PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 9 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course worth booking?
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course is a 72-hour experience in Negombo, Sri Lanka, from $195 per person. It scores 75 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 9 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 75 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (9)
- Duration
- 72 hours
- From
- $195 per person
You try out different specialties while gaining experience under the supervision of your PADI Instructor. At our UNAWATUNA DIVING CENTRE we have around 16 different Dive Sites with different depth from 6 to 30 m we off
What you get
- Bottled water
- Use of SCUBA equipment
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
About this experience
You try out different specialties while gaining experience under the supervision of your PADI Instructor. At our UNAWATUNA DIVING CENTRE we have around 16 different Dive Sites with different depth from 6 to 30 m we offer Reef Dives, Rock Dives, Wreck Dives and Night Dives. Hard and soft corals are at the most reef dive sites up to 18 m unfortunately rare. At the reefs you can find a lot of macro staff, many different nudibranchs, different coral fish of the Indian Ocean, Sting Rays on the sandy bottom. At the deeper Unawatuna Dive Sites, there are mostly rocky areas with deep valleys to explore. Close to the Galle harbor dive sites there are our wreck dive sites on a sandy ground with the famous "Rangoon" Wreck on a depth of 30 m, the SS Oreste on a depth of 22 m and the Galle Ship Wreck with a depth of 18 m. The most soft corals and fish live at the two deeper wrecks. Mostly there are hundreds and thousand of Sweet Lips and different other fish.
What's included
Included
- Bottled water
- Use of SCUBA equipment
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
Not included
- Lunch
- Doesn't include certificate&teaching materials(expect PADI eLearning),price for PADI Card&Manual=70€
- PLEASE NOTE PADI FEE OF 70 EUROS IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AOWD COURSE WITHOUT ELEARNING
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Negombo
5 kilometers south of Galle at the main road, A2, next to the restaurants "Summer Garden" and "Banana Garden", beachside, at the end of Unawatuna in direction to the south.
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Ends at
5 kilometers south of Galle at the main road, A2, next to the restaurants "Summer Garden" and "Banana Garden", beachside, at the end of Unawatuna in direction to the south.
Options you can book
ADVANCED OPEN WATER E-LEARNING
Pickup included
ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE
Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, hi, en, pl, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Divinguru Sri Lanka
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- INFANTS NOT ALLOWED.
- PREREQUISITES MUST BE FULL-FILLED
- MUST BE AN OPEN WATER DIVER
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 9 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
9 verified traveler reviews for PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Highly professional and welcoming diving centre
This is a very well run school and we thoroughly enjoyed our experience. We had a highly experienced instructor who was able to get me to feel comfortable under water and to really enjoy my experience. Also extremely patient, we were able to practice and repeat different skills, some of these fairly difficult! thankyou Norbert, I had a fantastic experience and wont forget my first dive In open water!
Response from the operator: Thank you very much Philippa for your 5* review, we are glad that you liked our diving centre and your scuba diving experience with us. You are welcome to dive with us anytime again on your next trip to Sri Lanka.
via Tripadvisor
Fabulous
Fabulous experience. Friendly and professional. Excellent communication organisation. My 16yr old daughter did her Advanced Diving qualification with Ellie. She had a truly wonderful time. Ellie exokained things winderfully. Made her feel comfortable and at ease, and hadblirs of fun. My daughter felt confident and safe at all times andd thoroughly enjoyed herself throughtput the 3 days. We would highly recommend them.
Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your 5* review! We appreciate your feedback a lot. Thank you for choosing Divinguru for your daughter's scuba diving education and we wish you wonderful and safe dives in future!
via Tripadvisor
Great Scuba Diving Place with Divinguru
I am definitely recommend Divinguru in Galle Sri Lanka They are very knowledgeable,professional and yet fun atmosphere and very affordable pricing Leon was my instructor/ buddy and took time to explain everything, took security seriously and was patient great instructor should dive with them great diving sites and they know all the sites well Divinguru are the Best Djamel
Response from the operator: Thank you very much Djamel for your review and for choosing Divinguru. Congratulation on passing the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course. We wish you many nice dives in future. Feel free to contact us again on your next trip to Sri Lanka.
via Tripadvisor
Great experience
Did my AOWD with Divinguru and I loved it :) Great people and the dives were great. 100% reccommend!
Response from the operator: Thank you very much Kateryna for your 5 star review, it was a great week full of diving. Congratulation on becoming PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and keep diving! You are more than welcome to join us for more dives on your next holidays in Sri Lanka. See you soon and take care. Best regards, Ellie from Divinguru
via Tripadvisor
Best diving experience in Unawatuna!
I did the AOWD and Enriched Air Diver, as well as some fun dives at Divinguru in Unawatuna and felt very comfortable. Norbert and Ellie organize everything incredibly well and conscientiously and the whole team works super professionally. All the equipment is high quality and in very good condition. I really enjoyed getting to know the underwater world of the south coast with the Divingurus. I can definitely recommend the diving school!
Response from the operator: Dear Franzi, thank you very much for your feedback. It means a lot to hear your opinion. We are happy that you like diving with us on the south coast of Sri Lanka and congratulation for becoming PADI AOWD and Enriched Air Diver. We wish you many amazing dives around the world. You are always welcome to scuba dive with us maybe on the East Coast in Nilaveli. Kind regards, Ellie & entire Divinguru Unawatuna Team
via Tripadvisor (translated)
Good to know
- Duration
- 72 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 10+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $195 to $325
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 75
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Negombo.
How much does PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course cost?
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Prices start at $195 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Negombo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course take?
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Plan for about 72 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Negombo is not rushed.
Is PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 75 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 9 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Negombo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 10. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 72-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course?
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Around 3 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Negombo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Negombo and add a light layer if any part of the 72-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Negombo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Negombo?
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On Outty we rank every Negombo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Private Car & Driver for 07 Days Tour In Sri Lanka, Most Popular Round Tour in Sri Lanka (10 Days), Highly recommended multi day tour in Sri Lanka. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Negombo?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Negombo?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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