I recently got certified as an open water diver in Playa Del Carmen back in April. Well now I want to go another level up. Since I am not exactly rich I will not be traveling to Mexico until April or May of 2004. My question is, how challenging is the next level of certification. The Advanced Padi open water Diver. Since I live in a landlocked state (Colorado) I have thought about diving a lake called Carter Lake. Its about 120 feet. What type of skills do you have to do for this certification? I know its 5 dives. If anyone is Advanced Cert. through Padi can you help me out. Is it like the Open Water Cert?