Is it necessary to be at least 18 to learn to dive. Your personal circumstances will dictate the answer. The junior certification course can be completed by young children. They can then move on to more challenging dives. 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.
Minimum age to scuba dive
The recreational scubatraining council recommends that people younger than 15 years old should not scubadive. Children as young at eight years old can learn how to dive and get 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. A qualified instructor should instruct children.
There is no minimum age requirement to learn to scuba diver. PADI and some schools may train children as young at ten. Kids under the age 10 are generally considered junior level divers. Once they reach the appropriate age, they will be upgraded to the adult level. The British Sub-Aqua Club permits young people to train, although they must have attained the age of 12 in order to participate.
Physical and medical requirements
Scuba diving can be dangerous for some people. A person's ability to safely dive can be affected by chronic or certain medications. Regular exercise is required to dive safely. Women who are pregnant should avoid scuba diving. You should consult your doctor if any of these conditions are present before you attempt to scuba dive. For more information, see the following page.
The Recreational Scuba Training Council in North America will require you to complete a medical questionnaire. 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. The answer to the medical questions does not automatically disqualify a person from diving. However, it indicates that they might have a pre-existing condition that could affect their safety.
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. If you're still unsure about whether you're old enough, check out the PADI Bubblemaker program, designed for kids. It teaches them how to dive, including pressure and buoyancy. They also learn how to dive in a pool. During this training, they can dive as far as 12 feet.
You must be at least eighteen years old to become a fully-certified diver. Many agencies offer courses that are suitable for children aged 8 and up, but will not allow you to dive in open water. PADI offers Seal Team and Bubblemaker programs for young divers. This program is great for getting a taste of the experience, even though it may not be the best option for beginners.
Certification requirements
The validity of your scuba diving certificate is never expired. However, if teaching scuba to novices or starting a business, an instructor's license will be required. Divers who have been to reputable centers are required to provide information such as your certification, number, and dive history. A refresher course is recommended if you haven’t scuba dived for at least six 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.
To obtain scuba certification, you need to complete five different types of diving knowledge. The classroom component and open-water diving are the two main components. 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. For open-water diving, you must pass both knowledge and exam.