Scuba Tune-Up / Refresher Course
The PADI ReActivate course is built for certified divers who've been out of the water for a while. Refresh your skills in the pool in the morning and complete two reef dives the same afternoon.
About this Course
PADI ReActivate certification update
If it's been a while since your last dive, the PADI ReActivate course is the right starting point before getting back in the open water. It's a one-day program — classroom and pool in the morning, two reef dives in the afternoon — designed to bring your skills and confidence back up to speed in a low-pressure environment.
Who It's For
The course is built for certified divers returning to scuba after a period of inactivity, but it's equally useful for any diver who wants to brush up before a trip. If your last dive was a year ago or five years ago, this is how you get back on the reef properly rather than figuring it out as you go.
To participate in the in-water portions, you must hold a valid scuba certification and be at least 10 years old. The PADI eLearning component can be completed in advance at any age 10 or older.
What's Included
Instruction, pool session, and two open water dives. Divers should bring their own mask, snorkel, fins, and gear — or rent a full kit from the shop.
After purchase, we'll send a confirmation email with instructions for scheduling your course date.
How the Course Works
The day starts with a classroom review and pool session at IDC's on-site pool. Your instructor walks you through the core skills and techniques covered in your original certification — buoyancy, regulator clearing, mask clearing, and emergency procedures — giving you the chance to practice each one in a controlled setting before heading offshore.
After lunch, you check back in at the dive shop for the afternoon boat trip. Two reef locations, your instructor alongside you in the water, and the kind of conditions that make re-entry feel a lot easier than you expected. Most divers leave the day feeling like they never stopped.
Course Schedule
- 8:00am – classroom and pool session at ON-SITE pool
- 11:30am-12:30pm – break for lunch
- 12:30pm – Check in at dive shop for afternoon dives
- 1:00pm-4:30pm – 2 location boat dives
What's Covered
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you need to take the Advanced Open Water course?
A PADI Open Water certification and a minimum age of 12. From there, the Advanced course builds on what you already know through five guided dives with an instructor. It’s the natural next step — and a practical one, since AOW opens up deeper sites and the wreck charters.
How many dives are in the Advanced Open Water course?
Five specialty dives for Levels 1 through 3: Underwater Navigation, Deep, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Dive Against Debris, and either Wreck or Drift. Level 4 adds two more dives and a fourth specialty card. Every dive happens on Islamorada’s reefs and wrecks — never a pool.
How much does Advanced Open Water cost?
It starts at $500, which covers instruction and all your course dives. Gear rental isn’t included. You’ll also need a cutting tool, a timing device or dive computer, and a compass — rent the computer and compass from us if you don’t own them.
Do I need Advanced certification to dive the Eagle wreck?
You do. IDC’s Thursday and Sunday charters to the Eagle — a 269-foot freighter resting in more than 100 feet of water — require Advanced certification. The Deep and Wreck dives in this course are exactly the training that makes those sites safe and worth it.
What are the four course levels in the Advanced program?
Each level completes the same five core dives but differs in which specialties count and how many certification cards you walk away with. Level 1 earns your Advanced Open Water card. Level 4 adds two dives and a fourth specialty cert. Tell us your goal, and we’ll point you to the right level.
Book Your Course Online
Morning and afternoon charters run year-round from Three Waters Marina. Whether you're booking a charter, a course, or just have questions — we're here.