Ready for your child’s first scuba dive in Koh Lipe? We share our family’s experience and what you can expect when diving with kids in one of Thailand’s most beautiful islands.
As the other diving groups began to surface one by one, I stood at the back of the boat, scanning the water for bubbles. My 11-year-old son had been gone for over an hour on his very first scuba dive, and there was still no sign of him. I was trying to stay calm. Surely, if something had gone wrong, they would have surfaced earlier?
Eventually, with everyone else on the boat de-kitted and finishing off post-dive snacks, Arthur emerged by the ladder and flashed me the diving-standard OK-sign. But with a mask and regulator on, there was no face to read. As he stepped onto the first rung, he removed his gear to reveal the biggest grin ever. He was very happy.
And the reason they were down here for so long? Apparently, Arthur took to scuba diving like a natural. He stayed calm under the water, which meant he used less air and could stay down longer, and picked up all the drills immediately. The instructor emerged behind and said, “This kid is going be an incredible diver”. Proud mum moment, right there.
This kid has been begging to try scuba diving ever since he could talk. But as the minimum age is 10 and with the cost involved (this is not a cheap hobby), he’d had a long wait. So when our Thai island-hopping itinerary included a stop in Koh Lipe, one of the best places in the world to learn to scuba dive, we knew this was his chance. However, there was also Ezra to consider, who was just 6 weeks shy of the double-digit milestone.
If you’re planning a trip to Thailand with kids and considering a scuba diving experience for them, I hope this write-up gives you a helpful glimpse into what to expect and how to make it a positive adventure.
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Minimum age for scuba diving
Pretty much all professional diving organisations state that 10 is the minimum age for scuba diving in open water. This is also the minimum age to obtain a scuba diving certification, known as a PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification. Kids obviously need to be confident in the water and be able to swim (although weirdly, no one ever checked when we booked Arthur in).
However, we also had a 9 year old, Ezra. Who’s was just 6 weeks shy of turning 10. He too has been desperate to try scuba diving. We did ask if he could join Arthur, but it was a strict “no”. Even if he is capable, it’s comes down to insurance. Fair enough.
If your child isn’t quite old enough for a ‘proper’ dive, kids aged 8 or 9 can take part in a Bubble Maker dive. This is a gentle introduction to scuba diving where they go no deeper than 2 metres.
Who we booked with
As were were staying at Forra Dive Resort Pattaya Beach on Koh Lipe, we booked directly with Forra Dive Centre. The accommodation is about a 5 minutes walk along the beach and offers very simple family huts (no aircon, just a couple of fans).
We had emailed in advance to check if we needed to book the diving in advance, but they replied and explained that the day before was absolutely fine as there are boats going out every day in season. November to April is the main season, outside of this, trips out to sea can be unpredictable due to monsoons, although the diving centre remains open. We visited towards the end of April.
So on arrival to our accommodation, we booked Arthur (age 11) onto the Discovery Dive (2 dives, one to 6m and the other to 12m), and booked Ezra (age 9) onto the Bubble Maker Dive (2 dives, both at 2m).
Cash is the preferred method of payment, as card payments aren’t accepted. However, you can also pay via Wise using a link provided by the dive school; that’s what we did. We paid a partial deposit when we first booked, then settled the remaining balance at the end of the diving day. Final payment is left until after the dives, as plans often change once you’re out on the water. For example, if you feel unwell after the first dive, you might decide to skip the second.
Jay and I stuck to snorkelling this time. I have my PADI certification from 20 years ago, but no longer feel a confident diver, and Jay is very much a land dweller. This was all about testing to see if the boys enjoyed scuba diving and if they did, well I’d have to don the flippers and do a refresher course!
Getting to the dive spot
We met at the Forra Diving shop along Walking Street (located here) at 8:30am, after having breakfast at Thai Lady Pancake Shop next door (there’s two along Walking Street).
The boys met their instructor, Clement, from France, and got kitted out with wetsuits and flippers. We had brought snorkel masks with us on this Thai island hopping trip, but they do provide these too.
