Kids Diving In Bali

Do they understand that their behaviour underwater has (sometimes serious) consequences? Do they have the attention span to listen to and understand some of the abstract concepts of dive theory and dive briefings? Can they accept feedback? Can they respond to problems by following the rules taught, or are they more likely to act impulsively? Can they relate to hypothetical situations and discussions?

The increased pressure our bodies experience when scuba diving affects their functioning and physiology. Of particular consideration is that children’s eustachian tubes and respiratory tracts are smaller, sometimes leading to difficulties equalising and increased risk of barotrauma. All dive students must complete a medical questionnaire before beginning their course. We also recommend that a doctor familiar with the complications of diving checks your child is medically fit to dive.

Adequate watermanship and general overall comfort in the water are critical skills for a child wanting to scuba dive. Your child must swim 200m and float for 10 minutes as part of the course requirements.

A critical part of the instructor’s responsibility is to build trust and good communication skills as kids learn in the classroom and pool. However, your child must be able to express fears and discomfort. Whilst we’re very good at reading kids’ reactions, critical communication skills are essential.

As a certified dive parent, scuba diving with your child is one of the biggest joys. Parents are welcome to join courses as fun divers; we’ll provide a separate guide so your child’s instructor can focus on your child.

However, diving with your child also presents unique challenges – we need you to be able to self-reflect and sometimes step back and trust the instructor to allow your child to make mistakes. We have the good judgement to know when to step back and when to step in; a highly involved parent can sometimes distract or prevent learning.