14 YO getting certified...

[Doahh]

I'm 14 now (15 in dec) and hear something bout not being able to get certified for life if your under 15.... Should I wait untill I'm 15 to get certified or if I get cert. now would I be certified for a long time?

 

[Doahh]

I found an answer...
"How old do you have to be to get certified?
PADI requires you to be at least 10 years old to become a PADI certified Junior Open Water Scuba Diver. Ten and 11 year olds must dive with a certified parent, guardian or PADI Professional to a maximum depth of 12 metres. Twelve to 14 year olds must dive with a certified adult. At age 15, the Junior certification upgrades to a regular Open Water Diver certification."

So if I got certified now I would be certified for life... Fun.

 

[billsreef]

Yup, you can get a Junior certification by taking the regular Open Water Diver course and it will upgrade to a regular Open Water Diver without additional coursework. Getting certified is certainly a good summer project. Do your parents dive?

 

[Doahh]

nope... I'm basically the only major fish/dive person in my house. I've been talking to the local dive shop about getting me certified in about 20 days... I'm hoping it doesn't cost a billion dollars

 

[billsreef]

Won't cost a billion, but it will cost a few hundred by the time it's all said and done. IIRC, current going prices in my area are somewhere around $400-$500 including gear rental, personal gear (mask, snorkel, fins), instruction and open water check out dives. It's a good hobby and will be with you for a lifetime. I've been certified over 20 years, and still enjoy it

 

[Doahh]

well I mean the classes I need to have because I have a complicated schedule.... It would cost me $400 for the class and lake dive... Now the weekend and lake dive is $99 and the ocean is $149

 

[mushumatt]

I was 15 when i got certified, personally I wish i waited till i was 16 to get my regular open water diver cert. MY local dive shop told me i had to take the course over again to get my regular open water diver cert but im not sure if they are lieing to me. But either way its an amazing hobby

 

[darkmuncan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10244207#post10244207 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mushumatt
I was 15 when i got certified, personally I wish i waited till i was 16 to get my regular open water diver cert. MY local dive shop told me i had to take the course over again to get my regular open water diver cert but im not sure if they are lieing to me. But either way its an amazing hobby

I think they are lying...

I Did Padi Open Water diver when I was 14, when I turned 16 or whatever the age is I just applied for my Open License and they sent it to me in the mail.

 

[billsreef]

mushumatt,

Was that a PADI certification or another certifying agency? If it was PADI, they are full of it. You don't need to take the course over again.

 

[mushumatt]

Alright, im going to go to a different shop and see what they can do. Thanks for your help guys

 

[thor32766]

i was certified at 10 yrs old when I lived on the base in cuba.

 

[Ebmorri]

We just got my girlfriends son certified at the age of 10. He is a JR. Open water diver and from 10-12 he can only dive with a parent or PADI dive master and can only go 40’. At 12-14 he can still only dive with a parent or DM but can go any depth. Once he turns 15 we just need to pay a small fee to change him to a full open water diver. So all would say is find a new dive shop.