To learn to scuba diver, how old must you be? Your individual circumstances will determine the answer. You can take your junior certification course with children and then go deeper. Teenagers as well as adults can take adult scuba certification courses. Both courses require that students be at the least 15 years old with some experience. Below are the medical and physical requirements for each certification level.
Scuba diving is only for those over 18
The recreational scubatraining council recommends that people younger than 15 years old should not scubadive. However, children as young eighteen can learn to scuba diver and take training. The effects of scuba dive on children is still not well-studied and may vary from one person to another. Qualified instructors should be trained to teach children.
Scuba diving can be learned at any age, but there is no minimum age. Some schools, such as PADI, will train kids as early as age ten. Children under 10 years old are considered junior divers. They will then be promoted to the appropriate adult level once they reach the right age. The British Sub-Aqua Club also allows young people to be trained. However, they must be 12 years or older before they can take part in any training programs.
Physical and medical requirements
Scuba diving can be dangerous for some people. Divers with chronic or severe conditions, such as diabetes or medication, may have difficulty diving safely. Diving requires regular physical activity. For this reason, women who are pregnant should not attempt to scuba dive. If you have any of these conditions, you should consult your doctor before taking the plunge. For more information, see the following page.
To begin, you will need to complete a medical questionnaire provided by the Recreational Scuba Training Council, an organization in North America. This form can be downloaded from many places. The RSTC will then determine if the prospective divers needs to be examined for medical reasons. 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
Scuba diving requires that you be at least eight years of age. This age may vary depending on where you live. The PADI Bubblemaker program is designed for children if you are unsure if you are old enough. It teaches them about buoyancy and pressure. They can also practice their skills in the pool. They can go as deep as 12 feet during this training.
At least eight years of age is required to become a fully certified diver. While most agencies offer courses to children as young as 8, they won't give you the certification to dive in open-water. PADI offers Seal Team, the Bubblemaker program, and Seal Team 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
Although scuba diving certifications are non-expiring, you'll need an instructor's card if you wish to teach scuba or start your own business. Reputable dive centers will ask you about your certification, dive history, and number of dives. A refresher course may be necessary if you haven’t dived in six or more months. 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 is required in order to attain scuba certification. The classroom component is the first, while the open-water portion is the second. Each dive will represent an emergency situation in which you must be able to quickly return to the surface. This portion of the course is similar to getting a driver’s license. Open-water diving requires that you pass both your knowledge tests as well as an exam.