Sight Search

Is Your Child Ready to Dive?

Is your child interested in scuba diving and you are at a loss for whether they are prepared? Then read on to find out all the issues which need consideration and whether your child is ready to dive.
 
Scuba diving is an increasingly popular adventure sport. Often, entire families become involved so that, sooner or later, parents ponder the present age restrictions for scuba certification and wonder about the potential safety issues associated with diving at a young age. Frequently, one parent is enthusiastic about the prospect while the other is not and assurances are required. Sometimes, schools are also approached about their willingness to support introductory scuba training on their premises; if they agree, they need to understand the potential risks and be able to inform parents about the implications of their children participating.

So with that background, this article is focused primarily on parents. The objective is to offer factual evidence surrounding the safety of scuba diving for children. Although training agencies and diving schools do impose age restrictions for diver certification training courses and diving operators typically deny air fills to divers who are not certified, there is no actual legal restriction that prohibits children from diving. So, the decision ultimately lies with the parents and whoever teaches them to dive, whether officially or unofficially.
WHAT DO THE DIVER TRAINING AGENCIES HAVE TO SAY?

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) offers full diver certification from the age of 15 years. The PADI Bubblemaker Programme is open for children of ages eight and up, although it is limited to 2 m. The PADI Seal Team Programme is also open for children of ages eight and up and adds photography and other underwater activities to the mix. From 10 to 14 years of age, PADI offers Junior Open Water Diver training that is a full Open Water Diver scuba certification course with certain age‑related limitations on open water scuba diving: From 10 to 11 years of age, children must dive with a PADI professional or a certified parent or guardian when diving to a depth of no more than 12 m. From 12 to 14 years of age, they must dive with a certified adult (with special training) and they are permitted to dive up to 21 m. From 13 years of age they can take the Open Water Diver course online. They can also do the Junior Rescue and Master Diver training with the restriction of diving with an adult buddy. The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) states on its website that they have reviewed the reasons that 12 was established as a minimum age and found that there is no reliable data or information by which to consider lowering it at this time.

The Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) in the United States of America has set the minimum age at 15 for the certification of sport divers.

The South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society committee recommends a minimum age of 16 for certification. However, the Australian Standards authority reduced this to 14 years of age to comply with diver training agencies. Their requirement states that the child should be “at least 14 years of age, but persons younger than this may in some cases be eligible to train for conditional certification which allows the young person to dive with a certified diver with the consent of parents or guardians.”

The point of the matter is that diver training is now available to children from age eight. So, it is necessary for parents to decide whether their eight-year old child should dive or not?

SO, HOW OLD IS OLD ENOUGH?

In many respects, age is actually used as a surrogate for a required measure of physical strength and emotional and intellectual maturity. As such, some children may be strong and mature at a very young age, whereas others may remain at risk even at an age that they can be fully certified. Therefore, when viewing the age restrictions, these underlying issues must be considered:
  • Is the psychological development of the child adequate for the purpose of training and compliance with the rules of safe diving?
  • Is the child physically “big” and strong enough to wear and use the required scuba equipment without difficulty or being at risk of suffering injuries?
In September 2001, an article appeared in Undercurrent by Doc Vikingo titled “The mind and bodies of children – are they really suited to scuba?” He delineated the three developmental stages of child development according to Jean Piaget:
  • Firstly, the “pre-operational phase,” beginning at ages two to seven, is where a child’s perceptions still dominate his or her judgement. They tend to focus attention on one aspect of an object while ignoring others. They are unable to understand the principles underlying proper behaviour and rely on dos and do nots imposed by authority. Some children aged eight years and even older can be delayed in this phase and this may only be detectable with proper screening.
  • The second phase is the “concrete operational phase” at approximately seven to 11 years of age. Here logical thought starts to develop, but it remains dependent upon concrete references. The child develops the ability to appreciate mass, volume and length and to arrange objects in a logical sequence. However, it remains linked to objects present rather than objects in abstract.
  • Then follows the third and final “formal operational phase” at ages 11 to 15. Here, thoughts gradually become less tied to concrete reality and become more abstract. This allows them to think about what might be, rather than just what is. This level equates more to the thinking pattern needed for safe scuba diving as the child is able to envisage and appreciate risk.
According to Vikingo, the new policy of PADI, Scuba Schools International (SSI) and other agencies clearly allows entry to children who are still in the “concrete operational stage”. His concern is that, although the child might be able to understand Boyle’s law and solve a few mathematical problems, they may still fail to appreciate how this applies to them in an out-of-air situation and to understand the implications of a breath-holding ascent. Even more worrisome is the situation of an emergency, such as with a stuck buoyancy compensator (BC) power inflator mechanism. In these situations, a child of this age is unlikely to generate multiple solutions and to choose the best alternative. Children at this age are also very impulsive and do not appreciate their physical restrictions, thus leading to risk‑taking behaviour.

