Adapt Your Water Safety Teaching To Kids

By: Jennifer Dawson – December 19, 2018

Adapt Your Water Safety Teaching To Kids 

1 in every 211,864 dives end in a fatality, which makes it very uncommon. Nonetheless, it’s important to be cautious in the water and understand how to stay safe. Children can start scuba diving from the age of 10 and as a scuba instructor it’s important to approach children differently when it comes to teaching them water safety. Children will usually be very enthusiastic about scuba diving as it will be something that they’ve sought out to do, but their attention span can be short, particularly when teaching them about safety in the water as their excitement will mean they want to dive straight away.

Water Safety Preparation

You should encourage children to tread water, float and swim so that they’re used to being in the water and feel confident. Snorkeling can also be good to do before scuba diving as it gets children used to breathing underwater, having their head submerged and trusting their equipment, all of which can be applied to scuba diving. However, they should be aware of the differences involved and the potential dangers of scuba diving. Children can drown a lot quicker than adults as their lungs are smaller, so the importance of understanding water safety when diving is essential.

Adapting Your Approach

Scuba instructors must ensure they involve parents when teaching their children and encourage both to ask questions regarding anything for their peace of mind. It’s common practice for parents to come along to day one of a course or meet the instructor beforehand. Be sure to adapt the language you use to the age of the children you’re teaching so that they understand clearly and tell them only what they need to know to keep it brief. Ideally, sit them down for this to help keep them focused.

Adapt Your Courses

Kids will usually do better with courses that are broken down to several half days instead of a few full days. They will have more energy and focus better this way, and several short breaks throughout will also help. Children tend to have a lesser understanding of the consequences to their actions, which could be disastrous when scuba diving, so regularly remind them of important information and ensure they understand your expectations from them throughout.

Before accepting a child for scuba diving courses, have a conversation with them and their parents to see if they are confident in the water, if they have snorkeled before and to get to know them. This will help you to understand their needs and tailor your teaching for them. You could also get several children of the same age on the same course so that you teach for the appropriate age.