Diving is a cool adventure to participate in that has great attraction to adults and kids alike.  It is one of those activities that we, as adults, enjoy and want to share with the younger members of our families.  Children can be very persistent and persuasive in their attempts to influence us to allow them to participate.

Most parents truly believe that their children are extraordinary in their abilities and maturity.  The truth, however, is that parents and family members are hardly objective in judging their own children.  Children need the ability to understand the academics, medical aspects, physics and math.  They need to be physically developed enough to handle the equipment.  They must also have the maturity to pay attention and make good decisions under stress.  A dive instructor may be able to help you make a valid assessment, but you should remember that they will have an economic incentive to approve and accept your child into his diving program.

An incredible amount of maturation occurs in a child between the ages of 10 and 13.  I have taught many high school aged kids to dive.  For a number of years, I taught regular classes at a local high school.  Nearly all of the high school students I taught who were motivated were capable of completing an entry level course.  My experience with younger students is not as good.  I would estimate that about 80% of 12 year-olds I have attempted to teach were capable but only about 20% of 10 year-olds were ready to participate in an entry-level scuba diving class.