Simply applying depth restrictions to children does not guarantee safety. The most devastating diving accidents with arterial gas embolism and death often occur in less than 5 m. Panic is one of the leading factors in serious diving accidents and children are more susceptible to it. The absence of mature reasoning and psychological maturity undermines self‑soothing strategies in stressful situations.
WHAT ABOUT THE PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS?

In terms of the physical considerations regarding children and diving, the following summary is offered by Carl Edmonds in his textbook Diving and Subaquatic Medicine:
  • The Eustachian tubes in children are narrower and smaller, leading to an increased risk of middle‑ear infection.
  • Children’s upper and lower respiratory tract passages are narrower by comparison to the air cavities associated with them and this predisposes them to pulmonary barotrauma when compared to adults.
  • Asthma is more likely in childhood than in early adolescence when the airways grow relative to the lung volume.
  • The risk of barotrauma, causing more damage to developing organs than fully-developed organs, is of further concern. Injuries do not only affect the existing structures, but may also significantly alter their future growth and maturation.
  • A patent foramen ovale, which is a small opening between the right and left upper chambers of the heart, is more common in children than in adults. As such, dives leading to significant venous bubble formation might predispose children to a greater risk of neurological decompression illness.
  • Due to a relatively large skin‑ to body-mass ratio, children do not regulate their body temperature as well as adults do, which makes them susceptible to hypothermia.
  • Children’s bones are still growing. As such, damage to growth plates might lead to stunted growth. Nitrogen bubbles in the small vessels that supply these growth plates might lead to the damage of these critical tissues.
Equipment for scuba diving is relatively complex and therefore may present various challenges to smaller children. Heavy gear; adult-sized equipment; designs presuming adult hand-grip sizes and strength and poorly fitting BCs and wetsuits all have the potential of causing discomfort, dysfunction and distress in children. Uncomfortable equipment will also cause excessive strain and energy expenditure so that the child is likely to tire quickly and may even be at a greater risk of developing decompression sickness (DCS) on deeper dives. Children are known for their rapid growth and this may prompt parents to buy slightly oversized equipment that children are meant to “grow into”. However, these may initially not function optimally as fins may get lost, loose wetsuits may be ineffective in preserving heat and bundled equipment may lead to entanglement. Conversely, the need for regular equipment size upgrades (which may be delayed for financial reasons) can lead to breathing restrictions or cramps.  
FINAL CONSIDERATION

So, after considering all these things, how do you as a parent decide whether your child is ready to learn to dive (even if their age allows them to be trained)?
This is the toughest question. PADI suggests that the following questions may assist in determining if a child is ready to dive:
  • Does the child want to learn to dive? The child should not be pressured to dive by their parents or friends.
  • Is the child medically fit? If the child has a medical condition (for example ear problems or asthma), diving may jeopardise their health and enjoyment significantly.
  • Is the child comfortable with water and can the child swim? If the child does not have adequate watermanship, scuba diving may be very stressful and loss or failure of equipment may precipitate a near drowning situation.
  • Does the child have a sufficient attention span to learn from class discussions, pool and open water briefings and other interactions with instructors? Young children or those with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may not be able to retain information, whereas using psycho-stimulant medication while diving may cause other difficulties.
  • Are the child’s reading skills sufficient to learn from adult material? The child must be able to understand and accept the inherent risks related to diving and be able to master the necessary knowledge and skills to mitigate them.
  • Can the child feel comfortable telling an unfamiliar adult about any discomfort or when not understanding something? The child must be able to admit a problem or express fear of getting into situations they are not ready to cope with so that they may opt out of a dive without being shamed or ridiculed.
WHAT DOES DAN-SA SAY?

Deciding whether or not to allow your child to dive is a difficult decision. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

For those who remain uncertain, snorkelling may offer a useful bridge for the child to learn many of the skills they will need for scuba diving. It takes a lot of the pressure off of the parents and children and keeps everyone moving forward. Children hone their swimming and finning skills, learn to respect and love the ocean and develop observation skills and an interest in marine life that, in time, they can transfer upon becoming scuba divers.

