PADI Advanced Diving Course in Gran Canaria

The most useful feature here is flexibility. You complete five underwater sessions over two days, including the required 30-meter descent and underwater navigation, then choose three specialties that fit your interests. Blue Water Diving can shape the plan around boat work, wrecks, night conditions, or search and recovery.

I like that the online study manual lets you handle much of the theory before arriving, leaving more time for practical work. I also like the small maximum group of six, full equipment hire, insurance, and hotel pickup from selected hotels. The main catch is that two days is a brisk schedule, and weather may force changes to your preferred specialties.

Key points

• Five sessions in two days: Complete the two core requirements and select three additional specialties.
• Flexible specialty choices: Options can include boat work, wrecks, night conditions, and search and recovery.
• 30-meter training: The required deep session helps you practise planning and comfort at greater depth.
• Small group size: The course accepts a maximum of six people, with instruction in English.
• Practical inclusions: Equipment, tuition, insurance, online materials, and certification fees are covered.
• Strong personal instruction: Named instructors including Eileen, Mati, Danny, Kate, Chris, and others have been praised for patient, tailored teaching.

What the two-day course is really about

This is not simply five recreational descents squeezed into a holiday schedule. The PADI Advanced course is designed to give you more control, better planning habits, and experience in conditions beyond a basic certification.

Your first two sessions are fixed. One takes you to 30 meters, while the other focuses on underwater navigation. The remaining three are chosen with the centre, which lets you match the course to your goals. You might prefer wreck exploration, a boat-based site, night work, or search and recovery exercises.

That choice matters. If you are keen to improve your general confidence, navigation and buoyancy work may be most useful. If you already feel comfortable in the water and want memorable experiences, wrecks and boat sites may have more appeal. If weather or timing changes the plan, the staff can switch the final options, as happened for a participant who replaced a planned night session with search and recovery work.

The course is offered in English. You need existing dive certification, a log book, and the Adventures in Diving Crew pack, which is provided. The centre also sends an online study manual, so you can complete the academic preparation before your arrival.

Starting at Blue Water Diving at 8:30 am

The meeting point is Blue Water Diving at Calle Olímpicos, C. Doreste y Molina, in Gran Canaria. The stated start time is 8:30 am, and the activity finishes back at the meeting point.

Hotel pickup and return are included for selected hotels. That is useful if you are staying in the south and do not want to arrange transport with a full equipment bag. Since the pickup offer depends on your hotel, confirm this before booking rather than assuming every address qualifies.

The centre is near public transportation, which gives you another option if pickup is not available. The course runs for about two days, but exact daily timing can vary with the site, boat schedule, weather, and specialty choices.

You should plan to arrive ready for a structured day. The staff will need to check your certification, complete the health questionnaire, and discuss your chosen sessions. Bring your log book, swimwear, sun protection, and food or drinks for the day, since meals are not included.

The first required session: reaching 30 meters

The 30-meter session is one of the two fixed parts of the course. It is not just about going farther down. At greater depth, you need to pay closer attention to gas use, buoyancy, time, and how you feel underwater.

Instruction is part of the value here. One participant described receiving clear explanations about what was needed at depth, while the staff kept a close eye on air supply and safety. That is the right approach for an advanced qualification: the goal is calm, controlled practice, not simply collecting a deeper number.

The 30-meter limit also makes this a course for certified divers who are ready to extend their skills. You should not treat it as a first introduction to scuba. Evidence of certification is required, and the centre asks every participant to complete a health questionnaire.

If you have asthma, a heart condition, or another medical concern, check with your doctor before booking. Flying soon after underwater activity is also a concern. The guidance says diving within 48 hours of flying is not recommended, so leave a proper gap before your return flight.

The second required session: underwater navigation

Navigation is often the less glamorous part of scuba training, but it may be the most useful. Underwater, visibility, current, depth, and the absence of obvious landmarks can make it easy to lose your sense of direction.

This session gives you a chance to work on that problem with an instructor beside you. You will practise the navigation skills required for the course, with the wider aim of becoming more independent and less reliant on simply following another diver.

A particularly memorable navigation session included an angel shark. That is a good reminder that the practical exercises do not have to feel like classroom drills. You can work on headings and awareness while still looking for marine life.

The quality of this session will depend partly on your own preparation. Complete the online manual before arrival, pay attention during the briefing, and ask questions early. The small group limit of six should help the instructor adjust the pace, though group arrangements can still vary.

Choosing the final three specialties

The course becomes more personal after the two required sessions. You choose three further options in discussion with the centre. The stated possibilities include boat work, wreck exploration, night conditions, and other specialty exercises.

Boat-based sessions

Blue Water Diving has its own boat, which can simplify access to sites reached from the water. Boat outings were especially appreciated for the marine life and the chance to reach two wreck sites.

Boat sessions add a sense of occasion, but they also depend on conditions. If the sea or weather changes, the plan may need to move to another site or another specialty. That flexibility is helpful, but you should arrive with an open plan rather than expecting one exact location.

Wreck exploration

Wreck work is a strong choice if you want your advanced course to include something distinctive. The underwater wrecks described by the centre’s customers were among the most memorable parts of the experience, and two wreck sites were visited during one course.

Wreck sessions also reward careful listening. The point is not to rush inside or treat the site like a sightseeing stop. Follow the instructor’s rules, stay aware of your position, and understand the limits of your certification and training.

