What You Can Do Before Your Kid Gets Certified
Step Into Diving with Your Kid
Kids seem to take to scuba like ducks to water, but before your child makes his or her first open-water dive, be honest about your child's maturity level
Justin Lewis/Courtesy PADI
BUBBLEMAKER (AGES 8–10) Kids experience scuba diving in a pool in less than 6 feet of water under the direct supervision of a PADI Pro.
SEAL TEAM (AGES 8+) Youngsters enrolled in a Seal Team go on scuba "AquaMissions," including underwater photography, navigationand environmental awareness.
JUNIOR OPEN WATER DIVER (AGES 10–14) Kids obtain full Open Water Diver certification, with certain age limitations on their diving: Ten- and 11-year-olds must dive with a PADI Pro or certified parent or guardian, and their dives may not exceed 40 feet. Kids 12 to 14 years old must dive with a certified adult. Kids age 13 and older can take the Open Water Diver course online.
JUNIOR ADVANCED OPEN WATER DIVER (AGES 12–14) Divers aged 12 to 14 may complete three Adventure Dives to earn the Junior Adventure Diver rating or five Adventure Dives to earn the Junior Advanced Open Water rating. If they complete the Deep Adventure Dive, it must not exceed 70 feet. They must dive with a certified adult. Ten-and 11-year-olds must complete three adventure dives to become a Junior Adventure Diver. They must dive with a PADI Pro or certified parent or guardian, and their dives may not exceed 40 feet.
Child's Play
Want to make sure your kid is ready to join the Scuba Nation? Take baby steps.
Snorkel first.
It might lead to getting your kids hooked on scuba.
Start early.
Buy a mask and snorkel when your child is a preschooler.
Have fun.
Play with them in the water. In the pool, place toys or oins on the bottom, and turn it into a scavenger hunt. in the ocean, ask them to look for shells or small crabs in tidal pools.
Add fins.
Younger children might not want to wearfins, but older children will love them.
Teach them.
Help your kid ID marine life found on your next dive vacation.
Keep it easy.
When taking children for a snorkeling experience on a boat, make sure the conditions are ideal – flat seas, warm water and sunny skies.
Give them a camera.
Disposable underwater cameras let children take their own pictures.
Interested in learning more about PADI's certification coureses and their training gear prerequisites? Visit padi.com