DAN-SA’s conclusion is that each child should be individually evaluated in terms of their emotional and psychological development. They should preferably be cleared for diving by a diving medical practitioner who is familiar with all the issues listed here. This is necessary to rule out any illnesses or physical reasons why they should not scuba dive. We also recommend that only reputable institutions be used to train your children, preferably diving schools who have extensive experience in assessing and training children.

Do not take scuba diving lightly. It is much more than a quick dip in the ocean to show your children the sea creatures. Always put safety first.

Download Article >

7 Comments


Errol - March 22nd, 2017 at 10:32am

This article focusses on the child. What hasn't been discussed is the child divers ability, both emotionally and physically, to deal with an emergency situation affecting their buddy (read as qualified parent) ie out of air, cramping or any other cause. As an MSDT I have my doubts as to their capabilities.

Peter Southwood - March 22nd, 2017 at 12:40pm

How do the certifying agencies recommend the buddy system should be applied to junior divers?

Dr Frans Cronje - March 22nd, 2017 at 2:15pm

Dear Errol & Peter. You both raise excellent, and related questions. I would like to recommend that you also listen to the excellent presentation by Dr David Charash on Children and diving. Twenty minutes into the talk he addresses the concerns you have raised. https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/training/onlineseminars Dr. Charash currently serves as the medical director for the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine division of the Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. He is Board certified in Emergency Medicine and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine. Dr. Charash has completed both the UHMS/NOAA Dive Medicine Physician, and UHMS Medical Evaluation of Diver programs. Dr. Charash is a DAN Referral Physician, DAN Instructor, and PADI Diver.

Tim Dakers - October 20th, 2019 at 4:26am

Fantastic article which confirms the academic side of amongst other things the potential effect of compressed gas on undeveloped organs...what prompted me to investigate further was the report of a 6 year old child dying after a 6 minute dive to 6 metres

...

Tim Dakers - October 20th, 2019 at 4:48am

Correction child did not die...

Jacques Vieira - June 14th, 2017 at 3:47pm

I think this was a very good read . Well done !

