Whether you are looking for a great family adventure or a unique way to teach your children about science and the world around them, scuba diving is a great choice. Scuba diving with kids is a wonderful way to bond as a family and to teach children the importance of responsible behavior. Kids need to know about self-discipline, abstract concepts, and maturity. The ability to take responsibility and have self-esteem is essential for children. Parents need to be aware of the fact that this activity is both engaging and motivating for their kids.
Safety concerns when scuba diving is for children
Diverseing for kids has some safety issues. Children younger than eight years old are at high risk for pulmonary barotrauma. These risks shouldn't be ignored. Parents need to ensure that their children have the proper training before diving. Parents should also make sure that their kids do not dive if they have medical conditions that could make them more susceptible to injury. Divemasters should supervise any children who aren't able to dive by themselves.
Children diving with adults is a dangerous activity. Children can have different mentalities than adults and are more susceptible to distractions than more experienced divers. Parents should ensure that their child is paired with an experienced adult. The experienced adult will be able to deal with the child's attention span and ability to get distracted by shiny objects. Additionally, an experienced adult can keep a close eye on the child's air consumption and ascent rate.
Equipment to hire for children who want to scuba dive
There are many things you should take into consideration when renting equipment for scuba-diving for kids. It is sometimes more affordable to purchase new equipment but it is difficult to return it once it is used. If you have more than one child in your family, you may want to hire equipment until the child has grown enough to use it on their own. A rental gear package is more affordable than purchasing the whole thing. It is important to know that scuba diving equipment should not be purchased for children.
Wetsuits aren't as heavy as scuba suits, but they should still fit your child. Most often, a 7- or 10-litre cylinder will be sufficient. It is easier to carry the cylinder around if it has a handle. Your child will soon outgrow your wetsuits. We recommend that they be as flexible as possible, but still snug. You might also consider hiring a jacket with lots of straps. The jacket should be big enough for your child to wear, but not too large to restrict airflow and make it uncomfortable.
Scuba diving is not recommended for children under the age of 18.
While anyone can enroll in a certification program for children under ten years old, most scuba organisations start their courses at 10 years. Children must read the same materials and take the same exams as adults, so it's important to choose a program that is appropriate for their reading level and interests. They can then get their certification and dive! Scuba diving is an exciting way to take your child on a new adventure.
While most agencies offer a course for kids as young as eight years old, these programs are still limited to confined bodies of water. Children under the age of eight years old are not certified to dive in open seas and must be accompanied at all times by an adult who also has this certification. PADI or SSI have a variety of certification programs that children can take to become certified. For parents who are interested in learning about scuba diving, see our guide!