Advanced Open Water Course – Advanced Certification in Lembongan (next to Bali)

The most useful part of this two-day SSI course is its practical shape. You complete five supervised underwater sessions, including a descent toward 100 feet, compass navigation, and three specialty choices. That gives you more than a new card in your wallet: it helps you decide what kind of underwater explorer you want to become.

I like the small maximum group of five, which leaves more room for personal coaching. I also like the friendly, patient teaching style associated with instructors such as Kaka, Sara, Silvère, Hugo, and Valentin. The main consideration is that the course requires an existing Open Water certificate, moderate fitness, and suitable weather. Conditions around Nusa Lembongan can affect the schedule.

Key points to know before booking

• Five supervised training sessions: Complete deep-water, navigation, and three chosen specialty sessions.
• A 30-meter qualification: The course prepares you to go as deep as 100 feet, or 30 meters, under SSI standards.
• Your choice of specialties: Options can include photography, buoyancy control, fish identification, and wreck exploration.
• Five small-group places: The group limit helps the instructor watch your technique and progress.
• A practical base in Jungutbatu: You have access to equipment, Wi-Fi, lockers, toilets, showers, and a changing room.
• A two-day commitment: Accommodation is not included, though dormitory beds and bungalows are available at the center.

What the Advanced Open Water course actually adds

This course is the natural next step after Open Water certification. Instead of repeating basic lessons, you work on judgment, control, planning, and awareness under the close eye of a professional instructor.

The SSI approach here is less theory-heavy than a first certification. You still study the information needed for safe underwater work, but the emphasis is on doing. That matters if you learn best by trying a skill, receiving a correction, and trying it again.

The required deep-water session introduces the planning issues that appear as you go lower. You learn about the physical effects of greater depth and how those effects can change the way you think, move, and manage your air. It is not simply a chance to reach a bigger number on your logbook.

The navigation session is just as useful. You practice with a compass, then combine it with kick cycles, time, and visible landmarks. Those skills help you keep track of where you are instead of relying entirely on a guide to lead the way.

For your other three sessions, you shape the course around your interests. Photography is useful if you want to work on steadiness and careful positioning. Buoyancy control helps you move with less effort and avoid touching the bottom. Fish identification trains you to slow down and notice detail. Wreck exploration adds another type of underwater setting.

Ask your instructor early about the choices available during your dates. The course description lists a long range of specialties, but not every option is necessarily used on every schedule or at every site.

Starting at Crystal Bay

Crystal Bay is one of the first listed stops, and it gives the course a setting where conditions and marine life can add interest to the instruction. Your focus remains on the assigned skill, but the surroundings can make the session feel like a real outing rather than a pool exercise.

This is also where you should stay disciplined about the purpose of the course. The appeal of the site can tempt you to watch fish and scenery while forgetting your compass work or buoyancy. Your instructor is there to keep the lesson on track.

Conditions are an important consideration at Nusa Lembongan sites. The course depends on good weather, and the schedule may change if the sea is unsuitable. A flexible attitude helps, especially if a particular site needs to be replaced or visited at a different time.

Manta Point and the value of controlled practice

Manta Point adds the possibility of a larger marine encounter to the program. The site is exciting, but the certification still centers on skill and safety. You should treat any wildlife viewing as a bonus rather than the guaranteed purpose of a particular session.

This distinction is useful when you compare the course with a standard sightseeing outing. Here, your instructor must watch depth, navigation, equipment use, and your response to changing conditions. That can limit the amount of time you spend simply looking around, but it gives the experience lasting value.

The course can also help you judge your own comfort level. You may discover that you enjoy slow observation and buoyancy work more than depth. Or you may prefer navigation and the planning that comes with longer, more involved underwater routes.

Mangrove Point at Nusa Lembongan

Mangrove Point is listed as another stop around the island. Its inclusion shows how the course uses several local sites rather than keeping all five sessions in one small area.

A varied site list is useful for training because you face more than one type of setting. The lesson may ask you to apply the same basic habits in a new place: check your equipment, monitor your position, stay aware of the group, and follow the plan.

You should not assume that every stop will feel equally scenic or equally calm. The point of an advanced course is exposure to different tasks and conditions, not a string of identical sightseeing sessions. That variety is part of the training.

Toyapakeh and building better judgment

Toyapakeh is included in the itinerary as another local site. By this stage, the most valuable change is often not a dramatic new trick, but improved judgment. You start to understand how depth, movement, visibility, and your own air use affect a session.

That is why the instructor matters so much. Kaka is described as warm, clear, and attentive in his teaching. Sara and Silvère are also singled out for making lessons both informative and enjoyable, while Hugo is noted for patience during one-on-one instruction. Valentin is praised for creating a calm sense of safety and personal care.

Those details point to an important practical question: do you want a large class with a fixed routine, or a small course where the instructor can notice your habits? With a maximum of five people, this program is better suited to the second type of learner.

