SSI Advanced Adventurer to SSI Advanced Open Water: What’s Changed in the New SSI Advanced Course Name?
If you’ve been browsing dive courses lately, you might have spotted something new. The SSI Advanced Adventurer course has had a name change, and it is now called the SSI Advanced Open Water course.
Naturally, that raises a few questions: Are there changes to the SSI advanced course? Have the dives changed?
Don’t worry, we’ve got the answers. Let’s dive in and unpack exactly what’s changed and what hasn’t with the new SSI Advanced course name.
A Quick Look Back: The SSI Advanced Adventurer Course
Before the update, the SSI Advanced Adventurer was one of the most popular next steps after completing the SSI Open Water certification. Although it wasn’t required to progress to specialty training, it was designed as a “try before you buy” experience that allowed divers to sample five different SSI Specialty courses.
Typical dives included:
Deep Diving – go beyond your Open Water limits and learn to plan deeper dives safely.
Navigation – finally master your compass (no more following your buddy and hoping for the best).
Perfect Buoyancy – fine-tune your balance underwater and improve your air consumption.
Night Diving – discover how magical the ocean becomes after dark.
Wreck Diving – experience the thrill of exploring sunken structures.
There were plenty of other dive options, too, but the goal was simple.
The course helped divers build confidence, gain experience, and discover which type of underwater adventure excited them before moving on to full specialty training.
The New SSI Advanced Course Name: SSI Advanced Open Water
So why the change?
It all comes down to clarity and consistency.
While the name SSI Advanced Adventurer had a fun and distinctive ring to it, many divers and dive centres found it confusing when comparing courses across training agencies.
For example, PADI’s Advanced Open Water Diver has long been a familiar title in the diving world, and the difference in naming sometimes caused uncertainty about course level and requirements.
The new title, SSI Advanced Open Water, clears up that confusion. It immediately tells divers where they are in their training journey.
The name is simple, globally recognised, and aligns more closely with other advanced-level certifications, making it easier for divers to understand their next step.
The key takeaways:
- The course content has not changed.
- It’s still five adventure dives (but deep and navigation are now mandatory).
- SSI Advanced Adventurer has a new, clearer name that better reflects your experience level.
What’s Changed (and What Hasn’t) in the SSI Advanced Course
Let’s get specific. The new SSI Advanced Open Water name might sound like a major change, but the course itself remains almost identical to the SSI Advanced Adventurer course you already know.
| SSI Advanced Adventurer (Old) | SSI Advanced Open Water (New) | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Dives | 5 Adventure Divers | 5 Adventure Divers |
| Prerequisite | Open Water Certification | Open Water Certification |
| Dive Choices | Choose from any 5 SSI Specialty dives | Choose from 3 SSI Specialty areas in addition to Deep and Navigation (5 total) |
| Theory Sessions | Short Academic Sessions | Short Academic Sessions |
| Certification | SSI Advanced Adventurer | SSI Advanced Open Water |
| Recognized Where? | Worldwide | Worldwide |
Here’s the simple truth.
The changes to the SSI advanced course are a name update, not a complete rewrite. The structure, content, and training standards are the same. You will still complete five adventure dives, build new skills, and enjoy the same supportive guidance from the experienced team at Crystal Dive Koh Tao.
The new SSI advanced course name simply provides more clarity about your training level and makes it easier for divers to understand what the program involves.
Update to SSI Advanced Specialty Diver
While we are on the topic of updates, there is another small but important name change you might notice on your SSI profile. The SSI Advanced Open Water Diver recognition level, which divers earn after completing four specialty courses and logging 24 dives, has also been renamed.
It is now called the Advanced Specialty Diver.
This change adds even more clarity to the SSI training system.
The SSI Advanced Open Water course is a short, five-dive experience you can start right after your Open Water certification.
The Advanced Specialty Diver recognition, on the other hand, is something you achieve later, once you have completed four SSI Specialty courses and logged at least 24 dives.
Here’s a quick recap:
SSI Advanced Open Water: a short, taster-style course made up of five adventure dives.
SSI Advanced Specialty Diver: a recognition level that shows you have completed four specialties and logged 24 dives.
The distinction helps divers and dive centres quickly understand your actual experience level and where you are on your certification path.
Why the New SSI Advanced Course Name
It might feel like a small update, but this new naming structure makes life a lot simpler for divers everywhere. The new SSI advanced course name aligns perfectly with the global diving community and removes confusion about whether you have completed a sample course or a full specialty program.
It also makes your dive log and certification record look more streamlined and logical, allowing instructors and dive buddies to quickly see your current level and what comes next in your SSI training journey.
The Bottom Line: What’s the Difference Between SSI Advanced Adventurer and SSI Advanced Open Water?
Honestly? Just the name.
The new SSI advanced course name reflects a global shift toward consistency and clarity, but the course itself has not changed. You will still complete five adventure dives, gain valuable hands-on experience, and build confidence in a fun and flexible way.
The SSI Advanced Open Water title simply makes it easier for divers and dive centres worldwide to understand your certification level and progression.
Don’t worry. You haven’t missed out on a brand new course. You are simply seeing some small changes to the SSI advanced course to make it a clearer and more understandable diving experience that helps divers grow their skills and passion for the underwater world.
