I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order.
—John Burroughs
Teach them about Fish. That is surely the right path to take especially after a Pandemic that resulted in kids glued to their phones. Take it away from them and they serve you up a nasty tantrum. A great way to lure them out of their questionable comfort zones is to introduce them to SCUBA Diving. It is exciting, it can be techie it is practically the solution under your noses that will definitely keep them hooked.
Kids will make for the best scuba divers. Introduce them to scuba diving and you have taught them the most important survival skill of all, knowledge of nature. It is outdoors, it is environmental and definitely, it is healthy. If you want them to learn something this summer, let me share with you a list of all the scuba diving courses kids can take and the minimum age for scuba lessons. Learning SCUBA Diving from Makati and around the neighboring Scuba Diving Towns in Metro Manila with us is safe and fun for all.
PADI Bubblemaker™ & PADI Seal Team Programs
A good way to determine if your child is ready for scuba lessons is to enroll them in a PADIBubblemaker or PADI Seal Team program.
- The PADI Bubblemaker program gives kids that are 8 years and older the chance to try on scuba gear and swim around in a pool or confined water. The max depth is two meters (six feet). There is no prior experience needed, but kids must be comfortable in the water.
- The PADI Seal Team and Master Seal Team program is a more extensive pool program for kids aged 8 years and above that combines basic scuba diving skills with fun activities, such as taking underwater photos, practicing buoyancy, and learning about environmental awareness. No prior experience with scuba diving is necessary, but kids should be comfortable in the water and parental approval is required.
PADI’s Junior Open Water Diver Course
The PADI Junior Open Water Diver course is similar to the adult certification program but with smaller teacher-to-student ratios and shallower depth limits. To enroll, kids must be age 10-15 years old and able to swim. PADI Junior Open Water Divers automatically become Open Water Divers at the age of 15.
To ensure that young divers don’t exceed their limits, the PADI Junior Open Water certification comes with restrictions. Divers aged 10 and 11 must dive with a PADI Professional or a certified parent or guardian, and dives cannot exceed 12 meters (40 feet). Divers aged 12 years to 14 years old must dive with a certified adult and dives cannot exceed 18 meters (60 feet) in depth.
ENROLL IN THE PADI JUNIOR OPEN WATER COURSE
PADI Junior Advanced Open Water, PADI Junior Rescue & PADI Junior Specialty Courses
After receiving a PADI Junior Open Water certification, divers aged 12 years and older may continue to gain experience and explore deeper depths by enrolling in more advanced courses. These courses include PADI Junior Adventure Diver, PADI Junior Advanced Open Water, PADI Junior Rescue Diver and PADI Junior Specialty courses.
Below is a complete list of certification courses and experiences young divers can take part in. Unfortunately, certain programs and courses are not available in all areas. We recommend contacting your local PADI dive shop to see which courses are available. If you need help finding one near you, please use our PADI dive shop locator.
List of PADI Programs and PADI Courses By Age
No minimum age:
- Emergency First Response® – Primary and Secondary Care
- PADI AWARE Specialty
6+ years old:
8+ years old:
10+ years old:
- Junior Adventure Diver
- Altitude Diver
- Boat Diver
- Discover Scuba® Diving
- Dive Against Debris
- Digital Underwater Photographer
- Dry Suit Diver
- Equipment Specialist
- Fish Identification
- Junior Open Water Diver
- PADI Mermaid™ Course
- Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Underwater Naturalist
- Underwater Navigator
12+ years old:
- Junior Advanced Open Water
- Delayed Surface Marker Buoy
- Diver Propulsion-Vehicle Diver
- Drift Diver
- Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver
- PADI Basic Freediver
- PADI Freediver
- Full Face Mask
- Night Diver
- Junior Rescue Diver
- Search & Recovery
- AWARE Shark Conservation Diver
Divers 12 years and older can become PADI Junior Master Scuba Divers, the highest rating a recreational diver under the age of 15 can achieve.
Junior Diver Certification “Upgrades”
After the age of 15, depth and buddy restrictions default to those of a regular PADI Open Water Diver. Divers who were initially certified as a Junior Open Water Diver and wish to receive a new card that simply says “Open Water Diver” can order a replacement PADI’s website. The new card will automatically be printed without the word “Junior” based on the diver’s age when the card is ordered. There is no special action that needs to be taken during the ordering process to receive a card without the word “Junior” on it. Of course, turning 15 is an excellent time to enroll in a PADI ReActivate session or complete a continuing education course, both of which will result in a new certification card without the “Junior” prefix automatically.
#LiveUnfiltered
Scuba diving is both a sport and an adventure, which gives kids a chance to explore the world directly without the use of social media filters. Beyond the “fun” side, scuba diving also has positive impacts on a child’s physical, emotional, psychological and social well-being. Not only will scuba diving introduce kids to the beautiful underwater world, but it will allow them to join the largest community for ocean change. By understanding how everything is connected in the ocean and how we interact with it as humans, children will learn to care and protect the ocean.
Scuba diving is a great way for kids to get away from the use of electronics and screen time. This activity really is one of the best ways to give kids a reason to put down their gadgets and enjoy the beauty of nature while living unfiltered.
If you are interested in diving lessons for your kids and learn more information about scuba diving opportunities for kids you may call me directly at +639177221133