2 Days SSI Advanced Open Water Course in Boracay

Boracay’s SSI Advanced Open Water course gives you two focused days to move beyond basic certification and try new underwater skills with an instructor. You can review subjects such as navigation or night activities through SSI’s online learning system, then select Adventure Dives with your instructor.

I like the small maximum group of 10, which should make it easier to ask questions and receive useful coaching. I also like that the $490 price includes scuba equipment, taxes, and lunch for both days, so the final cost is easier to judge.

The main consideration is that the exact Adventure Dives are not fixed in the information provided. You should speak with DiveGurus before booking if you have a particular goal, such as navigation, night training, or adding Nitrox separately.

Key points to know before booking

• Two days of practical training: The course is designed for SSI Open Water-certified students ready to build confidence and try new activities.
• Clear instructor support: Brian and Max are named instructors praised for direct explanations and calm care in the water.
• Equipment and lunch included: Your scuba gear, taxes, and lunch for both days are covered in the listed price.
• Adventure Dive choices: SSI learning materials cover seven popular subjects, but you and your instructor can choose from the available options.
• Convenient Boracay base: Meet at DiveGurus Boracay on Sitio Ambulong Road and return there at the end.
• Best for certified beginners: You need an SSI Open Water certificate or an equal qualification from another training organization.

What the two-day SSI course is really for

This is not a first-time scuba course. It is the next step after basic certification, meant to make you more comfortable handling yourself underwater and more familiar with different kinds of underwater activity.

Your Open Water course gave you the basic rules and techniques. The Advanced Open Water course lets you apply those skills in new settings, with an SSI instructor close by. The point is not simply to collect another certificate. The useful part is learning how to manage your position, direction, equipment, and decisions with less hesitation.

SSI presents the course through Adventure Dives. The online material provides background for seven popular subjects, including navigation and night activity. You can review the relevant chapter before meeting your instructor, then discuss which Adventure Dives make sense for your goals.

The course can be taken soon after your basic certification. That is helpful if your first course left you eager for more but not yet fully settled in the water. Your skills are still fresh, and the instructor can build on what you already know instead of starting from the beginning.

Arriving at DiveGurus Boracay on Sitio Ambulong Road

The meeting point is DiveGurus Boracay Dive Center on Sitio Ambulong Road, Boracay Island, in Malay, Aklan. The activity begins and ends at this same location, which keeps the plan simple.

The center is near public transportation, but private transportation is not included. You will need to arrange your own way to the meeting point. That is a small but important cost and planning detail, especially if you are carrying personal items or staying some distance away.

Opening hours are listed as Monday through Saturday, from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, for the stated operating period. The course itself lasts about two days, but the exact start time and daily schedule should be confirmed with DiveGurus. Do not assume the full opening window is your classroom or water schedule.

You should arrive ready for a course rather than a casual half-day outing. Bring your certification details, personal swimwear, and any questions about the Adventure Dives you want to pursue. The supplied information confirms equipment is provided, but it does not specify what personal items are included, so ask the center if you need a particular size or accessory.

Day one: building on your Open Water skills

The first day should center on preparation, review, and practical application of the new Adventure Dive subjects. The exact order is set by your instructor and the choices you make, so the course is not a fixed sightseeing itinerary with named underwater sites.

Before the practical work, you have access to SSI Digital Learning. This gives you a way to review the theory behind the Adventure Dives. If underwater navigation is your weak spot, you can study that section before taking the Navigation Adventure Dive. If you are interested in night activity, you can read that chapter and then discuss it with your instructor.

That online preparation matters because it keeps the in-person time focused. Instead of hearing every basic concept for the first time, you can arrive with a working idea of the task and use the instructor for clarification. I would not treat the digital lessons as something to rush through. A short review of the relevant chapter can make the practical sessions less stressful.

Your instructor will also need to check your existing level. An Advanced Open Water course is for people with an SSI Open Water certificate or an equivalent qualification from another training organization. The course is not presented as a remedial class, but the instructor’s job is still to help you work safely within your ability.

The first day may feel like a mix of study and skill work rather than nonstop time underwater. That is a good thing. The value comes from learning why you are doing each task, then practicing it with supervision.

Brian is one instructor connected with this course who is praised for explanations that are clear and direct. That style can be especially useful when you are learning a new technique and do not want a long, confusing lecture. Max is also named as an instructor who takes care of less frequent participants and explains things carefully.

Day two: more practice and greater confidence

The second day continues the selected Adventure Dives and gives you another chance to repeat skills with better control. The course is designed to increase comfort, not just expose you to unfamiliar activities once and send you home.

That repeated practice is important. On a first attempt, you may spend your attention remembering the sequence of a task. On a later session, you can focus more on staying calm, monitoring yourself, and following the instructor’s guidance. You should leave with a clearer sense of which skills feel natural and which ones need more practice.

The available information does not name the exact underwater sites, depths, marine life, or conditions for either day. That means you should not book this course expecting a particular reef, animal encounter, or dramatic site. The experience is primarily a skills course, with the underwater setting providing the place to practice.

This is also why a conversation with the center matters before you pay. Ask which Adventure Dives are available during your dates, how many practical sessions are planned, and what level of fitness or prior experience the instructor expects. The course description allows you and your instructor to select from the SSI Adventure Dive choices, but it does not promise every subject on every booking.

