HELP CHILDREN BECOME SCUBA DIVERS AND GIVE THEM ADVANTAGES FOR LIFE

Have you ever considered having your child SCUBA certified?

Los Angeles, CA – July 25, 2022 (update April 3, 2014)

When children become SCUBA divers, they have life long advantages.  By the age of 10, children are eligible for SCUBA lessons and to be certified as Junior Open Water Divers.  At the age of 15, teens can upgrade their certification to that of PADI Open Water Diver.  

Here are just 7 benefits to having your child SCUBA certified:

1. Instill confidence. Learning to SCUBA dive is a major achievement.  Trying something new and being successful will give your child a feeling of accomplishment.
2. Develop personal responsibility by maturely handling risks. Like many high adventure activities, there are risks associated with SCUBA diving. As your child understands the necessary precautions of diving and learns to follow through with them, they will learn to be responsible for themselves. They will learn to manage risks in a healthy way. 
3. Improve mental and physical health. Psychologists believe that trying new activities and having hobbies to stay physically and mentally active helps people increase mental health, i.e. reduces stress, depression and anxiety.  According to Emma Parkhurst, Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor at USC, in her article, How Hobbies Improve Mental Health, she says "group or ‘team’ hobbies have also been shown to provide important opportunities for social connection, friendship and support. Research also shows that adults who regularly participate in some kind of team sport are less likely to experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress.” Additionally, taking risks creates new neurological connections in the brain. Your child's ability to think and reason will actually improve as they learn to face and manage the risks associated with diving. We also get a spike in dopamine when we take risks and have good results.  The neurotransmitter dopamine improves muscle movement, attention and concentration.  These physical and mental benefits will carry over into other areas of your child's life. 
4. Learn a life skill. Learning to SCUBA dive opens career and vocational opportunities for the future.  Your child can pursue recreational opportunities and even future job positions with this skill.  
5. Inspire a concern for the environment. As your child dives in beautiful, natural waterways, his desire to conserve nature will increase.  He will observe plants and animals in a unique way which will foster a deep love of nature.  Scuba instructors especially are among the best role models for ocean conservation.  They teach their students diving habits that will preserve marine life.  Your child will learn to notice the impact humans have on the environment.  They will become part of the next generation of protectors of the oceans and springs.  
6. Enhance the parent-child relationship. Spending quality time together in an activity you both enjoy is the perfect recipe for improving your relationship with your child.  Dr. Alvin Rosenfeld, a child psychiatrist and author states, "Nothing will bring you together faster than sharing a passion. Your children will feel that they know you more intimately and that they have something that the two of you can share for the rest of your lives."
7. Observe abstract scientific concepts in action in the real world. As kids dive, they will learn firsthand about the pressure of gasses, how gasses react to changes in temperature, and buoyancy (specifically the Archimedes principle).  They will learn to apply math concepts as they check dive tables, configure how many pounds per square inch (PSI) their air tanks hold, and to calculate how much weight to add when diving.  These applications of physics, math and science involved in SCUBA training will give your child an advantage in school as well as having fun while doing it.

If you want to learn more about how to get your child SCUBA certified, please contact us.