You’ve seen the amazing photos and videos of people diving in crystal clear waters, exploring shipwrecks, or swimming with dolphins. Your child has really taken to the water and wants to explore more. Your young one keeps asking you if they can scuba dive, how do they learn? If so, you’re not alone – scuba diving is one of the most popular recreational activities in the world and my kids started asking me from a young age! But how old do you need to be to start? Keep reading to find out…
So how old do you need to be to scuba dive?
Since all of the different scuba diving certification agencies (SSI, PADI, SDI, NAUI etc…) use the same standards for the design of their courses there are commonalities across most scuba organizations We have highlighted the key information here.
- Must be at least 8 years old to learn to scuba dive in a pool.
- Must be at least 10 years old to become a certified scuba diver.
- Must be 15 years old to scuba dive deeper than 40 feet (there are exceptions to this when diving with a dive professional).
- Must be comfortable in the water, and being underwater without a mask or goggles.
- Must be generally healthy and fit – will require a medical form to be completed by the parents/guardian and if needed to be reviewed by a doctor
- Must dive with a certified parent/guardian or a dive professional/ scuba instructor until 15 years of age.
What scuba diving courses exist for children interested in scuba diving?
Getting an answer to this question was surprisingly difficult to find. I did all the research and built out a table covering the programs provided by each of the most common scuba diving agencies in the U. This table covers the program name along with the different programs and limits and a link to the scuba agencies website with more details.
Scuba programs for 8-15 year olds
Program | Quick Description | Agency | Minimum Age | Open / Confined | Max Depth | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble Maker | A very quick introduction to scuba diving. Under the direct supervision of a dive professional. Children will have a chance to try out scuba diving in a shallow pool environment. | PADI | 8 | Confined | 6 ft (2M) | |
| Seal Team | Designed for young scuba divers to learns the basics of scuba. A series of missions that are designed to be done within a pool. You child should be comfortable in the water and will learn basic scuba skills like breathing underwater, clearing a mask, or recovering a regulator. | PADI | 8 | Confined | 6 ft (2M) | |
| Discover Scuba | Introductory program to scuba diving. Will have some baisc instruction and time to learn scuba diving in a pool / confined water environment. | PADI | 10 | Confined | 40 ft (12M) | |
| Open Water Diver | Between the ages of 10-14 kids get a Junior Open Water certification that automatically upgrades at 15. | PADI | 10 | Open | Junior (10-14) - 40 ft, 12M Full( 15+) - 60 ft, 18M | |
| Basic Diver | Learn basic skills and go diving with an instructor. Inclues some pool time to build initial skills then a dive in the open water | SSI | 10 | Confined / Open | 40 ft (12M) | |
| Scuba Diver | Similar to the basic diver course but slightly longer and covers the first sections of the Open Water Diver course. | SSI | 10 | Confined / Open | 40 ft (12M) | |
| Open Water Diver | This is the standard Open Water certification with limits for those under 15. Where they must dive with a certified parent/guardian or a professional and are limited to 40 ft. Automatically upgrades (digitally) when they are 15. | SSI | 10 | Open | Junior (10-14) - 40 ft, 12M Full( 15+) - 60 ft, 18M | |
| Future Buddies | Gives children 8-12 the opportunity to explore underwater. Teaches the basics of scuba. Can dive under the supervision of an SDI instructor. | SDI | 8 | Confined | 20 ft (6M) | |
| Scuba Discovery | Basic techniques with an instructor online course followed by a pool and open water dive. | SDI | 10 | Confined / Open | 30 ft (9M) | |
| Try Scuba | An introductory course to scuba diving where some of the theory and basic skills are started. Along with some time diving in confined water with an instructor. | NAUI | 8 | Confined | 6 ft (2M) | |
| Passport Scuba | Builds on the try scuba program for enthusiats to learn a little more about diving with a goal to become a certified open water diver. Has 3 sections - eLearning confined water training and open water training. Allowing instructor supervised diving. | NAUI | 10 | Confiend / Open | 30ft (9M) | |
| Scuba Diver | Entry level scuba diving course and certiciation. Will have a Junior Scuba Diver card until 15. After 15 they will be automatically upgraded to Scuba Diver certification | NAUI | 10 | Open | Junior (10-14) - 40 ft, 12M Full( 15+) - 60 ft, 18M |
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You can try scuba diving as young as 8 years old
Almost all of the main scuba diving agencies in the US have a scuba diving programs for kids starting at 8. These are all in pool programs under the direct supervision of an instructor with very low student-to-instructor ratios. The most critical part of any of these programs is the ability for your child to listen to directions and be comfortable in the water.
Starting at 10 years of age you can get open water scuba certified
Anyone who is at least ten years old can get certified by most scuba diving agencies. There are multiple options available at this age, starting with a lower-cost try/discover scuba class that aims to teach the basics while really focusing on getting you in the water to try scuba and see if you enjoy it. This is really the starting point. From there there are a variety of options to learn more – get some experience with a dive professional in open water or start the process of getting fully certified to dive. If the scuba student is younger than 15 years old then upon completion of the course they will receive a junior open water certification. Which is very close to the same as a full open water certification but has a couple of exceptions. The holder of a junior open water certification must diver with either a certified parent/guardian or a dive professional and is limited to 40ft (12m). Once they turn 15 most agencies provide an automatic upgrade from junior to open water certification with either a form or automatically with an electronic certification card upgrade.
What is the maximum depth my child can dive to with their certification?
The general rule for how deep you can dive is related to how old you are. If you are between the ages of 10-14 then your maximum depth is 40ft (12m). From 15 years old and up the max depth is determined by your other certifications. The standard depth for an open water certification 60 ft (18 M). However, most agencies will not allow a student to be deep water certified (often called Advanced Open Water) until they are 16 years old. An advanced open water certification typically has a limit of 100ft (30M). Recreational dive limits are 130 ft (40M) after that you enter the technical (tech) diving realm.
Becoming a certified scuba diver is something that can be started at a very young age, and there are many different programs to choose from. Depending on how old you are when starting the process, there are different depths you are able to dive to. The most important part is making sure you listen carefully in class and feel comfortable in the water.
Updated on: December 05, 2023