Lunch is included on both days. That saves you from arranging a midday meal during a structured course and gives the day a predictable break. It does not mean every food preference is covered, so ask ahead if you have dietary needs.

The SSI Adventure Dive choices

The SSI course materials support seven popular Adventure Dives, though you and your instructor can select any of the Adventure Dives offered through the program. The two examples provided are especially useful for understanding the course.

Underwater navigation is practical for almost anyone who plans to continue with scuba. Better navigation helps you understand where you are, where you need to go, and how to return with less guesswork. It can also make you a calmer buddy because you are not relying entirely on someone else to find the route.

Night activity offers a different way to use familiar skills, but it requires careful preparation and comfort with low visibility. If that subject interests you, the SSI chapter gives you a chance to think through the procedures before meeting your instructor.

The key point is choice. You do not have to take a random set of subjects simply because they are printed in a standard course outline. Talk with the instructor about your plans. If you want to improve navigation, say so. If you are curious about night activity, ask what preparation is required.

One person who completed two days at DiveGurus also worked toward a Nitrox certification. Nitrox is not listed as included in this $490 course, so you should treat it as a separate qualification unless DiveGurus confirms otherwise. Do not assume that arranging an additional certificate is part of the package.

How the instructors affect the experience

An advanced course works best when the instructor explains a task plainly, watches what you are doing, and adjusts the pace when you need help. The names attached to this center are Brian and Max.

Brian is noted for straight-to-the-point explanations. That can suit you if you prefer practical instruction without a lot of extra talk. Max is praised for making an infrequent scuba participant feel safe and well cared for, which is useful if you have not been underwater recently.

You should still remember that instructor availability can change. A specific instructor name is not a guarantee that person will teach your course unless the center confirms it. Ask when booking if you have a strong preference.

The maximum group size is 10 people. That is not a private lesson, but it is more manageable than a large class. The actual instructor-to-student ratio is not provided, so you should ask about it if close individual coaching is your main reason for booking.

The center is also used by people working toward professional-level training, including Divemaster preparation. That suggests the facility can serve students who want to keep progressing, though it does not mean this two-day course is a professional track. Think of it as a useful step between basic certification and more advanced personal or professional goals.

What the $490 price includes

At $490 per person, this course is easier to assess because several common costs are already included:

• Scuba equipment
• All fees and taxes
• Lunch for both days

That package has practical value. You do not need to rent the main gear separately, calculate local taxes, or budget for two midday meals. For a short course, those included items make the price more predictable.

Still, the price does not cover private transportation. You also need an SSI Open Water certificate or equivalent qualification before enrolling. The course is not meant to replace that first certification.

The value depends on what you want from the two days. If you only want a recreational boat outing, this course may feel too structured and expensive. If you want formal training, an additional certification, instructor support, and access to equipment, the price is more reasonable.

I would also compare what is included in the final certification process. The information confirms the SSI Advanced Open Water course, but it does not spell out every possible administrative or learning-material charge. Ask whether digital learning, certification processing, and any selected specialty have separate costs.

Who should book this course

This course suits you if you already hold SSI Open Water certification and want more practice under supervision. It is also suitable if you have an equivalent qualification from another training organization.

You will likely get the most from it if you:

• Want to feel calmer and more capable underwater
• Prefer learning with an instructor rather than practicing alone
• Are interested in navigation or night activity
• Want to choose Adventure Dives based on your own goals
• Like the convenience of included gear and lunch
• May continue toward further recreational or professional training

The course may not suit you if you are not yet certified, need private transport included, or want a fixed sightseeing route with named sites and guaranteed marine life. The supplied details do not promise those things.

Most travelers can participate, according to the stated conditions, and the activity accepts a maximum of 10 people. No special accessibility information is provided, so contact the center directly if you have mobility, medical, or equipment concerns.

Cancellation and simple planning advice

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

That policy is fairly clear, but scuba training depends on timing, weather, health, and equipment availability. I would avoid booking the course at the very end of your Boracay stay. A little flexibility gives you room if plans change.

Confirm the meeting time, instructor, selected Adventure Dives, transportation, and any separate certification costs before the first morning. Those questions will tell you more about the actual course than the general title alone.

Should you book the Boracay SSI Advanced Open Water course?

Book it if you already have basic certification and want a structured, two-day step forward. The strongest reasons are the practical format, included equipment and lunch, small maximum group, and instructors such as Brian and Max who are known for clear, reassuring teaching.

I would book with one condition: confirm the exact Adventure Dives and daily schedule first. Since the underwater sites and course choices are not fixed in the provided details, this is best for skill building rather than a guaranteed sightseeing experience.

For a certified beginner who wants more confidence, the course offers a sensible next move in Boracay. For someone seeking only a relaxed recreational outing, choose a simpler excursion instead.

FAQ

How long is the SSI Advanced Open Water course?

The course lasts approximately two days.

What certification do I need before joining?

You need an SSI Open Water Certification or an equivalent qualification from another training organization.

Is scuba equipment included?

Yes. Use of scuba equipment is included in the listed price.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included for both days.

Where does the course begin and end?

The course begins at DiveGurus Boracay, Sitio Ambulong Road, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes within that period are not accepted.