The Maldives offers one of the best places in the world for kids to dive – from those taking their first breaths underwater, to water babies who already have a few dives in their logbooks.
The calm, clear, shallow lagoons are the perfect place for learning to dive and the sandy bottom is gentle on little knees.
Colorful fish swimming around will see excitement and wonder replace nerves, and before you know it there will be another diver in the family!
What are the options for kids diving?
- PADI Bubblemaker – Age 8+
No studying, just fun in the water. Children will delight in this amazing adventure, they will be in a very small group (maximum two children) and will practice breathing with the equipment before heading to the shallows (maximum 2 metres deep) for games and fish spotting. Be warned – they will want to repeat this activity over and over again! - PADI Discover Scuba Diving – Age 10+
Not just for kids, the whole family can take part in this adventure together and you’ll be amazed at how easy it is. Learn the basics of breathing underwater, equalizing, hand signals and a few simple skills before heading off on a ‘real’ dive. This isn’t a certification course so is a great option if you and your children want to experience diving but don’t want to study on their holiday. - Junior PADI Scuba Diver (JPSD) – Age 10+
Perfect for kids who want to do a ‘proper’ course and get a certification at the end, 3 theory sessions, three lagoons sessions to learn skills and two open water dives to put everything into practice. After successful completion of the course they will be certified to dive to 12 metres with a PADI professional. They can also ‘upgrade’ at any time in the future and get the full PADI Junior Open Water diver certification. - PADI Junior Open Water Diver – Age 10+
Kids will complete all of the JPSD as detailed above, plus two more theory sessions, two more skills sessions and two more open water dives.
*No prior experience is necessary for the above courses and experiences but the children should be comfortable in the water.
If you’re thinking of enrolling your child onto a PADI course, it’s a good idea for them to complete the theory at their own pace, at home using the online PADI eLearning facility.
Youngsters, who are already certified when they arrive in the Maldives, can further their skills with the Junior Advanced Open Water Course or simply enjoy the reefs of one of the world’s best diving destinations.
Childhood memories of scuba diving amongst the fish and turtles of the Maldives will last a lifetime and getting the diving bug as a child opens up endless possibilities of travel and careers they would never otherwise have dreamed of.
It’s easy, it’s safe and it’s fun!