Diving with Younglings
Diving with our younglings (ages 10–15) comes with its challenges, but it’s also incredibly rewarding—and a great way to bond with the younger generation!
According to standards from the international training organizations, no one under 10 can become a certified diver. For those under 15, diving is only allowed with a parent, guardian, or dive professional, and strict depth limits apply (no deeper than 70 feet). There are also age-based course requirements—such as waiting until age 12 for drysuit certification—to help keep kids safe while they’re learning.
For me, diving with my son has been one of the best ways to keep him active and engaged in the outdoors. He especially enjoys the “hunting and gathering” aspect—we take trips to the High Cascade lakes to harvest crawfish, and we also do underwater trash cleanups. Those dives are a great way to teach him the principle of leaving things better than you found them. After all, we want these resources to be around for a long time, for both us and future generations.
There are also age-based course requirements to help keep kids safe while they’re learning.
We also use diving as a way to teach responsibility. My son helps with gear management and maintenance, making sure everything is cared for and ready to go for our next adventure. We stick to a checklist to stay organized, so nothing important gets left behind.
Of course, there are challenges. His attention span can sometimes wander, so I try to make lessons fun and relevant to keep him engaged. Underwater, he tends to follow right behind me, which can make it hard to keep track of him. To solve this, I borrowed a trick from cave divers—I keep a small mirror on my right hand as a “rear-view.” With just a quick glance, I can spot him and signal if needed. It’s been a game-changer.
What do I get out of it?
What amazes me most is how quickly he’s grown as a diver. His buoyancy control improves with every dive, and honestly, he’s becoming my favorite dive buddy (sorry, Doc!). Sharing my passion for diving with him has been deeply rewarding, and I hope he develops his own passion for the sport. More importantly, I hope he carries the lessons of responsibility, leadership, and care for the environment into every part of his life as he grows into a young man.
