How old do you have to be to learn to scuba dive? Your personal circumstances will dictate the answer. Junior certification can be completed by children who wish to dive deeper. Teenagers as well as adults can take adult scuba certification courses. You must be at minimum 15 years of age and have some experience. Below are the required physical and medical requirements to be certified at each level.
To scuba-dive, you must be at least 18
The recreational scuba diving council (RSTC), recommends that children under 15 years old not scuba dive. However, children as young as eight can learn how to scuba dive and undergo training. Due to limited scientific research on the effects of scuba divers on children, this age requirement may not be met. Individual results will vary. It is important that children are trained by qualified instructors.
There is no set minimum age to learn to scuba dive. PADI is one of the schools that will teach kids as young as ten years old. The majority of children under 10 years old are junior-level divers. When they reach adult level, they will be upgraded. The British Sub-Aqua Club offers training for young people, but they must also be at least 12 to take part in any programs.
Needs for medical and physical care
Divers with certain conditions may have difficulty safely diving. Some chronic conditions or medications can make it difficult for someone to safely dive. Regular exercise is required to dive safely. Scuba diving is not for women who are pregnant. Before you dive, make sure to talk to your doctor about any of the above conditions. Learn more about the medical and physical requirements to scubadive.
To start, you will need a Medical Questionnaire from the Recreational Scuba Training Council. It is an organization in North America. This form is available from many sources. After completing the questionnaire, the RSTC determines whether the prospective diver will need to have a medical examination. Answering "yes" to any medical questions does NOT automatically disqualify you from diving. However, this indicates that you may have a preexisting medical condition that could cause problems while scuba diving.
Courses available
You must be at least 8 years old to dive. Depending on where you are, this age can be a lot lower or higher. The PADI Bubblemaker program for kids can help you determine if your age is appropriate. It teaches them the basics of diving, such as buoyancy and pressure. They also practice their skills in a pool. They can go as deep as 12 feet during this training.
To be a fully qualified diver, you must be eight years old. Although most agencies offer courses for children under eight years old, they will not give you certification to dive in open waters. PADI has programs for younger divers such as the Seal Team and Bubblemaker. While this may not seem like the best program for beginners, it is a great way of getting a taster of the experience.
Certification requirements
You can keep your Scuba Diving certifications valid for life. However, to be able to teach beginners or start your own business, you will need an Instructor's Card. Most dive centers that are reputable will want to know about your certification and diving history. A refresher course may be necessary if you haven’t dived in six or more months. You can still keep your certificate valid, but it won't expire. However, you should make sure you are up-to-date on the most recent rules and regulations.
Five types of diving knowledge are required to get scuba certified. The first two are open-water and the second is classroom. Each dive simulates an emergency situation. This is similar to getting your driver's licence. You will need to pass your open-water dive knowledge exam and complete the required knowledge tests.