How To Get Your Kid Ready For Diving

There’s more to it than just counting candles on the birthday cake.

Scuba diving with your child is a wonderful experience that can create memories to last a lifetime. But how do you know whether he or she is ready?

1 Card him or her. All certifying agencies offer an adult open-water certification at age 15, and a junior open-water card at age 10 , which usually requires the child to dive with a certified adult. There are also introductory experiences starting at age 8, such as PADI’s Bubblemaker program.

2 Be honest. Does your child have the strength and coordination for scuba diving? Will your child pay attention to the training and follow the safety rules? If your child isn’t quite coordinated yet or isn’t disciplined or focused in other educational settings, wait a bit longer.

3 Keep it fun. Remember the ultimate goal: for your child to enjoy sharing a sport you love. Offer plenty of praise and leave the training to qualified instructors.

4 Get the right stuff. It’s important to get gear that fits your child. Ill-fitting gear that is uncomfortable and hard to use will make learning difficult — and possibly dangerous.

5 Consider an alternative. Don’t push a child into diving if he or she isn’t ready to take that first giant stride — they should be as interested in the underwater realm as you are. Start with snorkeling, and let him or her set the pace to make the experience fun.

Looking for ideas for your next family vacation? Check out a behind the scenes look at Kids Sea Camp at Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire.