Do you need to be 18 years old to learn to scuba-dive? It depends on your situation. Junior certification can be completed by children who wish to dive deeper. Adult scuba certification is also available for teens and adults. Both courses require that you are at least 15 years of age, and that you have at least some experience. Below are the required physical and medical requirements to be certified at each level.
You must be at minimum age to scubadive
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. The effects of scuba dive on children is still not well-studied and may vary from one person to another. Always have a qualified instructor train children in scuba diving.
Scuba diving can be learned at any age, but there is no minimum age. PADI and other schools will instruct children as young as ten. The majority of children under 10 years old are junior-level divers. When they reach adult level, they will be upgraded. Similarly, the British Sub-Aqua Club allows young people to become trained, though they must be at least 12 years old before they can participate in any training programs.
Physical and medical requirements
Divers with certain conditions may have difficulty safely diving. Divers with chronic or severe conditions, such as diabetes or medication, may have difficulty diving safely. Regular physical activity is essential for diving. 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. You can find more information on the physical and medical requirements to scuba dive.
To begin, you'll need to fill out the Recreational Scuba Training Council's medical questionnaire. This organization is located in North America. You can obtain this form from many sources. Upon completion of the questionnaire, the RSTC will determine whether the prospective diver needs to undergo a medical examination. While those who answer yes to the questions will not necessarily be disqualified from diving, they can indicate that they may be suffering from a medical condition that would affect their safety.
Courses available
For scuba diving, you need to be at the least eighteen years of age. The age required to dive depends on where you live. The PADI Bubblemaker program is designed for children if you are unsure if you are old enough. They learn the basics of diving like pressure and buoyancy. 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. Many agencies offer courses that are suitable for children aged 8 and up, but will not allow you to dive in open water. For younger divers, PADI offers programs such as the Bubblemaker program and Seal Team. 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. Many reputable dive centers require information about your certification, number and history of diving. You may need to refresher your certification if you haven’t dived for six months or more. The certificate does not expire but you should refresh your knowledge every so often to keep up with the latest regulations and rules.
To obtain scuba certification, you need to complete five different types of diving knowledge. The first two are the classroom component and the second is an open-water dive. Each dive simulates an emergency situation. This section of the course works in the same way as obtaining your driver's license. The open-water dive requires you to take your knowledge tests and complete an exam in order to pass.