SAN DIEGO SCUBA FIELD GUIDE
La Jolla Below the Surface: Five Adventure Dives Through Kelp, Canyons and Sea Lions
A two-day PADI Advanced Open Water course that advances your navigation, buoyancy and deep- and night-diving skills across La Jolla Shores, La Jolla Canyon and La Jolla Cove.
La Jolla Below the Surface: Five Adventure Dives Through Kelp, Canyons and Sea Lions.
Embark on an exhilarating two-day progression from Open Water into advanced exploration: five instructor-led Adventure Dives that sharpen buoyancy and navigation while introducing deep and night dives, set against La Jolla’s kelp beds, canyon drop-offs and playful sea lions.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Five Adventure Dives — including deep and night
The course is built around five Adventure Dives: buoyancy, navigation, a deep dive and a night dive plus one elective of your choice, letting you practice skills in focused, progressive sessions.
Kelp beds, canyon walls and California sea lions
Dives take you from La Jolla Shores into the La Jolla Canyon and to La Jolla Cove’s kelp bed, where you can encounter kelp forests, horn sharks and the area’s famously playful sea lions.
Private and semi-private formats for focused skill work
Instruction is offered only as private one-on-one or semi-private (maximum two students), allowing personalized skill coaching and the ability to earn credit toward specialty certifications for each specialty dive completed.
What the day feels like
What the two-day progression feels like
After completing PADI eLearning, you move through orientation and targeted in-water sessions that start with buoyancy and navigation practice in protected shallows, push outward to a controlled deep dive to test depth procedures, then return for a late-afternoon night dive in the canyon—each dive designed to build confidence and practical experience rather than test theory.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course suits — and who should prepare more.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is scheduled over two days.
Meet at Kellogg Park, 8277 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla, CA 92037 for orientation and gear setup.
Bring your temporary or certification card, any personal dive gear you prefer to use, swimsuit, sun protection, sunglasses and a towel; dress in layers for cool morning air.
Five Adventure Dives are included; electives may include DSMB deployment or Enriched Air Nitrox (Nitrox fills available for an extra $15).
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How deep are we diving during the deep dive?
Depth depends on age, local regulations and site; maximum for divers 15 or older is 30 meters/100 feet, for divers 12–15 the maximum is 21 meters/70 feet. A deep dive is anything below 18 meters/60 feet; a dive to 19 meters/62 feet qualifies as a deep dive.
Do elective dives count toward other PADI specialty certifications?
Yes. Each specialty dive completed during the Advanced course can be credited toward the related PADI specialty certification—for example, an underwater imaging dive counts toward that specialty.
Is equipment included in the course?
Yes. All necessary equipment is included, specifically a compass, dive computer, underwater camera and dive lights.
How many dives are included in the PADI Advanced Open Water Course?
The course includes five Adventure Dives to complete the PADI Advanced Open Water certification.
Is it worth doing the PADI Advanced Open Water course in San Diego?
Yes. The course is popular in San Diego because it lets you experience La Jolla’s marine life—California sea lions, horn sharks and kelp forests—that are characteristic of the area.