It’s experience, mentoring, and real skill-building.

So let’s look at how each course works and how they fit into your diving future in Greater Manchester and beyond.

🟡 PADI Advanced Open Water – A Quick Introduction

Many divers are familiar with PADI certifications in Greater Manchester, often because it’s the biggest brand in the diving world. But their Advanced Open Water course is... well, not quite what the name suggests.

You’ll do 5 “adventure dives” from different specialties, like deep, navigation, or wreck. But you won’t complete full specialty training in any of them. It’s more like trying samples at a buffet than committing to a full meal.

➡️ Good for: Quick exposure to different dive types
🚫 Not ideal for: UK-specific skill building or real confidence in deeper or more technical conditions

At VanOverbeek Technical, we offer PADI only through a trusted associate instructor—and don’t actively recommend this as the best path for developing serious UK divers.

🔵 RAID Advanced 35 – Structured, Skill-Focused Progression

The RAID Advanced 35 is a true evolution of your open water training. This isn’t just a selection of adventure dives—it’s a carefully structured 6-dive program designed to improve your actual ability as a diver.

You’ll cover:

• Buoyancy control
• Deep diving to 35m
• Nitrox theory and use
• Basic navigation and midwater skills

Unlike PADI’s version, the RAID Advanced 35 is a complete course, not just a sampler. It’s built to raise your confidence in colder water, improve your air management, and prepare you for dives in more demanding conditions—including UK wrecks and deeper inland sites.

👉 LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE

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🔴 SDI Advanced Diver – Earned, Not Bought

The SDI Advanced Diver rating flips the script entirely.

You don’t “take” an Advanced course—you earn it. To qualify, you must complete:

✅ 4 full SDI or TDI specialty courses
✅ At least 25 logged dives
✅ Experience across multiple environments and conditions

This means when you’re certified as an SDI Advanced Diver, it actually reflects real-world skill and exposure—not just a training weekend.

Many of our students choose:

• Wreck Diving
• Night Diving
• Sidemount or Twinset
• Drysuit Diving (of course!)

Our team works closely with students to shape a path that builds your confidence and suits your diving goals. Plus, our Dive Master team is always on hand for semi-guided mentoring dives to help you build logged experience safely.

➡️ Explore Drysuit Training in Manchester
➡️ Check out our Advanced options

Which Path Is Right for You?

Ready to Become a Real Advanced Diver?

If you're serious about learning to scuba dive in Lancashire or becoming a confident, capable diver in Greater Manchester, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Whether you choose RAID, SDI, or a tailored path that blends both, we focus on real progression—not just certification cards.

Want to talk about your goals, special interests, or next steps? Come dive with us, have a chat with the team, and we’ll build the right training path for you.

👉 Start Your Training Today

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