Minimum Age for Scuba Diver Certification with NAUI
Minimum Age for Scuba Diver Certification with NAUI
I am often asked (again just today) “How old does my child need to be to dive?”. NAUI has a minimum age requirement for open water scuba diver, it is 15 years.
- Dean with his son Drew
NAUI does have a Junior certification for ages 12 – 14 years. Some courses (open water) allow a conditional Junior Certification. This Junior certification can be issued to persons age 12 – 14 years. Junior Certification carries several restrictions.
* The parent or guardian and Junior diver agree that the Junior diver will dive with a certified adult (18 years of age) diver of the parent’s or guardian selection.
* The parent or guardian and Junior diver agree that the Junior diver will limit diving depth to 60 feet or less.
* By signing the Junior certification card, the parent or guardian agrees to be responsible for the selection of the certified adult buddy and the limitation of the diving depth.
* To remove the Junior cards conditional requirements, a new card must be requested by an active-status NAUI Instructor, parent or legal guardian one the Junior attains the age required for full certification. “Junior” divers may directly request from NAUI a full certification in the event that they have reached the age of majority.¹
Teaching children is not for everyone. Just as scuba diving is not for everyone. All parties involved have to be in agreement. For me, the joy is seeing that young person safely and enjoyably scuba dive. Nothing can replace the wonder seen in a young persons eyes, when they are exploring the beauty of the undersea world.
I teach at Scuba Steve’s Aquatic Adventures (http://scubastevesadventures.com/) in Tyler, Texas.
Dean Pennington II
NAUI Instructor Trainer
16 November 2009
¹NAUI Standards and Policies Manual (Tampa, Florida: NAUI, 1996), page 2.9.
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SSI allow Junior Open Water Certification at age 10 and there is no lower (or upper) age limit on their Try Scuba Pool Dives:
[from SSI's Training Standards]
Try Scuba Standards (Shallow End of Pool Only)
6. Minimum Age: There is no minimum age or upper age limit for Try Scuba.
9. Maximum Depth: The maximum depth of the dives for participants is 20 feet (6 metres).
Trained SSI Instructors can also offer their Scuba Rangers (pool only) program for 8-12 year olds. My wife teaches this and you can see a video of her class here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ3nYwqARbI — the kids LOVE IT!.
NAUI also allows junior certification at 10 years old. This was put out a few training updates ago.
Thanks Dean,
This is great info (and surprisingly difficult to find on the NAUI website). Out of curiosity, what do you differently (if anything) with the Junior Certification program? I have been instructing for a few years now, but recently had my first inquiry from someone with a 14 year old son. Anything I should do different in your opinion, or is the course the same, just with restrictions on future diving (as you laid out in your post)?
Thanks,
Adam
NAUI #47934
To all, and thanks to Doug.
I contacted NAUI HQ and indeed the minimum age for junior certification has been changed to read 10 – 14 years, as opposed to 12 – 14 years. This was a pen and ink change.
Adam, the standards remain the same with all ages. If you haven’t had the opportunity to teach younger students, you are in for trick or a treat.
The attention span for younger students appears to be shorter, in my experience. This does present unique opportunities to modify your tried and true methods of teaching. I have found it to be extremely gratifing and sometimes frustrating to teach younger students. The true test is of you the teacher, is to make the course not only fun but “do”able. With the goal always to have a safe, well trained diver!
But there is a caveat. You the instructor must be willing to make that hard decision to stop and or postpone training to a later date if the student is not able or not capable of assuming the gradual responsibility for their own safety and actions in the scuba environment, or if the student is unable to perform the mandatory skills. As always it is up to the individual instructor to decide on the type and mode of testing of the academic knowledge.
Good Luck!
dean