Night conditions

A night session can add a very different feel to familiar water. It requires extra attention to signals, equipment, navigation, and comfort in reduced light.

The centre can discuss this option with you, but it is not guaranteed. One planned night session was changed because weather and departure timing made another specialty more practical. That is a sensible adjustment, not a failure of the course, but it means you should keep a backup choice in mind.

Search and recovery

Search and recovery offers practical problem-solving rather than a simple tour. You work through a planned search pattern and recovery task, which can make the session useful if you want to build confidence in underwater organization.

It also gives the instructor a chance to assess how you plan, communicate, and manage your surroundings. For many people, this type of exercise is more rewarding than another sightseeing session.

Instruction from Eileen, Mati, Danny, and the wider team

The strongest praise is directed at the teaching. Eileen is described as patient, clear, friendly, and able to turn basic skills into calmer underwater habits. Mati was singled out for a professional approach that still kept the atmosphere fun. Danny was praised for careful briefings, patience, and strong technical ability.

Kate and Chris are also closely associated with the centre’s organization and instruction. One participant completed advanced, rescue, first aid, and divemaster training with the team, appreciating the way concepts were explained in a simple and individual way.

Names matter here because the course is not only about the certification card. A good instructor adjusts the briefing when you need more detail, changes the pace when you are nervous, and lets you practise when you want an extra challenge. The personal accounts connected with Blue Water suggest that this individualized approach is a major reason to choose the centre.

Staffing can change, of course, so you should not book solely to secure one named instructor unless the centre confirms availability. Still, the range of positive comments points to a consistent team culture rather than one isolated good session.

Equipment, insurance, and preparation

The price includes full equipment hire, tuition, insurance, the online study manual, and the certification fee. For a visitor who does not want to pack a complete kit, this is a meaningful saving in effort and luggage space.

Equipment was described as well maintained and individually adjusted. That last point matters. Poor fit can distract you from the lesson, while properly fitted equipment helps you focus on buoyancy, navigation, and communication.

You should still bring your log book. The crew pack is provided, but the log book is listed as something you need yourself. You also need proof of your existing certification before taking part in a certified course.

The course requires a moderate level of physical fitness. You do not need to be an elite athlete, but you should be comfortable handling equipment and taking part in several sessions across two days. Food and drinks are not included, so pack supplies or plan where you will eat around the schedule.

Is $415.65 a fair price?

At $415.65 per person, this is not a casual introductory activity. You are paying for a PADI Advanced course with five sessions, instructor time, equipment, insurance, study material, and certification fees.

The price looks more reasonable when you count what is included. You do not need to rent a complete set of gear separately, pay an additional certification charge, or arrange separate insurance. Selected hotel pickup also reduces the practical hassle, though the value depends on your hotel and whether you would otherwise need a taxi.

The course is best value if you already hold basic certification and genuinely want to progress. If you only want one scenic underwater outing, a shorter recreational option may make more sense. If you want a recognized qualification and several kinds of practical training, two concentrated days offer a lot.

The small maximum group of six improves the value further. It does not guarantee private instruction, but it should allow more direct contact with the instructor than a large class. Ask about the expected group size and the available specialties before arrival if a particular goal matters to you.

Who should book this course?

I would recommend it to certified divers who want to build confidence and leave Gran Canaria with a formal PADI Advanced qualification. It suits someone who likes practical training but still wants marine life, boat access, and wreck sites woven into the course.

It is also a good fit for couples or friends at different stages. One pair completed Open Water and Advanced training at the same time, with the centre arranging different programs to suit each person. That flexibility can make a shared holiday easier to plan.

It may not suit you if you have no certification, cannot leave 48 hours between your final session and flying, or want a relaxed schedule with no theory or skills work. It is also not ideal if you need guaranteed night conditions or one exact wreck site, since weather and timing may change the plan.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, so check your flight and hotel plans carefully.

Final verdict: choose progress over a simple outing

Book this course if your goal is to become a more capable and calmer scuba diver, not merely to spend an hour underwater. The fixed 30-meter and navigation sessions give the course a solid training core, while the three personal choices let you add wrecks, boat work, night conditions, or search and recovery.

I especially like the combination of advance online study, small groups, practical instruction, and included equipment and insurance. The main caution is the compact two-day format. It is efficient, but not leisurely, and your preferred specialty may change with weather or scheduling.

For certified divers staying in the south of Gran Canaria, Blue Water Diving offers a useful mix of structured learning and memorable underwater experiences. Ask about pickup, instructor availability, group size, and specialty choices before you pay, then leave enough time before your flight. If those details fit your holiday, this is a strong way to turn a beach break into real progress underwater.

FAQ

How long does the PADI Advanced course last?

The course lasts approximately two days.

How many underwater sessions are included?

Five sessions are included. Two are required, a 30-meter session and underwater navigation. You choose the other three with the centre.

What specialty options can I choose?

Possible options include boat work, wreck exploration, night conditions, and search and recovery. The final choices are discussed with the centre and can depend on conditions and timing.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and return are included from selected hotels only. Check whether your accommodation qualifies before booking.

What time and where does the course start?

The stated start time is 8:30 am at Blue Water Diving, Calle Olímpicos, C. Doreste y Molina, Gran Canaria. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is equipment provided?

Yes. Full equipment hire is included in the price.

Is the course taught in English?

Yes. The course is offered in English.

Do I need previous certification?

Yes. Evidence of dive certification is required for everyone taking part in a certified session. You also need to bring your log book.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.