The most common question that I get asked about diving is, “How old should kids be to start diving?” My answer always is, “It depends.” The age of the child is much less significant than their level of maturity and their motivations for diving.
Children mature at vastly different rates and times. I have seen many older kids in SCUBA camp and on dive boats who simply aren’t comfortable in the water, and I have seen much younger kids who have more awareness and capability than some adults.
A big factor to me is awareness of the risks if diving. A key to safe diving is understanding the risks that you are taking and taking precautions that match those risks. Often children, especially younger children, have a limited concept of risk. They don’t understand how serious the outcome can be if something goes wrong during a dive. Without this awareness, they don’t understand the importance of pre-dive checks and safety procedures.
It is also critical that children of any age limit their diving to depths and conditions that are appropriate. I started diving at eight in SCUBA camp but didn’t get out of the swimming pool until I was ten. I didn’t go on a boat dive until I was twelve. There are so many new experiences that SCUBA diving can sometimes be overwhelming. Matching the type and location of the dive to the capabilities and experience of a child is important. Letting them slowly build experience and skills is the best way to ensure safety.
Parents need to be realistic in assessing if their child is ready to dive and has the desire to learn. I see a lot of parents who push their kids into diving so that they can “dive as a family”. Often these kids either aren’t ready to dive or don’t really have a desire to dive, but they go along to please the parents. This is problematic because neither the parent or the child is ready to step back and honestly assess if the child is ready.
Diving can be a great activity for kids if they are ready. Diving and dive travel has been extremely formative for me and it is one of my favorite activities. This is partly true because the decision to start diving was my own because and my parents insisted on slow, steady progress, always emphasizing safety.