Jungut Batu Beach and the final session

Jungut Batu Beach is the final listed stop and also the area where the center is based. Ending close to the meeting point keeps the day simple, particularly when you are carrying equipment and have already spent several hours in the water.

The center provides the basic facilities you need between sessions: changing rooms, toilets, showers, lockers, and Wi-Fi. There is also a restaurant, but food is at your own expense. These are modest details, yet they matter during a two-day course because you have somewhere to change, store belongings, and regroup.

The last session is a good time to look back at the skills you have practiced. You may finish with a clearer sense of which specialty you want to pursue next. You may also find that buoyancy, navigation, or depth planning needs more practice before you feel fully relaxed.

That is not a failure. An advanced certification should show you where your next improvement lies, not suggest that you have mastered every underwater situation in two days.

Choosing the three specialty sessions

The three elective sessions are where this course becomes personal. You are not locked into one narrow path, so you can select areas that match your interests or expose a weakness.

Buoyancy control is one of the most practical choices. Better control means less wasted effort, steadier movement, and a lower risk of brushing against the bottom or marine life. It can improve nearly every future underwater outing.

Underwater photography sounds specialized, but it also teaches patience and body control. You need to hold a stable position, frame a subject, and avoid chasing animals or stirring up the bottom. The course does not include souvenir photos or videos, though you can buy those separately if available.

Fish identification changes the way you look at the sea. Instead of seeing a blur of movement, you learn to observe shapes, markings, and behavior. It is a good match for anyone who enjoys natural history more than technical challenge.

Wreck exploration offers another focus, with an emphasis on awareness and careful movement around structure. Confirm the available choices with the instructor before your course begins, since the exact combination depends on the program and site conditions.

What the $431.28 price includes

At $431.28 per person, the cost is not just for five sessions in the water. It covers the instructor, the training program, and the equipment package: mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy jacket, regulator, instruments, wetsuit, and weight belt.

That is a solid value if you need a full equipment setup and want a recognized SSI qualification. Buying or renting every item separately would add cost and effort, while the center handles the standard kit for you.

The price does not cover accommodation, meals, or digital photos and videos. A restaurant is available at the center for your own expense, and dormitory beds or bungalows can be booked separately if you want to stay on site.

The two-day format also makes the price easier to assess. You are paying for instruction, supervised practice, equipment, and access to several local sites, not simply for leisure time. It suits someone who wants a structured step forward rather than an informal sightseeing outing.

Who will get the most from this course

This program suits you if you already hold an Open Water certificate and want more confidence before taking on greater depth or more specialized underwater work. It is especially useful if your first certification left you wanting more practice with navigation, buoyancy, or planning.

The small group is a strong fit for solo participants. One person completed both the basic and advanced courses alone during a quiet period and received patient instruction from Hugo. That suggests the center can work well for an individual booking, though availability must be confirmed.

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness. The course involves equipment, repeated water sessions, and time at sea, so it is not aimed at someone looking for a passive boat excursion.

It is less suitable if you want a guaranteed wildlife encounter, a fixed site schedule, or a relaxed sightseeing day with no technical tasks. The course can be fun, but its purpose is training.

Practical details that affect your days

You meet at Dive Concepts Lembongan in Jungutbatu, Nusa Lembongan. The listed operating hours are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, and the activity finishes back at the meeting point.

Confirmation is issued within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The maximum group size is five. Service animals are allowed, though you should still discuss your needs with the center before arrival.

Plan around the weather. If conditions make the course unsafe, the operator offers another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Should you book the Nusa Lembongan certification?

Book it if you want a compact, instructor-led step beyond basic certification, especially if you value personal attention and a choice of specialties. The combination of deep-water planning, compass practice, and three interests gives the course more practical range than a simple depth upgrade.

I would be particularly comfortable recommending it to solo participants, returning students, and anyone who wants to continue with instructors such as Kaka, Sara, Silvère, Hugo, or Valentin. The center’s facilities make the two-day schedule easier, and the equipment package keeps the price clear.

Think twice if you are seeking a guaranteed manta encounter or a purely scenic outing. Weather can change the plan, and the course asks you to concentrate on skills even at attractive sites. For the right purpose, though, this is a sensible way to turn an Open Water qualification into greater control, confidence, and choice.

FAQ

Do I need an Open Water certification first?

Yes. You must already be Open Water certified before taking this Advanced Open Water course.

How long does the course take?

The course lasts approximately two days.

How many training sessions are included?

Five training sessions are included. One covers deeper underwater work, one focuses on navigation, and three are selected from specialty areas.

How deep can I qualify to go?

The SSI certification qualifies you to go to depths of up to 100 feet, or 30 meters.

Is equipment included?

Yes. The center provides a mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy control jacket, regulator, other instruments, wetsuit, and weight belt.

Is accommodation included in the price?

No. Accommodation is not included, though dormitory beds and bungalows are available at the center.

What facilities are available at the center?

The center has Wi-Fi, toilets, showers, lockers, a changing room, and a restaurant. Food and drinks at the restaurant cost extra.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions cause cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.