Do you need to be 18 years old to learn to scuba-dive? This question is dependent on your personal situation. Junior certification can be completed by children who wish to dive deeper. Teenagers and adults can also pursue adult scuba certification courses. Both courses require you to be at least fifteen years old and have a minimum of a few years experience. Below are the required physical and medical requirements to be certified at each level.
You must be at least 18 to scuba dive.
The recreational scuba diving council (RSTC), recommends that children under 15 years old not scuba dive. Children as young as 8 years old can learn to scuba dive, and receive training. Because there is limited scientific study on the effects of scuba diving on children, this age requirement is not absolute and can vary from person to person. 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.
Medical and physical requirements
Divers with certain conditions may have difficulty safely diving. The ability to safely dive may be affected by certain medications and chronic conditions. Regular physical activity is essential for diving. For this reason, women who are pregnant should not attempt to scuba dive. You should consult your doctor if any of these conditions are present before you attempt to scuba dive. 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 at many locations. The RSTC will assess the completed questionnaire and determine if the prospective diver must undergo a medical exam. 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 about buoyancy and pressure. They can also practice their skills in the pool. During this training, they can go as deep at 12 feet.
To be a fully qualified diver, you must be eight years old. Most agencies offer courses for children as young as eight, but they won't get you certified to dive in open water. PADI offers Seal Team programs and the Bubblemaker program for younger divers. 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. If you haven't dived in six months or more, you may need to take a refresher course. Although the certificate is not valid for expiration, it's a good idea to take a refresher course each now and again to stay current on all the rules and regulations.
Five types of diving knowledge are required to get scuba certified. The first two components are the classroom and the second an open-water dive. Each dive is a simulation of an emergency situation. You'll need to be able return to the surface quickly. This section of the course works in the same way as obtaining your driver's license. Open-water diving requires that you pass both your knowledge tests as well as an exam.