Categories

 2023
immersion and bubble formation 232bar 24Hours AGE AIDA Accident management Accidents Acid reflux Acute ailments Adam Sokolski Advanced courses Rescue diver Aerobic exercise After anaesthesia Aged divers Air Ambulance Air Quality Air consumption Air exchange centre Air hose failure Air supply Airway control Air Alert Diver December 2022 Alert Diver Magazine Alert Diver March 2023 Algorithms Alice Cattaneo Alice Modolo Alopecia Alternate Airsources use Alternater Air Source Alternative gas mix Altitude changes Altitude diving Altitude sickness Aluminium Oxide Ama divers Amino acids Amos Nachoum Anaerobic Metabolism Anilao Animal intelligence Animal life Annual renewal Antarctica Anxiety Apea Apex predators Apnea addicts Apnea Apnoea Aqua corps Aquatic creatures Aquatic life Aquatics and Scuba Diving Archaeology Argonaut octopus Argonauts Argon Arrythmia Arterial Gas Embolisms Arterial gas embolism Arthroscopic surgery Aspirin Audible signals Aurel hygiene Australian Flat backed Australia Aviation o2 BCD BHP BLS BWARF Baacterial infections Back adjustment Back pain Back treatment Backextensors Backmount CCR Badages Bag valve mask Bags Bahamas Bail out cylinder Balancing Bandaids Barbell back squat Barometric pressure Barotrauma Basic Life Support Basslets Batteries Beach entry Beached coral Becky Kaga Schott Becky Kagan Schott Beluga whales Bench press Bends Benign prostate hyperplasia Benzophenones Beth Neale Beyond Standards Big Sur Bilikiki Tours Biophysics Black Water Photography Black Blood flow Blood pressure Blood thinners Blue Desert Blue Wilderness Blue economy Blue heron Bridge Bluff Blurred vision Boat diving Boat etiquette Boat safety Boats Bobbit worm Boesmans gat Boesmansgat Bonaire Bone fractures Bouyancy compensators Bouyancy control device Bouyancy controls Boyle's Law Boyle\'s Law Bradycardia Brain Brandon Cole Breast Cancer Breath Hold Diving Breath hold diver Breath holding Breath hold Breath-hold Breathing Gas Breathing gas contamination Breathing oxygen Breathing Breathold diving Bright Bank Broken bones Bruising Bubble detection Bubbleformation Buddy Exercise Buddy checks Buoyancy Burn wounds Burnshield Burns Business B CCR CE markings CGASA CMAS CNS CO2 COVID-19 Updates COVID-19 COVID CPR CSI Cabin pressure Caissons diseas California Camera equipment Camera settings Cameras Cancer Remission Cancer treatments Cancer Cannabis and diving Cannabis Cape Diver Research Cape Nudibranchs Cape Town Dive Festival Cape Town Dive Sites Cape Town CapeTown Carbon Monoxide Carbon dioxide Cardiac Health Cardiac research Cardiaccompromise Cardio health Cardiological Cardiomyopathy Caribbean Carmel Bay Carribean Conservation Catalina Island Cave Cave diving Cave divers Cave diving Cave exploration Caves Cave Cenotes Ceotes Challenging Environments Chamber Locations Chamber Safety Chamber maintenance Chamber medical staff Chamber science Chamber treatment Chamber Charging batteries Charles' Law Charles\' Law Charles\\\' Law Charles\\\\\\\' Law Charles\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' Law Charlie Warland Chemotherapy Chest compressions Children diving Chiropractic Chlorophll Chokka Run Christina Mittermeier Chuck Davis Chuuk lagoon Citizen Conservation Citizen sciences Citizen science Clean Air Cleaning products Cleeve Robertson Climate change Closed Circuit Rebreathers Closed Circuit Rebreather Clothing Cmmunity partnership Coastal diving Coastalexcursion Cold Water Cold care Cold sores ColdWater Cold Commercial Fishing Commercial diving Commercial operations Commercial schools Common consideration Common understanding Communication Compact Cameras Composition Compressed Air Compressed gas Compressor operators Compressors Concussion Congestive heart Faiture Consercation Conservation Photographer Conservation photography Conservation Contact lenses Contaminants Contaminated air Coping with cold Coral Bleaching event Coral Conservation Coral Reefs Coral Restoration Coral bleaching Coral preservation CoralGroupers Corals Core strength Corona virus Coro Coservation Costamed Chamber Courtactions Cozumel Cradiac valvular Crime scene Cristina Mittermeier Crohns disease Crowns Crystal build up Crystallizing hoses Cubs Cutaneous decompression Cutting tools Cylinder Ruptures Cylinder capacity Cylinder handwheel Cylinder safety Cylinder valves Cylinder weight Cylinders DAN Courses DAN Europe DAN Profile DAN Researchers DAN hotline service DAN insure DAN medics DAN members DAN report DANTraining DCI DCS Decompressions sickness DCS theories DCS DEMP DM training DNA DPV DReams DSMB Daan verhoeven Dahab Dalton's Law Dalton\'s Law Dalton\\\'s Law Dalton\\\\\\\'s Law