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Scuba Certifications for Kids

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on April 16, 2016

Passing your love of diving on to your kids, or encouraging the budding Jacques Cousteau in your family is not something that has to wait until your little ones turn 18. Kids as young as 8 years old can take their first underwater breaths under the guiding hand of trained professionals. With the right training and attention, scuba certifications for kids are within reach.

First, check into the PADI Bubblemakers course. Accompanied by their parents, children are outfitted with kid-sized gear to get their first taste of scuba diving. This introductory course is conducted under well-supervised conditions in shallow pools (less than 6 feet deep). The pint-sized students learn about how scuba equipment works and basic skills like breathing underwater and swimming beneath the surface. While no prior experience is needed, children should be comfortable in the water before taking part.

The important thing to remember when pursuing scuba certifications for kids is that they are not just small adults. They think, process, and behave differently than grownups. Be realistic about your child’s physical and psychological ability to handle the rigors of dive training. They need sufficient reading skills to conquer the course materials, and should be comfortable speaking up and telling their adult instructors whenever they are having a problem understanding or are having difficulty with any lesson.

Age is not the only factor. As any parent knows, all children are not alike and your 10-year-old may be leaps and bounds, maturity wise, ahead of his 12-year-old neighbor. Junior Open Water certifications are available for children from age 10. Students learn all the basics to prepare them for a full-fledged dive certification when they come of age. Young divers are limited to certain depths that increase with age, starting at no more than 40 feet, working up to 60 feet and beyond once they are eligible for their full open water training. If your child loves the water as much as you, and wants to follow in your fin tracks, look into getting them their very own dive certification today!

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro