Take your diving to the next level with French Kiss Divers. Follow my journey through the advanced certification process.
My journey as a scuba diver officially kicked off two years ago when I pursued my Level 1 Open Water certification with French Kiss Divers Koh Tao, Thailand. The teaching methodology adopted by them, which emphasized the fundamentals of scuba diving with a strong focus on safety, was impressive.
Since then, I’ve had several diving experiences, all limited to a maximum depth of 18 meters due to my certification level.
Recently, I made up my mind to level up my skills by obtaining the Level 2 Advanced Adventurer certification.
I chose to do this with French Kiss Divers, this time at their Nusa Lembongan branch in Indonesia. This certification not only allows me to dive up to 30 meters but also significantly enhances my diving skills.
Why French Kiss Divers?
My continuous association with French Kiss Divers stems from my admiration for their commitment to the rules of diving, safety standards, and unrivaled customer service. They offer an array of courses in numerous languages, ensuring adherence to high diving school standards.
Their excellent reputation has inevitably resulted in significant growth over recent years.
The French Kiss Divers Legacy
Wilfried HERVE, a globetrotter and scuba diving Instructor Trainer, founded French Kiss Divers in Koh Tao, Thailand in 2012.
Having traveled the world for many years, Wil possesses the knowledge and experience required to build an exceptional diving enterprise that caters to diverse linguistic and cultural customers.
Within five years, they emerged as the premier French CMAS Training Center in Koh Tao and one of the leading dive centers on the island, renowned for its high-quality personalized training courses, excellent service, reliable equipment, and fully equipped boats.
In 2014, they extended its global network to the Philippines, launching two new locations in Malapascua and Mari Pipi. The same principles were applied, and it quickly rose to be one of the top dive centers in the region. It’s worth noting that Malapascua, home to year-round sightings of tresher sharks and exceptional biodiversity, is one of their destinations.
In 2017, they expanded their presence to another outstanding diving destination, Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia, renowned for dive sites with Manta Rays and Mola Mola.
These three countries, hosting FKD branches, offer some of the best opportunities to encounter a vast diversity of marine species, especially rare pelagic fish. Planning a diving trip to these destinations is a must for any scuba diving enthusiast.
Why take up the advanced certification?
Well, the main reason is to be able to dive up to 30 meters but motivations to pursue advanced scuba diving certification vary from person to person. Some are drawn by the allure of wildlife, while others seek new challenges and opportunities to confront their fears beyond 18 meters.
My initial feelings about scuba diving were mixed.
I relished the wonder and tranquility of the underwater world, defying gravity, but grappled with beginner challenges like rapid oxygen consumption, equipment setup errors, incorrect weight handling, or accidental contact with my diving partner. All part of the process, these are rites of passage!
Scuba divers don’t start as experts; the aim is to become autonomous over time.
So, getting the right certification from a reputable dive center is essential, and I can’t recommend French Kiss Divers enough!
It’s worth noting that my recommendation isn’t limited to a specific branch, as the ethos and standards of FKD are maintained across all its branches. Given our location in Bali, my husband and I decided to visit the nearby Nusa Lembongan branch of French Kiss Divers.
My advanced scuba diving certification process
We made prior arrangements via email, which proved to be quick and efficient. It’s advisable to contact them in advance as spots can fill up, especially during high season.
As it had been more than six months since my last dive, I was advised to take a Refresher Course to regain my diving skills and get back in the groove.
I spent the following days honing my skills in specialty courses like deep diving, navigation, computer diving, perfect buoyancy, and drift diving, preparing for our subsequent trip to Komodo.
Throughout the course, my instructor, Greg, was fantastic. His constructive criticism and words of encouragement greatly enriched my learning experience. His knack for spotting sea creatures, particularly nudibranchs and sharks, made diving with him an absolute pleasure.
My praise for French Kiss Divers extends to their excellent management, instructors, dive guides, equipment, boat, crew – everything, really!
In fact, I’m considering pursuing more specialty courses with them, possibly at their Malapascua branch. If so, I could become one of the first to train with them in all three countries, earning a well-deserved membership t-shirt, I believe! 😉
FAQs about advanced open water diving certification
The Advanced Open Water Diving certification is the next step after the Open Water Diver certification. It allows divers to explore deeper depths (up to 30 meters) and improve their scuba diving skills by completing different specialty dives.
You can get this certification by completing the Advanced Open Water Diver course, which typically includes five different specialty dives, including a deep dive and a navigation dive.
Getting an Advanced Open Water Diving certification allows you to explore a wider range of dive sites, improve your diving skills, and gain more confidence underwater.
Yes, you should have an Open Water Diver certification or equivalent before taking the Advanced Open Water Diver course.
The duration of the course can vary, but it typically takes two to three days to complete.
The primary requirements are to be at least 12 years old and have an Open Water Diver certification or equivalent. Some dive centers may have additional requirements.
French Kiss Divers has branches in Koh Tao, Thailand, Malapascua and Mari Pipi in the Philippines, and Nusa Lembongan in Indonesia.
French Kiss Divers offers a wide range of courses in numerous languages, especially French and English, to cater to their diverse clientele.
They offer a variety of courses, from beginner levels like Try Dives and Open Water Diver, to advanced courses such as Advanced Adventurer up to Instructor courses.
Yes, they do. But, it is best to contact French Kiss Divers directly to discuss any specific needs you may have regarding accommodations, as arrangements may vary by location.
You can book a course with French Kiss Divers by contacting them via email. It is advisable to do this in advance, especially during high season, as spots can fill up quickly.
More diving memories with my advanced diver certification
Embrace the depths of the underwater world with French Kiss Divers. Join me as I share my journey and experiences of advancing my scuba diving skills with an Advanced Adventurer certification.