Dalton\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Law Danel Wenzel Dangerous Marinelife Dauin island Dave McCowan David Doubilet Dean's Blue Hole Dean\'s Blue Hole Deco dives Decompression Illness Decompression Sickness Decompression Stress Decompression benenfits Decompression chamber Decompression illsnes Decompression ilness Decompression limits Decompression treatment Decompression Decomression sickness Decorator crabs Deep Freediving Deep diving Deep water exploration Deepest SCUBA Dive Delayed Offgassing Dennis Guichard Dental Depth limits Dever Health Diadema Response Team Diagnosis Diaphragms Diets Diopter Dirty water Discomfort Diseases Disinfection Disorientation Distraction Dive Accident Dive Action Dive Buddy Dive Chamber Dive Chmber Dive Computer Dive Destinations Dive Destination Dive Fitness # fit to dive @Dive health Dive H Dive Industry Dive Instruction Dive Instructor Dive Lights Dive Masters Dive Medical Form Dive Medical Dive Practices Dive Professionals Dive Pros Dive Rescue Dive Research Dive Safari Dive Safety Tips Dive South Africa Dive Taiwan Dive Training Dive Travel Wakatobi Dive Travel Dive accidents Dive bell Dive buddies Dive caves Dive centre rules Dive communications Dive computers Dive courses Dive cover Dive cylinder Aluminium Dive equipment Dive excursions Dive exercise Dive exeriences Dive experience Dive fitness Dive gear Dive heallth Dive health Dive in Africa Dive insurance Dive leaders Dive masks Dive medical insurance Dive medicals Dive medicines Dive medicine Dive operators Dive opportunities Dive planning Dive procedures Dive safety 101 Dive safety briefing Dive safety Dive safe Dive skills Dive staff Dive teams Dive travels DiveLIVE DiveTravel Diveleader training Diveleaders Divelights Diver Ethisc Diver Food Diver Health Diver Profile Diver Travel Diver education Diver infliencers Diver on surface Diver recall Diverover 50 Divers Alert Diversafety Divers Divesites Diving Divas Diving Equipment Diving Family Diving Fatalities Diving Feet Diving Helmets Diving Kids Diving Programs Diving Trauma Diving career Diving emergencies Diving emergency management Diving etiquette Diving fit Diving guidelines Diving history Diving injuries Diving science Diving suspended Diving Dizziness Dizzyness Dolphins Domestic Donating Blood Donation Doug Perrine Dowels Dr Rob Schneider Drift diving Drysuit diving Drysuit valves Drysuits Durban Dynamic environment Dyperbaric medicines EAPs EAP EKG EMS EN standards Ear barotrauma Ear pressure Ear wax Ears injuries Eat fish Eco friendly Ecowise Education Electronic Embolisms Emergency Action Plan Emergency Planning Emergency action planning Emergency decompression Emergency plans Emergency treatments Emergency underwater Oxygen Recompression Emergency Endurance Entry Envenomations Enviromental Protection Environmental factors Environmental impact Environmental managment Environmental stewardship Equalisation Equalization Equipment care Equipment failure Equipment inspection Equipment significance Evacuations Evacuation Evaluations Even Breath Evironmetaly friendly Exercise Exercising Exhaustion Exploration dives Exposure Protection Extended divetime Extinction Extinguisher Extreme treatments Eye injuries Eye protection FAQ Face computer Factor V Leiden Failures FalseBay Diving Fatigue Faulty equipment Feet Femal diver Female divers Fenivir Fetus development Field practice Filling stations Fillings Fin Foot Fins Fire Coral Fire Safety Fire extinguisher Firefighting Fires First Aid Equipment First Aid Kit First Aid Trainig First Aid Training First Aid kits First Aid Fish Identification Fish Life Fishing Fish Fit to dive Fitness Levels Fitness Training Fitness evaluation Fitness to dive Fitnesstrainng Fitness Flying Focus lights Food Footissues Foundations Fractures Francesca Diaco Francois Burman Fred Buyle Fredive Free Student cover Free diving Free flow Freedive Competition Rules Freedive Competiton Freedive INstructor Freedive Safety Freedive Training Freedive computer Freedive modes Freedive rescue procedures Freediver Staff Instructor Freediver Freedive Freediving Instructors Freediving performance Freediving Fur rade Galapagos Gar Waterman Gardens of The Queen Gas Density Gas Planning Gas consumption Gas emboli Gas laws Gas management Gas mixes GasPerformance Gasblends Gases Gass bubbles Gastoeusophagus Gastric bypass Gastroenterologist Gas Gear Servicing Germs Geyer Bank Giant Kelp Forest Giant Kelp Giant stride Girls that Scba Gobies Golden fish Gordon Hiles Great White Sharks Green sea turtle Green turles Greenlings Guinness World Record Gutt irritations HBOT HBO HCV HELP HIRA HMLI HMS Britanica Haemorhoid treatment Hand signals Harry Chammas Havanna Hawaii Hawksbill Hazard Description Hazardous Marine life Hazardous marinelife Head injuries Headaches Health practitioner Healthy Food Heart Attack Heart Health Heart Rate monitor Heart fitness Heart rates Heart rate Heart Heat loss Heat stress Helen Walne Heliox Helium Gas Helium Hematoma Hemodynamic Hepatitis C Hepatitus B Hiatal Hernia High Pressure vessels High pressure hoses High temperatures Hip strength Hip surgery Hippocampus History Hole in the heart Hood Hot Human diver Humans Hydrate Hydration Hydrogen Hydroids Hydrostatic pressure Hygiene Hyperbaric Chamber Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments Hyperbaric Oxygen Hyperbaric research Hyperbaric treatment Hyperbarics Hypertension Hypothermia Hypoxia I-52 found INclusivity IdentiFin Imaging Immersion Immine systems In Water Recompression Increased pressure Indemnity form Indian Ocean Indigo SCuba Indonesia Inert gas Infections Infra red Imaging Inhaca Ocean Alliance Injections Inner ear Instinct Instruction Instructors Insulation Insurance policy Insurance Integrated Physiology International travel International Internship programs Internship Interval training Investigations Irritation Irukandji Syndrome Isotta housing Italy Itchy Rash Its OK Jellyfish Jennifer Hayes Jill Heinerth Joanna Wyrebek John Vowles Joint pain Joshua Journal for Technical Diving Junior Open Water Diver KZN South Coast KZN Karen van den Oever Kate Jonker KateJonker Kelp Forest Kelp forests Kenya Kidneys Kids scubadiver Komati Springs KwaZulu Natal Kwazulu-Natal LED lights LED Labour laws Lake Huron Lara Lambiase Laryngospasm Lauren Arthur Leanne Walmsley Learning to dive Leatherbacks Leatherback Legal Network Legal advice Legislation Lembeh Straights Lenses Leslie Lwaney Leukemis Liability Insurance Liability Risks Liability releases Liability Life expectancy Lifestyle Lighting equipment Lighting Lightroom editing Lights Lionfish Live aboard diving Liveaboard Liver Toxicity Liver diseas Liz Louw Loss of consciousness Lost at sea Lost divers Low Visability Low blood platelets Low blood pressure Low pressure deterioration Low volume masks Lumpsuckers Lung Irritation Lung flexibility Lung function Lung injuries Lung over expansion Lung squeeze Lung surgery Lung MOD MOzambique diving MPA Macro photography Mafia Island Maintenance Malaria Mammalian Dive Response Mammalian effect Manatees Mandarin Fish Marfan syndrome Marine Biologist Marine Biology Marine Mega fauna Marine Science Marine Scientists Marine conservation Marine parks Marine plants Marinelife Marinescience Markus Dirschi Marlin Marne protecte areas Mask clearing Masks Mask Master scuba diver Matty Smith Maximum operating depth Medical FAQ Medical Q Medical emergencies Medical forms Medical oxygen Medical questionaire Medical statement Medical team Medicalquestionaires Medicalresearch Medicalstudents Medication Mehgan Heaney-Grier Membership benefits Menopause Menstruation Mental health Mermaid Danii Mesophotic Metotrexate Mexico Michael Aw Micro Photography Microbubbles Middle ear pressure Mike Bartick Military front press Military Misool Resort Raja Ampat Mixed Gas Mono Fins Mooring lines More pressure Motion sickness Motionsickness Mount Kilimanjaro Mozambique Muck Diving Muscle pain Mycobacterium marinum NDL limits NSRI Narcosis National Geographic Nature Nausea Nauticam Ambassadors Nauticam Ambassador Nautilus Navigation Ndibranchs Neck pain Neoprene layers Neuro assessments Neurocognitive research Neurological assessments Neuromotor exercises New Caledonia Nichola Bird Nicorette Nicotine Nitrogen Narcosis Nitrogen build up Nitrox No Decompression Limits No-decompression limits No-decompression Non-nano zinc oxide Non-rebreather Mask Non-smoking Nondiving related illness Nonrebreather masks Normal Air North Sulawesi Northern Taiwan Nosebleeds Nudibranchs Nuno Gomes Nutrition O2 enriched O2 oxygen provider. O2 providers O2 servicing O2 treatments O2treatments OOxygen maintenance Ocean Alliance Ocean Projects Ocean Research Ocean animals Ocean clean up Ocean community Ocean conservation Ocean life Ocean mammals Ocean migrations Ocean pollution Oceangate Ocean Octopus Oil contamination Olive Ridley Open Ocean Open water divers Operatorethics Optical focus Oral contraseptives Orbital implants Oronasal mask Osteonecrosis Otters Out and about Out of air Outer ears Outreach Overhead Envirenments Oxygen Administration Oxygen Cylinder Oxygen Toxicity Oxygen Units Oxygen deficit Oxygen deicit Oxygen dificiency Oxygen ears Oxygen equipment Oxygen explosions Oxygen kit Oxygen masks Oxygen providers Oxygen safety Oxygen supplies Oxygen supply Oxygen systems Oxygen therapy Oxygen treatment Oxygen P J Prinsloo PADI Freedivers PFI PFOs PFO PJP Tech PTSD Paper Nautilus Paralysis Parentalsupervision Part 3 Partner Training Patent foramen ovale PatentForamen Ovale Pemba Island Peri-peri Divers Personal Perspective Petar Denoble Peter Lindholm Philippine Islands Philippines Phillipines Photographers Photographer Photography tips Photography Physical Fitness Physioball Physiology Physiotherapy Pills Pilot Whale Pistons Planning Plastic pollution Plastic Plimsoll Interface Pneumonia Pneumothorax Poison Pole fishing Polka Dot Bat fish Pollution Pool Diving Pool chemicals Pool maintenance Pool workout Pools Post traumatic Post-dive Potuguese man-of-war Pre-dive fitness Pre-dive Predive check Pregnancy Pregnant divers Preparation Prepared diver Press Release Preventions ProDive Port Elizabeth Product scuba nudi Professional rights Protection Provider course Psycological Pulmanologist Pulmonary Barotrauma Pulmonary Bleb Pulmonary Edema Pulmonary Hypertension Pulse Punture wounds Pure Air Pure Apnea Purge Quit Smoking Q RAID South Africa RCAP REEF RMV ROS Radio communications Range of motion Rashes Reactive oxygen species Rebreather diving Rebreatherdive Recces Rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable Recompression chamber Recompression treatment Recompression Recreational dives Recycle Red SEA Reef Chcek Reef Conservation Reef Environmental Education Foundation Reef protection Reef safe Reef surveyors Refractive correction Regal Sea Goddesses Regulator failure Regulators Regulator Remote areas Remote dive locations Remote islands Renewable Rental gear Report incidents Rescue Divers Rescue Procedure Rescue breathing Rescue breaths Rescue diver Rescue skills Rescue skill Rescue training Rescue Researcher profile Research Respitory Minute Volume Resume diving Return To Diving Return to diving Reuseable items Rhinopias Risk Assessments Risk assesments Risk assessment Risk elements Risk management Risk mitigation Risks of Seizures River diving Riviera Maya Roatan Marine Park Roatan Ronblom Rubber ducks SABS 019 SAC SMB SRC SafariLive Safe diving practices Safety Concerns Safety Gear Safety Stop Safety in Air Safety SaherSafe Barrier Salisbury Island Salish Seas Salty Wanderer Sanitising Sanne Volja Sara Andreotti Sara Banderby Sara Campbell Sardine Run Sargassum sea Saturation Diving Saturation diver Save our seas Schrimps Science of diving Science Scoliosis Scombroid Poisoning Scorpion Fish Scuba Air Quality Scuba Guru Scuba Injury Scuba Instructor Scuba children Scuba divers Scuba dive Scuba diving Scuba education Scuba gear Scuba health Scubalearners Scubalife Sea Horses Sea Turtles Sea rescue Sea slugs Seagrass Sealcolonies Sealife Seals Seasickness Seaweeds Seaweed Sea Self Rescue Send Nudi Shallow Water Blackout Shallow dives Shark Protection Shark Research Shark conservation Shark diving Sharks Shipwrecks Shit Happens Shore entries Shoulder strength Sidemount Sideplank Signalling devices Signs and Symptoms Silty bottoms Sit-ups Sixgill Sharks Skills in action Skin Bends Skin outbreak Skin rash Smart phone photography Snells Window Snorkeling Snorkels Social Distancing Sodwana Bay Solomon Islands Sonnier bank South Africa Southern Sea Otters SpareAir Special Operations Special forces units Sperm Whales Spinal Bend Spinal bends Spinal cord DCS Spinal dura Spinal pain Spinner dolphins Spleen Splits Sports medicine Squeezes Squid Run Stability exercise Stage cylinder Standars Statin Mediction Stay Fit Stay Warm Steel Stefan Randig Stents Step ups Stephen Frink Stepping up Stobes Stockton Rush Stonetown Stretch band exercise Stretch bands Stretching Strobe Lighting Strobes Stroke Submerge tech Submerged Sudafed Sulawesi Sun protection Sun screen Sunscreen Supplemental oxygen Surface Air Consumption Surface Consumption Rate Surface Marker Buoys Surface supplied Air Surfaced Surfers Surgeries Surgery Survivor Suspension training Swim Fitness Swimmers health SwimmingIn wateractivities Swimming Sylvia Earl Symbiosis Symbiosys TRavel safety Tabata protocol Talya Davidoff Tank valve Tanzania Tara Panton Tattoes Tchnical diving Team Awareness Tec Clark Tec divers Tec diving Tech diving Technical Diving Technical diver Technical divng Temperature Homeostatis The Bends The Cavettes The Produce The Titanic Wreck The Wild Coast The greatest Shoal The silent world The truth Thermal Notions Thermoregulation Thomas Peschak Thresher shark Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Tides Tips and trick Tonga Tooth squeeze Transplants Trashbag Trauma Travel Safe Travel destinations Travel smarter Travel tips Travel Tropical Coastal Management Tulamben Tullum Tulum. Tuna Tunnelling Turks