Advanced Open Water Course in Pemuteran – Certification in Bali (Menjangan park)

Deeper water teaches control, fast.

This 2 day Advanced Open Water course in Pemuteran is built for already-certified divers who want smarter planning, better buoyancy, and a closer look at marine life down to around 30 meters, plus night ocean life. I love how the training is hands-on with clear, dive-by-dive briefings tailored to that specific session. I also love the small-group pace, with a maximum of 8 people, so you get real attention and can ask questions without feeling rushed. One thing to think about first, the Menjangan Park entrance fee is an extra cost (200,000 IDR per person per day) if you choose to add that option.

The course is mostly practical, not study heavy, which is exactly what you want on holiday. You’ll split the training into a morning with 3 underwater sessions and a second day with 2 more, though they can adjust to your timing and preferences. It’s a great fit if you want a “next step” after Open Water and want to start building a personal learning path with an instructor.

Key moments that make this course work

• Briefings matched to each underwater skill session, not generic instructions
• Small group size (max 8), which helps you stay comfortable and get coached
• Planning and deeper-water focus, including dealing with physiological challenges
• Navigation practice with compass skills, plus visual landmarks and time checks
• You choose extra skills that fit you, like buoyancy control, fish identification, photography, or wreck exploring
• Menjangan Park option for a memorable add-on, with a clear extra entry fee

Pemuteran, Menjangan Park, and why this location matters

Pemuteran is a low-key part of Bali that works well for structured scuba training. The big draw is the access to marine life in and around Menjangan Park, which you can add for an additional fee. If you’re already past the basics, Menjangan is the kind of place where your improved skills actually get to pay off.

The center runs the course from Jl. Arjuna, Pemuteran (Gerokgak, Buleleng, Bali), and the activity ends back at the same meeting point. That matters because you’re not trying to coordinate multiple transfers across the island. For many people, reducing travel stress makes the whole course easier to enjoy.

One practical note: the exact mix of what you do each day can adapt to your preferences and organization. You’ll still follow the overall structure (3 sessions one morning, 2 sessions the other day), but you’re not locked into a rigid schedule that ignores how you’re feeling in the water.

Two days, five adventure sessions, and no textbook vibe

The headline promise is simple: 5 adventure and discovery underwater sessions across 2 days. The idea is that you take what you learned in Open Water and turn it into real confidence for more advanced situations. You’re not doing page-turning studying. Instead, each session has its own briefing focused on the skills you’ll practice.

A typical rhythm looks like this:

• Morning 1: 3 training sessions
• Day 2: 2 training sessions

That structure is usually ideal because it gives you time to absorb feedback, practice, and then build on it. You also get at least one day where fatigue can be managed, rather than stacking everything back-to-back with no breathing room.

This is also an “after Open Water” certification. You need to be at least 12 years old and already Open Water certified to join. If you’re brand new, this one is not the right step. If you already have that base, it can feel like someone finally explains how to think underwater, not just how to follow instructions.

The specialties you can steer toward

The most valuable part of Advanced Open Water is the ability to create your own learning path. The course is designed to let you try different specialties and see what you naturally gravitate toward. You’ll plan that path with your instructor as you choose from a list of Adventure Dives (they’ll match these to what you want to learn).

There are two standout “core” areas that show up in this course design:

Deep-water planning and the body side of scuba

The Deep Adventure element teaches you how to plan deeper-water sessions and how to deal with physiological effects and challenges. You get the planning side, which is what many people miss after Open Water. It also gives you a realistic sense of what deeper water feels like, so your choices later are more informed.

Underwater navigation with compass skills

The Underwater Navigation element sharpens compass navigation. You’ll refine how to navigate using kick-cycles, time, and visual landmarks. Even if you can follow a route at the Open Water level, this is where you learn how to control your position and heading more deliberately.

Your other skill picks, based on what you want

The other 3 skills are designed to match your interests. The options you’ll be able to choose from can include things like:

• buoyancy control
• fish identification
• photography
• exploring wrecks

If you’ve been curious about marine life but felt too busy to notice details, fish ID is a great fit. If your photos never look as sharp as you want, the photography-focused skill helps you build the fundamentals for clearer results.

