To learn to scuba diver, how old must you be? Your individual circumstances will determine the answer. Children can finish their junior certification and dive to greater depths. Teenagers as well as adults can take adult scuba certification courses. For both courses, you must be at least 15 years old and have at least a little bit of experience. Below are the physical and medical requirements required for each certification level.
You must be at minimum age to scubadive
The recreational scubatraining council (RSTC), advises that no one under 15 years of age should scuba dive. However, children as young as eight can learn how to scuba dive and undergo training. This age requirement does not apply to all children. There is very little scientific evidence on the impact of scuba diving on children. It can also vary from person-to-person. It is important that children are trained by qualified instructors.
There is no minimum age requirement to learn to scuba diver. PADI is one of the schools that will teach kids as young as ten years old. 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 offers training for young people, but they must also be at least 12 to take part in any programs.
Physical and medical 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. Women who are pregnant should avoid scuba diving. Before you dive, make sure to talk to your doctor about any of the above conditions. More information about medical and physical requirements for diving can be found here.
You will first need to fill out a questionnaire from the Recreational Scuba Training Council. This is an organization located in North America. This form is available from many sources. The RSTC will assess the completed questionnaire and determine if the prospective diver must undergo a medical exam. Those who answer "yes" to the medical questions do not necessarily disqualify themselves from diving, but they do indicate that they may have a pre-existing medical condition that would interfere with their safety while scuba diving.
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. 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 training they can reach depths of up to 12 feet.
To be a fully qualified diver, you must be eight years old. Although most agencies offer courses for children under eight years old, they will not give you certification to dive in open waters. PADI offers Seal Team, the Bubblemaker program, and Seal Team for younger divers. Even though this might not be the best program for beginners it can provide a great opportunity to experience the diving lifestyle.
Certification requirements
Scuba diving certifications never expire, but if you want to teach scuba to beginners or start a business, you will need to have an instructor's card. Reputable dive centers will ask you about your certification, dive history, and number of dives. Refresher courses may be required if you have not dived in six months. You can still keep your certificate valid, but it won't expire. However, you should make sure you are up-to-date on the most recent rules and regulations.
Five types of diving knowledge is required in order to attain scuba certification. The first two are the classroom component and the second is an open-water dive. Each dive will be a simulation of an emergency situation, wherein you'll need to be able to 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.