Is scuba diving too dangerous for kids??

Answer 1

Yes, scuba diving is safe for children! But I do have to agree with the first answer, the mental and physical ability of the child should be taken into consideration on an individual basis. PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Inscructors), which is just one of the many scuba certifying agencies (and probably the largest and most well known), has programs for children as young as 8. They should have a physical and signed documentation from a doctor before starting any training program though.
The Discover Scuba Diving program is for children as young as 10 and is a brief introduction to what diving is all about. The participants get to spend an hour or more in the pool with a diving professional to try out the gear and see what it is like to breathe underwater. At the end of the program, participants receive a card in recognition of their experience (it is not a certification card however).
PADI also has what is called the Seal Team and Bubble Maker program for children as young as 8. This program introduces them to the water and to diving by completing "aquamissions" while they are waiting to enter the Junior Open Water Diver program.
Junior Open Water Program is for kids age 10-15 and results in a scuba certification (with some limitations about who the child can dive with). The only difference between this program and the Open Water Diver course is the age requirement.
As you can see PADI recognizes that diving is a very safe, and very fun!, sport even for young children. Children are great to teach too! They are eager to learn and come into the classes with no preconceptions or fears that some of us adults have. They are refreshing to dive with and their enthusiasm is contagious for those of us who may have lost some of our childhood wonder and awe!

Answer 2

Erin, the divemaster, has answered well. SCUBA is not too dangerous for children with the right training, the right supervision, and under the right circumstances.

Personally, I think giving a 15 or 16 year old the keys to a car, or giving a child a dirt bike is much more dangerous.

During my active years as an instructor I took many kids out on dives. I do not recall having any issues with them. My most problematic divers were adults that had "quarry" certifications who got spooked in real open water situations. The kids always did well.

Answer 3

Diving is accessible for children of 8 years and up.

Popular amoungst our clients is The Bubblemaker program.
This program exists for our little friends.

The program takes place in a protected confined wter environment, under direct supervision/ guidance of an PADI instructor.
Contends are games and stories. The kids are equipped with a normal configuration of dive gear. (of course adapted to their size/ strenght)

As of the age of 10 children can enroll in diver education courses, as Jr.
For example the Jr. Open Water Diver Course, which in general takes 3/4 days.

Answer 4

I took the diver training with a group. One was 15 the rest were adults. One man, probably mid 40,s, was doing fine in the pool and seemed to be able. At the lake he was unable to breath underwater and had to be rescued. No way to tell when a person is ready or able. The teenager was at home in the lake, I dove with him on the qualifying dive.

Answer 5

In my opinion yes, but you should contact Diver's Alert Network (DAN) for safety information:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/

It's amazing how many experienced divers are killed each year from panic or faulty equipment. I'd be most concerned about the ability of a *child* to make decisions under intense high-stress situtations, which can occur.

Answer 6

well you can't even get certified unless you're 15