Scuba diving of children: A global review

Scuba diving is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, including among children and adolescents. This activity carries risks and potential accidents. Differences in anatomy, psychology, and human physiology between adults and children must be considered, leading to specific recommendations for scuba diving for young people.

Contra-indications should be known by the dive physician and in this article we compare recommendations of different countries, leading diving organizations (PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and SSI (Scuba Schools International)) to the French recommendations. The lack of homogeneous international recommendations and limited evidence-based data result in significantly different recommendations.

It seems necessary to inform general practitioners and pediatricians, mostly without experience in diving medicine, about the key physiological effects of scuba diving and the main differences in physiology between adults and children or teenagers. This is essential to ensure proper medical examinations and certification.