Minimum Age Requirments

[Kriterian]

My son will turn 10 this year, and I'm going to try to find a PADI instructor that is willing to teach him. He has already done Scuba Rangers, which is the PADI equivalent of SEAL team.

I think you mean SSI. SSI has the Scuba Rangers, not PADI. The Rangers are for 10-12 years of age, but I'm not sure what the minimum is for Open Water training.

While recommending you listen to the more experienced and wiser divers here on the boards, I'll also recommend you read the book "The Last Dive". It's about the lives (and deaths) of a father/son diving team. It should be enlightening to you both.

Here's the amazon link for those interested: The Last Dive

 

[Web Monkey]

PADI & SSI will. If they didn't think it was safe, they wouldn't have the course. Also, children in SEAL & RANGERS, from age 8 are on SCUBA!

PADI has a 3 day OW program that I consider to be the next best thing to hiring a goon to break someone's leg. They have it because people are willing to pay for it.

Never make any decisions based on "If it wasn't safe, they wouldn't be trying to sell it to me", because people will sell you anything as long as you've got the money.

I think a good benchmark would be to see if the children in question really understand the concept of death and/or permanent disability and that it could easily apply to them, or their best friend.

Terry

 

[Walter]

Excellent points, Terry!