Instructors and coaching style, including French support

One of the strongest themes is coaching that’s friendly, attentive, and practical. People get coached not only in what to do underwater, but also how to handle comfort and safety above water. That includes the instructor checking your needs and how you’re doing in terms of health and comfort before you go down.

When David Chabanel is teaching, the vibe described is very upbeat, personable, and clearly focused on what the student needs at that moment. The course design also tends to match language support, with monitors who can be French or Balinese, which can make a big difference if you’re more comfortable in French. Communication also seems organized and responsive, with people mentioning fast messaging with Julien for reservations.

For the Menjangan Park sessions, Arya is named as a local guide in the experience notes you provided. Having a local guide in the mix can help you enjoy what you’re seeing underwater, because locals usually notice the small things and explain them in a way that clicks.

Bottom line: you’re not just getting a certification checkbox. You’re getting an instructor who cares about how you feel and how you perform, and that improves both safety and enjoyment.

What a typical session feels like, from briefing to skills

Each underwater session starts with a specific briefing tailored to that session’s goals. That’s a big deal because it means you don’t guess what matters. You can listen for the exact skill focus, then practice it with clear checkpoints.

In an Advanced Open Water course, that briefing often includes:

• what the objective is for this particular session
• what common mistakes to avoid
• how to manage comfort and depth safely
• what success looks like for your buoyancy, navigation, or other specialty

Then you go into the water and the coaching becomes more detailed. You’re working on control, not just movement. If you’ve felt that your buoyancy is inconsistent, this course is built around tightening that up. If you’ve ever drifted off heading, the navigation sessions are specifically meant to help you get it under control.

The training also references night ocean life as part of the broader adventure approach. If you opt into that kind of experience during your course path, it adds a totally different layer, and the earlier skills you practice will make it easier to enjoy instead of just survive the conditions.

Menjangan Park add-on, and how to budget for it

This course has an option for Menjangan Park, but it comes with an extra entry fee: 200,000 IDR per person per day. That means your advertised per-person price does not automatically cover that park access.

So how should you think about value? In simple terms:

• If you want the full Menjangan experience, plan to add that daily fee.
• If your goal is skills and certification outcomes more than the location, you might still get plenty of value without adding the park option.
• If you’re the kind of person who cares about seeing excellent marine life in a calmer setting, you’re likely to feel the add-on is worth it.

Also remember: the course duration is only 2 days, so adding Menjangan can compress your training schedule into a couple of days. That can be good, if you enjoy an active schedule. If you prefer a slower pace, ask the instructor how they plan to balance skills and park time so you don’t feel overloaded.

Gear, center facilities, and the little comforts you’ll notice

Good equipment setup removes friction, and this course provides a full gear package. Included gear typically covers:

• mask, snorkel, fins
• buoyancy control jacket
• regulator and other instruments
• wetsuit
• weight belt

They also have center facilities like WiFi, toilet, shower, locker, and a change room, which sounds basic until you’re doing two intense days and want a place to reset comfortably. There’s also a restaurant or warung at the center. Food and drinks are available, but they’re not included in the course price.

If you’re someone who hates dealing with gear logistics on holiday, this is a clear win. You show up, fit and check your equipment, then focus on the training.

One more practical note: the course supports service animals, and the guidance is that you should have a moderate physical fitness level. That matters because you’re practicing skills and managing comfort during underwater sessions, not just sitting around.

Group size, timing, and weather realities

This activity runs with opening hours listed as 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and it’s active daily. The course confirmation is provided within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, so don’t expect instant everything.

The group size is capped at 8 travelers, which tends to make training smoother. Smaller groups usually mean better supervision and more time for feedback. It also means you can move through checks, briefings, and adjustments without feeling like you’re waiting for a large crowd.

Weather matters here. The course requires good conditions, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. That’s worth keeping in mind if your Bali trip is tightly scheduled. A little schedule flexibility helps a lot.

Is the price fair, and what makes it worth it?

