Scuba Diving for Kids in Hurghada: Age Rules, Depth Limits and What Parents Should Know

What is the minimum age to scuba dive in Hurghada?

PADI sets the minimum age at 10 for Discover Scuba Diving and for the Junior Open Water Diver certification. According to PADI, children aged 8 and 9 can only do the shallow Bubblemaker program, in water shallower than 2 metres. Every course for under-18s needs parental approval.

The rules are the same in Hurghada as anywhere else, because PADI sets them, not the dive centre. The centre can be stricter, and it makes the final call on your child.

Discover Scuba Diving is a one-day try-dive with an instructor. It does not lead to a certification. A Junior Open Water Diver is a child aged 10 to 14 who has completed the full PADI Open Water course, with extra depth and supervision limits.

What can each age group do?

Ages 8 and 9 can try Bubblemaker in shallow water. From age 10, children can take a Discover Scuba Diving experience or the Junior Open Water course. At 15, divers move to the standard Open Water certification. The table below uses PADI pages we opened on 5 October 2026.

PADI's own kids article dates from 16 September 2014. We cross-checked its ages and depths against PADI's certification FAQ and its diving restrictions page, and they agree. Seal Team is only described briefly there, so ask a dive centre for its current details.

How deep can junior divers go?

PADI limits Junior Open Water Divers aged 10 to 11 to 12 metres (40 feet), and divers aged 12 to 14 to 18 metres (60 feet). A Discover Scuba Diving try-dive in open water is also capped at 12 metres. Bubblemaker stays shallower than 2 metres.

Junior Advanced Open Water Divers aged 12 to 14 can reach 21 metres (70 feet), according to PADI. These limits matter in Hurghada because many reef sites have shallow sections. A good guide plans the dive inside the child's limit.

Our PADI Open Water course guide covers the full course structure, swim test and cost factors, so we do not repeat them here.

What medical forms and consent do children need?

Every child fills in PADI's Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire, and a parent or guardian signs it for them. PADI says a physician's approval is needed if any answer flags a condition. Under-13s also need parent or guardian permission to register for PADI eLearning, according to PADI.

How the questionnaire works

Page one of the PADI form has 10 yes/no questions. If the answers are all no, no medical evaluation is needed. A yes to question 3, 5 or 10, or to any question on page 2, means the form goes to a doctor for sign-off.

The form asks about lungs, heart, ears and sinuses, medication and recent surgery. It also says to avoid diving when ill. One Hurghada operator we opened asks for a doctor's fit-to-dive statement and a parent present for its kids program. That is its policy, not a PADI rule, so ask each centre.

How do you know if your child is ready to dive?

Age is only the minimum. Readiness means your child is calm with their face in the water, follows instructions and can say when something feels wrong. PADI also expects swimming skill for Junior Open Water: 200 metres without stopping, or 300 with mask, fins and snorkel, plus 10 minutes floating.

A guidance checklist for parents

This is our editorial checklist, not a PADI requirement. The instructor decides on the day.

• Your child wants to dive and asked to try, rather than being talked into it.
• They are comfortable with water on the face and breathing through the mouth.
• They can clear their ears or are willing to practise; PADI's form asks about ear and sinus problems.
• They can concentrate on a briefing and repeat the hand signals.
• They tell an adult when they are cold, tired or worried.

If several of these are doubtful, wait a year or try snorkeling first. Our snorkeling with kids guide explains flotation and supervision.

What can children who don't dive do on a dive boat?

On our full-day diving trip, children who do not dive can join as non-divers, subject to the operator's age and safety requirements. Non-divers can use the snorkeling stop and the island stop. Ask us for the non-diver price when you book, because it is not a fixed figure.

This lets a family split: certified parents dive while a younger child stays on deck or snorkels with supervision. The full-day diving trip includes a snorkeling stop and lunch on board with soft drinks.

The program changes with weather and sea conditions, and the captain and guide make the final call. For snorkel safety by age, see our kids and non-swimmers guide, or look at the snorkeling trip.

What should you ask a dive centre before booking?

Ask which PADI program your child's age qualifies for, who the instructor is, how many children share one instructor, and what depth the dive reaches. Also ask for the medical form in advance and what happens if your child wants to stop. A good centre answers each point in writing.

How does Divers Trips handle kids and diving?

We welcome children on the boat, and non-divers can join our full-day diving trip at €60 per person for divers, with the non-diver price confirmed at booking. Junior courses follow PADI rules and the dive centre's final decision. Send us your child's age and we confirm what is possible.

The full-day diving trip includes hotel pickup, equipment, tanks and weights, two dives, a snorkeling stop, lunch on board and soft drinks. Beginners can dive subject to the dive center's requirements. Marine park or environmental fees, if they apply, are not included.

For a certification, the PADI Open Water course is priced on request. Our site data lists a minimum age of 10, with Junior certification under 15. We do not list a Bubblemaker or Seal Team program, so ask us if you need one. See also our diving in Hurghada hub and PADI courses.

To book or ask a question, use the booking page or contact us, and include your child's age and swimming level.