and Caicos Turtles Tweezers Ultrsound Umkomaas Unconscious diver Unconsciousness Underground waterways Underground work Underseaa world Underwaater Photos Underwater Photography Underwater Photograper Underwater Photograpgraphy Underwater Photographer Manirelife Underwater Photographers Underwater Research Underwater camera Underwater critters Underwater floral Gardens Underwater hockey Underwater imaging Underwater lights Underwater models Underwater photographer Underwater photography Underwater photos Underwater pho Underwater sound Underwatercommunications Underwater Underwtaer photography University of Stellenbosch Unresponsive Urchins Urinary retention. VGE Vacations Vaccines Vagus nerve Valsalva manoeuvers Valve stem seals Vape Vaping Vasopressors Vasvagal Syncope Venous gas emboli Ventilate Venting Verna van Schak Veterinarian Videography Vincenzo Ferri. Virus infections Volatile fuels WWII wrecks War stories Washout treatments Wastewater Watchman device Water Resistance Water Weakness Weigang Xu Weightloss Weights West Papua Western Cape Diving Wet Lenses Wet diving bell Wetsuit fitting Wetsuites Wetsuits Wetsuit White balance Whitetpped Sharks Wide Angle Photos Wide angles Wildlife park Wildlife Winter Wits Underwater Club Wolf Eels Woman and diving Woman in diving Woman's Health Womans health Woman Women In Diving SA Women and Diving Women in Freediving Women in diving Womens Month Womens health Work of Breathing Workout World Deeepst Dive Record World Records Wound dressings Wreck History Wreck divers Wreck dive Wreck diving Wreck exploration Wreckdiving Wrecks Wrist technology Yachts Yoga Youth diver Zandile Ndholvu Zanzibar Zoology Zooplankton \ Blennies abrasion absolute pressure acoustic neuroma excision adverse seas air-cushioned alert diver altitude alveolar walls anemia antibiotics anticoagulants antiseptics bandages barodontalgia bent-over barbell rows bioassays biodiversity bloodcells blue carbon body art breathing air calories burn canal blockage cannabis oil carbon dioxide toxicity cardiovascular career developments cerebrospinal fluid cervical spine checklist chemo port children child chronic obstructive pulmonary disease clearances closed circuit scuba compressed gass coral growth corrective lenses crystalweed currents cuts cylinder filling daggaolie dagga dead lift decompression algorithms decongestants decongestion deep dive training dehydration discovery dive clubs dive injuries dive medicing dive ready child dive reflex dive tribe divecomputers diver in distress diver rescue diver training dive diving attraction diving hoods doctors dolphns domestic travel dri-suits drowning dry mucous membranes dry suits dry e-cigarettes ear spaces earplugs ears elearning electrolyte imbalance electroytes emergency action plans emergency assessment emergency training environmentally friendly equalising equalizing exposure injuries eyes fEMAL DIVERS fire rescue fish watching fitness Balance fitnes flexible tubing frediving freedivers gas bubble gas poisoning gastric acid gene expression health heartburn heron bridge histidine hospital humidity hypobaric hypoxia immersion and bubble formation immersion pulmonary edema (IPE informal education isopropyl alcohol jaundice join DAN knee lanyard laparoscopic surgery life jackets longevity lower stress lox oxygen level lungs malaise mamalian effect marielife marine pathogens medical Questions medical issues medical procedures medical risk assesment medications mental challenge mental preparedness micro-organisims micro minor illness mucous membranes multilineage dysplasia myelodysplasia nasal steroids nasal near drowning nematocysts neurological newdivers nitrogen bubbles no tanx off-gassed operating theatre operations orthopeadic otitis media out planting outgas pain parameters perforation phillippines phrenic nerve physical challenges pinched nerves plasters pneumoperitoneum polyester-TPU polyether-TPU post dive posture prescription mask preserve prevention professional emergency responders proper equalization psychoactive pulmonary barotrauma. pulmonary injury. pulmunary barotrauma pure oxygen radiation rebreather mask rebreathers retinal detachment risk areas safety stops saturation scissors scuba equipment scuba sea goddesses single use sinus infections situationalawarenes smoking snorkeling. spearfishing spliff sterilising stings strength sub-aquatic sunscreen lotion swimmer's ear swimmer\'s ear swimmers ears tattoo care tecnical diver thermal protection tissue damage toxicity trachea training travel Insurance trimix tympanic membrane unified standards upcycled upwelling virtual coach vision impaired vomiting warmers water quality zinc oxide