Posts

STEPDive: A new discovery experience

Learning to dive is a thrilling yet somewhat daunting experience. After all, resisting our basic survival instincts to complete entry-level skills such as breathing underwater, mask removal/replacement and basic buoyancy can be quite challenging.

Predicting whether or not student’s will conquer initial fears or even enjoy diving thereafter is difficult, and often part of the reason for them not committing to a full scuba course. Of course, time, money or perceived complexity of the equipment also play a factor. But all of this can change!

Imagine not having to complete so much pre-dive theory or wear such heavy equipment. You simply strap on a harness and go snorkelling – but with a SCUBA regulator! Almost the same experience is offered, but without the complexities, weight or stress and in a completely safe and secure environment. Perfect right?

Depending on the dive center and surrounding water conditions, STEPDive can be offered in many cases as an excellent intermediary program; especially for families who want a shared underwater experience. With STEPDive’s unique and patent pending Variable Depth Control, instructors and students can have full confidence knowing that:

  • Everyone begins on the surface and as divers grow in confidence, can progressively go deeper;
  • Divers practice the same introductory dive skills (signals, breathing rules, equalisation techniques, regulator and mask clearing, etc);
  • Students are depth limited (STEPDive is fully adjustable between 0 – 5m); and
  • Even students younger than 8 can give it a try (but only at the surface – see Children and Diving: Are they ready? for more information).

So whether you’re a potential diver wishing to make an informed decision about a full certification course, or a business owner who is keen to streamline their shop’s discover experience, see how STEPDive could work for you.

See you underwater!

:: Darren

Children and Diving: Are they ready?

Often I hear from enthusiastic parents who want their children to learn to dive, but have some concerns regarding the difficulty of the training or their child’s safety in open water. Because of this, I’ve put together the following overview of the considerations that you will need to make as a parent, before taking your children underwater!

Whilst there is no actual legal restriction that prohibits children from diving, agencies such as PADI or SSI have self-regulated training standards, developed through paediatric medical recommendations from research institutions worldwide. These are designed to ensure children reach a level of maturity, before venturing too deep underwater and are as follows:

PADI Diver Age Restrictions
AgeDepthProgramAfter Certification
< 70mDiscover SnorkelingN/A
8 – 9Maximum of 4m / 12ftBubblemaker / Seal TeamN/A
10 – 11Maximum of 12m / 40ftJunior Open Water Diver (JOWD)Must dive with a Parent/Guardian or PADI Professional
12 – 14Maximum of 18m / 60ft (JOWD)
Maximum of 21m / 70ft (JAOWD)
Junior Open Water Diver (JOWD)
Junior Advanced Open Water Diver (JAOWD)
Must dive with a certified adult diver
15+As per training levelN/AN/A

Disclaimer: Standards are subject to change. Please consult the PADI website for further information. STEPDive is not a representative of PADI.

SSI Diver Age Restrictions
AgeDepthProgramAfter Certification
< 70mSnorkelingN/A
8 – 9
Maximum of 5m / 15ftScuba RangersN/A
10 – 11Maximum of 12m / 40ftOpen Water Diver (OWD)
Advanced SCUBA Training
Must dive with a Dive Professional or certified adult diver
12 – 14Maximum of 18m / 60ft (OWD)
Maximum of 21m / 70ft (Adventure Deep Dive)
Open Water Diver (OWD)
Advanced SCUBA Training
Must dive with a certified adult diver
15+As per training levelN/AN/A

Disclaimer: Standards are subject to change. Please consult the SSI website for further information. STEPDive is not a representative of SSI.

However, these training standards are written without real explanation as to why these depth and age limits have been chosen. So after some detailed research, I came across the following list of key consideration factors taken from a paper titled Scuba diving in children: Physiology, risks and recommendations, published by the Spanish Society of Paediatric Pulmonology:

Physiological and anatomical factors to be considered in children engaging in underwater activities


  • Pulmonary development until the age of eight (underscored by childhood asthma).
  • Higher pulmonary closing volume (volume of lung inflated when small airways in the dependent parts of the lung begin to collapse during expiration).
  • Reduced pulmonary compliance (higher risk of barotrauma).
  • Higher number of respiratory infections and ORL.
  • Functional immaturity of the Eustachian tube opening mechanism (canal connecting the middle ear, controlling pressure).
  • Unfavourable body surface : weight ratio (risk of hypothermia).
  • Incomplete bone development.
  • Limited ability to understand mathematical and physical laws.
  • Emotional instability.
  • Limited ability for self-care and the care of others.

Applying these considerations, agencies thus use age as a generalised measure of physical strength, emotional and intellectual maturity. But applying depth restrictions to children based on their age does not guarantee safety either. Some of the most devastating diving accidents can occur in water less than 5m deep, largely due to panic. This reason alone is why I am such a strong advocate for STEPDive as it:

  • Builds proficiency, before depth – even children younger than 8 can learn how to ‘snorkel’ with a SCUBA regulator as we can effectively ‘lock’ their depth at 0m.
  • Allows age appropriate or even smaller limits to be set (dictated by student confidence and ability) up to a maximum of 5m.
  • Provides a strong foundation in safety knowledge, behaviours and techniques.
  • Is safe and simple to use.
  • Gives families or groups the chance to experience the underwater world together in a fun and rewarding way.

And once children have reached the appropriate age and maturity level, we fully encourage them becoming Junior Open Water Divers! If you’d like to read more about this topic, the Divers Alert Network (DAN) has published a terrific article about Children and Diving, which includes detailed opinions from industry experts.

See you underwater!

:: Darren

STEPDive at the DEMA Trade Show 2018

The annual DEMA Show is the largest trade-only event in the world for companies doing business in the scuba diving, ocean water sports and adventure/dive travel industries. It attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of dive and travel industry professionals from around the world each year.

STEPDive was proud to be an exhibitor this year, with much interest generated by our product.

Several articles have since been written and if you’d like to check them out, please visit the following links: