Are you sure you posted this in the right thread?I think there's a simple answer:
you are advanced diver when you get the Advanced certification (or equivalent).
in the same way an "advanced dive" is a dive in witch is requested Advanced cert.
other way, advanced in the meaning of "expert" doesn't mean anything,
advanced in the meaning of "difficult" too.
advanced in the comparison of what?
we can talk about what does expert mean, but is relative to the type of diving and other things.
my 0.2$
;-)
I'm pretty sure you did not read this thread.
Often the topic of a thread is fully explained in the original post (OP); sometimes threads evolve, but not usually without following the conversation....
halemanō;6135998:OK, there are three pieces to this posting; this thread here in Advanced Scuba Discussions (for divers who do feel they are advanced divers), a thread in Basic Scuba Discussions (for divers who don't feel they are advanced divers) and a thread in Technical Diving Specialties (for divers who make technical dives).
OK you advanced scuba divers; looking into your past, when did you think you had earned the title "advanced diver?" If you have ~1,000 or more dives, when do you now think you were "advanced?"
So, please answer the question in the proper forum; the question is slightly different in each different forum; this question is for those who are advanced divers (<50 dives ).