Growing up with confidence in the water primes Florida munchkins for bigger underwater adventures, like scuba diving. Getting certified as a family unlocks a new world under the Gulf—and plenty of reasons to book dreamy vacations to places like French Polynesia and the U.S. Virgin Islands (locales filled with fishy companions, sunken ships and colorful reef forests).
While children need to be 10 to get their PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Junior Open Water Diver certification, they can get their feet wet with snorkeling when they turn 6 and begin scuba lessons in a shallow pool at age 8.
Our region—with its warm, calm waters—makes for the ideal environment to get everyone certified. Diving together lends an enticing opportunity to disconnect from the distractions of emails and TikToks and reconnect over a new experience that builds trust, confidence and communication skills. Plus, kids gain a deeper appreciation for the environment they’ll inherit.“Most young children make great divers because they have not developed the same fears as adults,” says Jessi Dawson, of Marco Island dive shop Scuba Marco. Sprouts need a scuba-certified guardian or instructor by their side until they turn 15, but starting young allows them more time to learn core skills and develop an innate comfort in the water.
Get your 8-year-old into a PADI Bubblemaker program, where they get used to the equipment in a pool, or a PADI Seal Team camp, which teaches essentials like mask-clearing and how to breathe and stay calm underwater while completing missions. Cruise Fish Dive in Bonita Springs and Scuba Outfitters of Naples offer both courses.
Junior certified tweens aged 10 to 11 start out at a maximum depth of 40 feet and advance to 60 feet at 12. At 15, they automatically transition into full-fledged, open-water divers with the same access as adults. Then, the ocean is their—and your—oyster.
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Many dive shops also offer guided trips for certified families to explore underwater havens in the Keys and around Central Florida’s magical springs.
Ready to take the Plunge?
Dive in at one of these local PADI shops.
Scuba Outfitters of Naples
Ages: 8 and up
Find discovery courses and four youth camps, including PADI Bubblemaker and PADI Seal Team for 8- to 11-year-olds. Ask about summer camps where parents can get certified (or recertified) with the kids.
Scuba Marco
Ages: 10 and up
Families can start with private lessons for the classroom and pool trainings before joining groups for open-water dives in Tarpon Bay. Ask about juniors’ summer camps.
Dean’s Dive Center
Ages: 10 and up
The center’s weekend courses offer year-round comfort in Fort Myers’ Cypress Lake High School heated pool, followed by dives on the East Coast.
Cruise Fish Dive
Ages: 8 and up
Beyond the PADI Bubblemaker and Seal Team sessions, Cruise has extra safety courses, like an Equipment Specialist class for divers 10 and up to learn about gear inspecting, maintenance and basic repairs.