How old does my child have to be to scuba dive?
The short answer is that children 8 years or older can try scuba diving in a pool, and children 10 years or older can earn their scuba certification in the ocean. Children who are 14 years or younger are called ‘junior divers’.
The longer answer is that each child is ready to scuba dive at a different age. Some factors to think about include their swimming ability, physical strength, maturity and mental resilience. The instructors at Brisbane Dive Academy are cleared to work with children and have certified lots of junior divers, so we’d like to share our advice.
What is the difference between introductory programs, Junior Open Water Diver and Open Water Diver certifications?
Try Scuba is an introductory program designed for people 8 years and older to experience scuba diving in a pool. It is not a course or an opportunity to earn a certification.
Junior Open Water Diver and Open Water Diver are SSI certifications offered by Brisbane Dive Academy, and they are commonly referred to as a scuba diving ‘licence’ or ‘ticket’. They are ISO standardised, lifetime certifications that can be used to go scuba diving worldwide. As junior divers grow up, their certification and course restrictions will be determined by their current age, and once they turn 15, they will be considered full Open Water Divers. For this reason, the academic and in-water training requirements to earn these certifications are almost the same for children and adults.
10- and 11-year-olds can earn the Junior Open Water Diver certification but are restricted to a maximum depth of 12 metres during and after certification. Group sizes are also restricted, with a maximum of two junior divers plus two adults per instructor.
12 - 14-year-olds can earn the Junior Open Water Diver certification with a maximum depth of 18 metres and a maximum of four divers per instructor.
15 – 17-year-olds can earn the full Open Water Diver certification but will still require written permission from a parent or guardian.
Is scuba diving safe for kids?
Modern scuba is relatively safe, but there are few scientific studies that investigate the risks of children and scuba diving (understandable). This means that the rules mentioned above are non-negotiable and may affect scheduling courses for junior divers. We cannot remove all the risks from scuba diving, so it is crucial that your child completes and understands the academic requirements before their in-water training. The digital learning materials cover safety procedures in depth; here are some examples to help consider how well your child manages risk:
- Sunburn is quite common since we will be without shade for a lot of the day. Your child will need to apply high SPF, waterproof sunscreen, especially on their face and the back of their hands.
- Ear squeeze can occur if divers don’t equalise their sinuses on descent. Practice and discuss examples of when and how your child has had to equalise – like in a plane or driving up a mountain. Some children have issues with equalising and may need to wait until they outgrow or solve this problem. Junior divers should never dive while sick and must be able to communicate if they are having problems equalising.
- Cuts from oyster shells can occur but injuries from other marine life are rare and largely avoidable. The animals found at our dive site are not aggressive, and don’t typically cause fatal injuries. We will conduct thorough dive site briefings about how to recognise and respect our wildlife.
- Pressure related injuries like decompression sickness and lung overexpansion are very rare during training but can occur during panicked ascents. Students cannot progress to the ocean until they can ascend with control in the pool.
From our own experience, the main factor that can make a child safe/unsafe underwater is their ability to make good decisions. Do you trust your child to put on sunscreen, keep track of their belongings, cross the road, or be at the park unsupervised? Are they likely to speak up if they have a question or a problem? During the course, all divers will be expected to take responsibility for things like this on land, before our instructors will feel comfortable taking them scuba diving in the ocean. It is also worth noting that while scuba instructors are patient and encouraging, they will never force anyone to go diving if they don’t want to, especially children.
Does my kid need to be a strong swimmer?
Your child doesn’t need to be a champion swimmer, but if they enjoy playing in the ocean or river, this is a good sign that they will be a safe and competent scuba diver. A child who is ready for scuba diving usually loves things like underwater handstands and somersaults, waterslides, diving platforms, snorkelling, playing in waves, boogie boarding, surfing or water skiing. When kids like this learn to scuba dive, learning skills feels like play, and the course is a wonderful experience that deepens their existing connection to the water.
Additionally, a good junior diver will find the swim test fun rather than hard. For the swim test, they must be able to swim 200 metres without stopping or standing (any stroke, no time limit) and tread water or float for 10 minutes in the deep end. Children will also need to fill out the Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire – there are some medical conditions that will require a doctor’s clearance before learning to dive.
Do children need special scuba equipment?
Most rental scuba gear is designed for adults, so it’s worth thinking about whether your child is strong enough to walk and swim with scuba gear on. A full set of scuba gear weighs in at around 25-30kg and feels like a hiking backpack, with weight distributed across the shoulders and hips. Though they may be small, children usually float and will need to wear a surprising amount of weight. A great way to check if your child is physically ready to dive is to come into the dive centre so they can try on and experience wearing a rental wetsuit, BC, regulator, weights and a tank.
Children tend to get cold faster than adults, so you may need to buy a wetsuit to ensure a good, comfortable fit. Additionally, snorkelling equipment including a mask, snorkel, boots and fins play a big role in helping kids feel confident while scuba diving. Kids do best when they learn to scuba dive in gear that they have already worn while snorkelling. Children who experience water leaking into a poorly fitted or old mask can have a strong, negative reaction that is hard to overcome later.
Can I schedule a family course?
Absolutely, taking the Open Water Diver course together can be a great family activity, especially since it’s screen free time! If you are already scuba certified, we recommend that you don’t attend the first day of the course – for the same reasons that we don’t go to school with our kid(s). Certified divers are welcome to join in for the ocean dives on the second day, as long as instructor to student ratios permit. We also offer the Scuba Skills Update course if you haven’t been diving in the last year and need to refresh your skills. Our courses are planned with this in mind and corresponding dates are available on our website.
Our 2-day course is quite intensive – the first day typically runs from 6.45am - 6pm. We may spend up to 4 hours focussing on skills in the pool, which can be challenging for adults and children alike. Consider booking a private course for junior divers and their dive buddies. These course formats allow more time for breaks while also extending the overall time spent with the instructor.
Try to avoid booking a holiday or dive trip close to your course dates because this deadline can create stress and frustration if things don’t go as planned. Factors like water conditions, illness and ability to meet certification requirements are out of our control and may require you to reschedule parts of the course. The judgement call of our experienced instructors is final – even if they are more conservative than you expect. When rescheduling, please be aware that availability may be limited during peak season, typically summer and school holidays.
How can I tell if my child is ready to dive?
Sometimes you don’t know until you try, so the best approach is step-by-step. First, look at the Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire to check if your child is medically fit to dive. Next time you’re at the pool, ask the staff how many laps is 200m and challenge your child to try the swim test - bonus points if you bring toys that sink and make it a game.
If it’s been fun so far, introduce the concepts of scuba diving with the free digital learning materials on the mySSI app or website. Kids under 18 will need their own email address and a parent’s assistance to create a mySSI profile. Under ‘Courses’, you will have access to ‘Scuba Diver’, which is the first half of the academic requirements for the Open Water Diver course. The information, videos and quizzes can help start conversations with your child about their mental and physical readiness for scuba diving.
Now it’s time to bring your child into the dive centre on Wynnum Road after school or on Saturday. You can try on snorkelling and scuba equipment, meet the staff and ask any questions about scheduling and expectations. The staff can also recommend good places to practice with snorkel gear before diving. Brisbane Dive Academy is ready to support the next generation of marine biologists, treasure hunters and gear enthusiasts, so don’t hesitate to contact the experts with any questions!