PADI Junior Open Water Diver
The same PADI Open Water course, for divers aged 10–14 — pool session first, then real reef dives off Mirissa with an instructor beside them. Ages 10–11 dive to 12 m, 12–14 to 18 m, always with a PADI Pro or certified parent. The certification upgrades automatically to full Open Water Diver at 15 — no extra course.
The same PADI Open Water certification, for divers aged 10–14. Three days with us: e-learning completed before you arrive, confined-water skills in the pool with an instructor beside them, and — from day two — real dives on real reef. Junior divers follow age-appropriate limits: 10–11-year-olds dive to 12 m with a PADI Professional or a certified parent or guardian in the water; 12–14-year-olds to 18 m with a certified adult. At 15 the certification upgrades to full Open Water Diver on its own — no extra course, no extra fee. A parent or legal guardian books, consents and is our contact throughout.
What’s included
- Pool / confined-water session and all open-water dives
- All PADI course materials and certification fees
- PADI e-learning — the link is sent by our manager after you book; complete it before Day 1
- Full equipment throughout, plus water, tea and snacks
- A day-by-day schedule in your confirmation and reminder emails
- Book with a 50% deposit online; the remaining 50% is paid in person on Day 1
Not included
- GoPro photos and video (not included on PADI courses)
- DAN dive insurance (recommended)
- Your e-learning time before arrival
- Travel and ID
Good to know
Ages 10–14, with a parent or guardian’s consent. The child must be able to swim 200 m and float for 10 minutes. No prior dive experience needed.
Highlights
- The world’s most recognised dive licence — earned at 10–14, valid for life.
- Learn in warm, clear ocean, not a swimming pool.
- Real reef dives from day two.
- Age-appropriate depth limits: 12 m at 10–11, 18 m at 12–14.
- Upgrades automatically to Open Water Diver at 15.
Requirements
- No prior experience needed.
- Water skills: the child must be able to swim 200 metres (or 300 metres in mask, snorkel and fins) and float or tread water for 10 minutes — the standard PADI Open Water requirement.
- Ages 10–14 when you book. Under 10: try the PADI Bubblemaker (8–10) or a Discover Scuba Dive (from 10). From 15: the standard PADI Open Water Diver course.
- Supervision: 10–11-year-olds dive to 12 m with a PADI Professional or a certified parent/guardian in the water; 12–14-year-olds to 18 m with a certified adult.
- Parental or guardian consent, the diver medical questionnaire (completed with a parent/guardian), and the e-learning completed before Day 1.
Programme & duration
Three days — block them out. See the day-by-day times in the schedule above.
Medical, flight & insurance
Most people answer “no” to every question on the diver medical questionnaire and are cleared to dive. A “yes” to any question means a physician must sign the medical form confirming you’re fit to dive — bring the signed form with you on Day 1.
Planning to fly after diving? PADI and DAN recommend waiting at least 12 hours after a single dive, 18 hours after multiple dives, and ideally 24 hours for complete peace of mind.
We recommend DAN Europe (Divers Alert Network) dive insurance — recommended, not required, and no sign-up is needed to book. Dive safe, dive insured — get covered with DAN →
What to bring
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Biodegradable sunscreen
- Passport or ID for Day 1
- Your e-learning completed before you arrive
Meeting & pick-up
- Arrive 30 minutes before your start time — for registration, briefing and equipment fitting.
- Meet at the Diving Mirissa centre. Optional tuk tuk pick-up within 12 km, priced per tuk tuk by road distance — the exact fare shows at checkout when you enter your address.
- Your confirmation email carries the exact meeting point and time.
Who it’s for
For: Children and teenagers aged 10–14 who want a real dive certification — and parents who’d like to dive with them.
Not for: Not for children under 10 (that’s a Bubblemaker or, from 10, a Discover Scuba Dive), not for anyone 15 or over (that’s the standard Open Water course), and not a single-day activity — block out three days.
Dive sites & marine life
Our south-coast diving is rock-and-reef diving — boulder formations, channels and swim-throughs rather than open-water big-game water. The reef starts just off our centre, and green turtles are usually the first thing you see. A few of the sites we run:
- Batic Rock (~12 m) — large rock formations with reef fish, moray eels, lionfish and the occasional turtle; an easy Open Water depth.
- Athule Gala (~8–20 m) — a rocky reef of channels and formations with schools of fish, morays and the occasional ray; the range of depth suits mixed certification levels.
- Diyaba Para — a rocky offshore reef with strong fish life and a chance of larger schools, rays and turtles.
- Goda Para — rock and reef formations with plenty of tropical fish; turtles, morays and rays turn up now and then.
- Atharamba Rock — an interesting rocky landscape, good for the smaller finds: reef fish, nudibranchs and morays.
- Magedi Rock (~14–30 m) — a deeper site for Advanced divers, with rock formations and the best chance of larger marine life.
Around Mirissa you may also come across eagle rays, stingrays, turtles and big schools of fish. Whale sharks pass through from time to time, but they're rare and can't be guaranteed. As always, the sea gives what it gives — nothing is ever promised.
Choose your date
September 2026
Select a date to see availability for PADI Junior Open Water Diver.