Youth Diving

Do you want to try something new as a family? Are your children water-babies? Do they want to move snorkeling to a new level? PADI offers several programs suitable for children as young as 8 years old. All courses are conducted under the strict supervision of an experienced PADI instructor.

The Bubblemaker program introduces scuba as an activity that allows children to experience the
underwater world. Under close supervision, participants swim around on scuba in shallow confined
water – just playing. Colorful Bubblemaker emblems, decals, towels and toys along with a distinctive recognition certificate and card make the experience one to remember.

Minimum age: 8 years old
Maximum depth: 2 meters
Location: Pool / Confined Water
Materials: Bubblemaker Crew Pak, Wall certificate, balloon pack

The PADI Seal Team program keeps youngsters diving, learning and having fun until they are ready to enroll in the PADI Junior Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver course.

The program is an exciting underwater activity-filled introduction to the world of diving. PADI Seal Team gives children a chance to swim around underwater and experience adventure, discovery and thrills. It also provides parents or guardians with a structured program that lets their children develop skills, learn about the aquatic realm and have a lot of good, clean fun.

The entire program is comprised of fifteen AquaMissions. To become official members of the PADI Seal Team, kids must complete the first five AquaMissions. These activities develop fundamental scuba skills and knowledge while preparing kids for further adventure. Children learn about diving by watching the PADI Seal Team video, through the PADI Seal Team AquaMission Activity Book and during pre-dive briefings with their PADI Instructor. Each AquaMission consists of a briefing, a skill session and a game or activity.

Once these young divers have completed the pool dive and answered challenge questions in their PADI Seal Team AquaMission Logbooks, they will fill out their log books and earn an AquaMission sticker for each dive.

Finishing AquaMissions 1-5, which is equivalent to completing the skills in Confined Water Dive One from the Open Water Diver Course, means youngsters are PADI Seal Team members. They will receive a PADI Seal Team member card and wall certificate which recognizes their accomplishments and allows them to work toward PADI Master Seal Team recognition.

As part of their PADI Seal Team membership, PADI Seals have access to a special website designed for young divers. There, young divers can learn more about the PADI Seal Team through character bios and they can read about the PADI Seal Team and Specialty AquaMissions. Kids can check out links to padi.com and projectaware.org.

Conduct AquaMissions 1-5 in order for PADI Seal Team membership. Specialty AquaMissions may be offered in any order.

Navigation, Photography, Night, Search and recovery, Inner Space (astronaut), Creature ID

Children who have completed all skills from Confined Water Dive One (through Bubblemaker, Discover Scuba Diving or PADI Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver course) may participate in specialty AquaMissions. However, before they can become PADI Master Seal Team members, they must become PADI Seals by completing all activities for AquaMissions 1-5.

Full details on AquaMissions from PADI

Minimum age: 8 years old
Maximum depth: Pool (2 meters)
Location: Pool only
Materials: Seal Team Crew Pak

Junior Open Water Diver

At age 10 years old, youths are eligible to enroll in a full PADI Junior Open Water course. This is almost exactly the same as the PADI Open Water course. This means that families can take the course together. Partial certification options of Discover Scuba Diving and Scuba Diver are also available

After certification, a 10 or 11-year-old Junior Scuba Diver must dive with a PADI Professional. Dives must not exceed 12 meters.

A 12 to 14-year-old Junior Open Water Diver is qualified to dive only when accompanied by another certified diver who is of legal age.

Junior Open Water Divers may upgrade their certification level to PADI Open Water Diver or Scuba
Diver when they reach the age of 15 with no additional requirements.

Minimum age: 10 years old
Maximum depth: 12 meters for 10-11 years old, 18 meters for 12 year olds.
Location: Pool / Confined Water & Open Water Dives
Materials: PADI Open Water Manual and RDP
Additional Options: Eligible for PADI e-learning