Hawaii Scuba Diving for Kids & Children
Age Requirements At‑a‑Glance
- Minimum Age: 10 years old for Intro & Certification.
- Ages 10-11: Max depth 40ft (12m). Must dive with parent/pro.
- Ages 12-14: Junior Open Water Certified. Max depth 60ft (18m).
- Ages 15+: Standard Adult Certifications apply.
Ken is a master scuba instructor and licensed boat captain with over two decades of experience navigating Hawaiian waters. He specializes in scuba certification, including teaching children the safe way to enjoy the ocean.
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Is Your Child Ready to Dive?
We are frequently asked about age requirements for scuba diving, especially for children. Safety is our priority, and we strictly follow the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) standards.
To best determine if your child is ready, ask yourself these questions:
- Does the child want to scuba dive (or is it the parent's wish)?
- Is the child medically fit to dive without contraindications?
- Can they swim comfortably and, most importantly, are they at ease in the ocean?
- Do they possess a sufficient attention span to listen to a detailed safety briefing?
Kids in Action
See what it's like for a young diver to take their first breath underwater.
Junior Divers: Ages 10 to 14
Ages 10 to 11
Children aged 10 to 11 can try diving for fun in the PADI Discover Scuba Diving Program or take the full Junior Open Water Course.
Restrictions: Certified Junior Open Water divers aged 10-11 must dive with a certified parent, guardian, or PADI Professional. They are strictly limited to a maximum depth of 12 meters / 40 feet.
Ages 12 to 14
Kids from 12 to 14 can also get certified with the Junior Open Water Course. With this certification, they can dive to a slightly deeper limit of 18 meters / 60 feet (the same as adult Open Water divers) but must still dive with a certified adult.
Advanced Options: The Junior Advanced Open Water Course is the next step, where kids can earn specialty ratings in areas like Night Diving and Underwater Photography.
Teens: Ages 15 to 17
At age 15, all Junior-level certifications may be converted to their adult equivalents. Teens aged 15 to 17 may take non-pro level PADI courses and share the same standards and depth limitations as adult divers.
Responsible divers with PADI Medic First Aid (or equivalent) can even take the Rescue Diver Course. With 50 logged dives and 5 specialties, motivated teens can earn the coveted Master Scuba Diver rating—the black belt of recreational diving.
Book a Family Dive
Diving is one of the few sports where parents and children can participate as equals. Whether your child is taking their first breath underwater or working toward Master Scuba Diver, Rainbow Scuba Hawaii is here to guide them safely.