At $357.46 per person for the 2 day course, you’re paying for more than a logo and a stamp. You’re paying for:

• a certified instructor for the course
• organized equipment and center support
• multiple skill-focused underwater sessions
• structured briefings that target deeper planning, navigation, and additional specialties

You should also account for what’s not included, mainly:

• Menjangan Park entrance fee (200,000 IDR per person per day) if you add it
• digital souvenir photos/videos (sold separately)
• accommodation (hotel is available at the dive center, but not included)
• food and drink from the on-site restaurant or warung

So the value equation is really about your goals. If you want to become more confident at deeper depths, improve navigation, and get coached on buoyancy or marine-life skills, this price can feel reasonable because it’s skill instruction over a short, focused timeframe.

If your only goal is a casual underwater experience, you might question the cost. But for someone already Open Water certified and ready for the next step, this course is designed exactly for that moment.

Who should choose this course in Bali

This Advanced Open Water course fits best if you:

• are already Open Water certified
• want to practice deeper-water planning and navigation skills
• care about marine life and want better ways to notice it
• want a quick 2 day path, not a long, drawn-out program
• prefer smaller groups and instructor attention

It’s also a good option if you’re interested in building specific underwater skills like photography, fish identification, or improved buoyancy control. The course is built to let you choose what you need next, which is more personal than a one-size-fits-all training day.

If you’re easily stressed in water, or you dislike structured schedules, this might still work, because the instructor style described focuses on listening and health checks above and below water. But you should still go in with the mindset that you’ll be practicing skills and taking feedback seriously.

Practical tips to get the most from your 2 day training

Before you go, do two things that help immediately:

• Bring a clear idea of which specialties you want most, even if you’re flexible
• Plan to rest well the night before, because this is a short course with multiple sessions

In water, the biggest “hack” is simple: listen closely to each session’s briefing and treat it like a checklist. When the skill focus is buoyancy or navigation, small adjustments matter. Your instructor will help you troubleshoot, but your job is to notice what changes you make and what improves.

Also, if you’re adding Menjangan Park, think ahead about the extra cost and how it fits your course energy level. It’s not a big commitment in time, but it is a commitment in money per day. Decide early so you can focus on training during the course, not on budgeting mid-trip.

Finally, be ready for weather shifts. Keep your Bali plan flexible for two days if you can. That gives the operator the freedom to work with conditions, and it reduces your risk of losing part of the schedule.

Should you book this Advanced Open Water course in Pemuteran?

Book it if you’re already Open Water certified and want a fast, well-structured upgrade. This course makes sense when you want more than a basic underwater outing, you want deeper planning, better navigation, and instruction that matches your interests. The small group size, the focus on session-specific briefings, and the coaching style described with names like David Chabanel, Julien, and Arya are exactly the kind of details that improve your odds of leaving with real confidence.

Skip it or reassess if Menjangan Park is not on your radar and you only want casual underwater time. The course is short, but it is still training, with clear skill objectives and multiple sessions. Also, if your itinerary is rigid, build in weather flexibility because conditions can affect scheduling.

If you’re in the “next step” stage of scuba skills, this is a strong choice for Bali because it links certification progress with meaningful local underwater experiences, especially around Menjangan Park.

FAQ

Do I need to be certified Open Water before I can join?

Yes. You need to be at least Open Water certified first. This course is designed as the next step after Open Water training.

What is the minimum age to take this course?

You must be at least 12 years old to join.

How long is the course?

It runs for 2 days (approx.).

How many underwater sessions are included?

The course includes 5 adventure and discovery underwater sessions.

What is included in the gear and equipment?

Masks, snorkel, fins, buoyancy control jacket, regulator, other instruments, wetsuit, and a weight belt are provided.

Is the Menjangan Park entrance fee included?

No. The Menjangan Park entrance fee is 200,000 IDR per person per day and an additional fee is required if you want to dive in Menjangan Park.

Does the package include digital photos or videos?

No. Digital souvenir photos/videos are not included, but they may be purchased.

What facilities are available at the center?

The center offers WiFi, a toilet, a shower, lockers, and a change room.

What happens if weather is bad?

If the experience is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.