We're heading down to Bonaire in a few weeks and my youngest (9) has expressed strong interest in some sort of "intro to SCUBA" while my middle daughter (12) has expressed what we'll call "tepid" interest. What options should I consider and are there any particularly good operators/organizations in Bonaire that could expose the kids to SCUBA safely? Rest of family (mom, dad, and oldest son) are already certified so this would be some good early exposure and hopefully steps towards my not-so-secret plan to create a family of divers.
Intro to SCUBA for 9/12 yo?
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Buddy's, Dive Friends, probably several others that could do a bubble blower class. That's what we did with our kids before letting them start certification. The twins were 12 and their older brother was 15 when they got certified on Bonaire. Padi will train at 10 but I honestly don't believe any 10 year old is ready for scuba. The bubble blower class is done in a pool 4 or 6 ft max I think.
You also might find a place that does SNUBA, kind of a scuba rig but keeps you at the surface with floats
You also might find a place that does SNUBA, kind of a scuba rig but keeps you at the surface with floats
We did the bubble blower followed by online course work at home, they did "pool" work and OW dives at Buddy's. This was 2015 (time flys 
) Buddy's pool was the ocean next to the pier, not sure where they would do a bubble blower class now
) Buddy's pool was the ocean next to the pier, not sure where they would do a bubble blower class nowStill Kicking
Contributor
Have they already been introduced to snorkeling/freediving?
Based on experience with my kids, seeing life in the ocean had a better positive impact than blowing bubbles in a pool.
Start them out with appropriate buoyancy (wetsuit/floatie etc.) and graduate to a light weight belt for basic freediving if/when they are ready.
Based on experience with my kids, seeing life in the ocean had a better positive impact than blowing bubbles in a pool.
Start them out with appropriate buoyancy (wetsuit/floatie etc.) and graduate to a light weight belt for basic freediving if/when they are ready.
Buddy Dive has worked hard to earn their reputation for being the the most kid-friendly dive operator on the island for many years. In addition to their regular ongoing offering of dive programs for kids, they've also hosted the popular traveling Kids Sea Camp program over 50 times during the 24 years its been in operation.
wateraddiction
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My 8 and 9 yos did Bubblemaker in Bonaire at VIP which has a great facility and they did their 6 ft dive in the ocean. Like many kids of dive parents, they had already snorkeled alot at that point. They both complained they could free dive deeper than 6 ft but the program was a good intro to the gear and they received a PADI pack with stickers, patch, towel, and a physical Bubblemaker PADI card that came in the mail (this was in 2022). I put their card next to my own and they thought it was really cool that they looked the same. The 8 yo stuck her certificate on her bedroom wall.
It's a very affordable PADI course given how long it is (over 3 hrs) & I took my husband on a Discover dive during their Bubblemaker when he became hooked and certified soon after. Kids were certified at Buddy at 10 and 11 yo last Dec. 6 months later and they're casually doing back roll entries in Cozumel.
Your 12 yo can do a Discover Dive which would be a much more exciting experience than Bubblemaker but your 9 yo will be envious as Discover is a real dive.
It's a very affordable PADI course given how long it is (over 3 hrs) & I took my husband on a Discover dive during their Bubblemaker when he became hooked and certified soon after. Kids were certified at Buddy at 10 and 11 yo last Dec. 6 months later and they're casually doing back roll entries in Cozumel.
Your 12 yo can do a Discover Dive which would be a much more exciting experience than Bubblemaker but your 9 yo will be envious as Discover is a real dive.
This is so close to my scanario it's crazy!. I have an 8yo who wants to be a marine biologist, obsesses over the difference between trumpetfish and needlefish and wants to get certified as soon as possible. My 11 year old shrugs her shoulders at the thought but they both love snorkelling. I'll be watching your posts closely so please keep us updated!
Eric Sedletzky
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Extensive snorkeling and freediving experience at this point IMO would be the best thing. There is no substitute for the skills learned from skindiving, comfort in the water, learning to use fins naturally, mask clearing, breath hold, ear clearing, etc.
Starting immediately into scuba leads to a life of dependence on mechanical devices and conditions a reliance on gear and the specific skewed techniques associated with using that modern gear (including elevator diving, body positioning, and some very specific finning techniques), rather that learning the core basics of watermanship without all that scuba centric stuff first, then once true watermanship is learned then adding scuba later onto a firmly grounded core. The final attitude, outlook, and skill level are two completely different things from one training methodology to the other.
Unfortunately through the years, proficiency in skin diving/freediving/snorkeling has been eliminated in favor of a conveyor belt training system in the modern scuba training world to run as many people through in the shortest amount of time possible.
You have a chance to set them on the right track now which will cement their love of the ocean forever through confidence and skill, instead of possibly turning it into a casual curiosity that will soon be abandoned.
Starting immediately into scuba leads to a life of dependence on mechanical devices and conditions a reliance on gear and the specific skewed techniques associated with using that modern gear (including elevator diving, body positioning, and some very specific finning techniques), rather that learning the core basics of watermanship without all that scuba centric stuff first, then once true watermanship is learned then adding scuba later onto a firmly grounded core. The final attitude, outlook, and skill level are two completely different things from one training methodology to the other.
Unfortunately through the years, proficiency in skin diving/freediving/snorkeling has been eliminated in favor of a conveyor belt training system in the modern scuba training world to run as many people through in the shortest amount of time possible.
You have a chance to set them on the right track now which will cement their love of the ocean forever through confidence and skill, instead of possibly turning it into a casual curiosity that will soon be abandoned.
Agreed 100%. Spearfishing/abalone diving being one of my favorite hobbies from the age of 8 has had a huge impact on the ease of my scuba learnings. We snorkel on vacation every chance we get, I just struggle to give my kids the same experiences I had due to water temps here. This Summer I'm going to get them in wetsuits and start snorkelling locally.
Anyway, sorry for getting us slightly off topic.
Anyway, sorry for getting us slightly off topic.
Still Kicking
Contributor
A wetsuit is a really wise investment if you're not somewhere tropical. It's a little hard to justify initially because kids grow so fast that it seems they need a bigger one every couple of months. But their comfort and confidence at this formative stage will pay off big time in the long run.
Kids who get really cold on their first outings will always tend to associate the water with suffering.
Another thing i remember doing for the kids when they were on the edge of swimming but not quite self sufficent was setting them on a boogie board with a mask and snorkel and pushing them around a shallow reef. Once they got their confidence up, their innate curiosity kicked in and they wanted to be allowed to explore on their own (under close supervision of course).
This thread is bringing back memories of fun times. There is nothing more rewarding to a diver than seeing the wonder of the ocean through your kids' eyes.
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