- 🐳【180 °Panoramic and Anti Fog】The RIOROO children’s diving mirror adopts the latest anti fog…
- 🐳【Waterproof】The diving goggles are equipped with a nose mask. The soft silicone nose ensures…
- 🐳【Adjustable Strap】 The diving goggles have an adjustable strap that you can adjust to the…
- 🐳【Safe and Comfortable】The edge of the diving mirror is made of soft and comfortable…
- 🐳【Excellent Customer Service】 RIOROO always puts customer experience first. If you are not…
We then had to carry our crate of gear to a longtail boat packed with other divers, which then took us to the actual diving boat, kitted with tanks and gear for today’s group of divers. On board there were all different experience levels. Some diving for the first time, while others returning for their 50th dive in Koh Lipe. Everyone was split into small groups with no more than three divers per instructor.
As the boat chugged towards Koh Adang, the first diving spot for the day, Arthur sat with a couple from Poland as Clement explained the drills they would do underwater. I listened in, in case the tween anti-listening fog descended. But Arthur took it all in, listening intently, and was very patient when the Polish man checked for the fifth time how to clear water from his regulator and still didn’t quite get it.
All the while, Ezra sat patiently to the side, awaiting instruction that never came.
The first dive: Koh Adang
With one big stride, Arthur stepped off the back of the boat weighed down by the humongous adult tank, but bobbed on the surface from the air in his jacket. This was soon deflated and he sank out of sight for an hour, along with the Polish couple, Clement, and another instructor that appeared, Alex.
In that time, Jay and I took Ezra snorkelling. Wowee, what clear waters! Seriously, why do people bother with the faff of diving when you can pull on a snorkel and see just as much?
Arthur’s face emerging from the depths below told me exactly why. He had explored the underwater world for the first time; a quiet and colourful place where time passes differently.
He had been down to 6 metres and completed the drills with ease. So much so, the other instructor, Alex, had taken him off separately to do some advance drills and explore just the two of them. Arthur was hooked.
Finally, after everyone had done their dive, Ezra and another young girl joined Clement for their Bubble Maker Dive. As they were only 2 metres under the surface and always attached to Clement, it was easier to keep track of them.
Ezra too returned to the boat with a beaming smile and I could tell he enjoyed it. But I knew he would speak to Arthur soon and hear what he got up to.
The second dive: Koh Talang
There was no lunch break before the next dive, except a few plates of fruit that disappeared within seconds of arriving. Thankfully I’d come armed with snacks. Always bring snacks. Parents, you know this.
As soon as Ezra was back on board, the boat chugged over to Koh Talang for the second dive, and it was straight back in for the divers. This time Arthur went down to 12 metres and enjoyed it even more.
We took Ezra snorkelling again to help pass the time, which kept him happily occupied. When the divers began to return, he waited patiently for Clement to take him for his second Bubble Maker dive, as he’d been told he’d head out straight away.
However, everyone (including Clement) was eating their lunch of cold rice and curry out of plastic containers. Ok, he can wait until everyone had finished eating.
But then the boat started heading back to Koh Lipe.
I checked what was going on. Apparently everyone was returning back, but Ezra could stay on for the third dive of the day (some new divers were joining and a few were staying on). We’d been on this trip for 6 hours and he’d only had 30 minutes of scuba diving time, of course we’d wait.
An hour later, in waters that had turned a little choppy with reduced visibility, Ezra finally got his second Bubble Maker dive. He came back smiling; he’s the kind of kid who finds joy in just being underwater, even if there isn’t much to see. At that age, I think it’s the sensation of breathing and floating below the surface that holds the magic.
Still, as much as he stayed upbeat, I couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment on his behalf. It felt like his dive had been squeezed in as an afterthought, more of a hassle than a highlight for the team. And after that, we had another half-hour wait on the boat for the rest of the divers to return before we could head back.
It was 4:30pm by the time we were back on dry land. That’s a long day for a 9 year old’s first diving experience.
Final thoughts
The instruction itself was brilliant and the location couldn’t have been more perfect. However, there was definitely an end-of-season vibe among the dive team, and we couldn’t shake the feeling that Ezra’s Bubble Maker experience was a bit of an afterthought (with decisions from higher up).
Since that day, Ezra has now mentioned more than once how left out he felt, especially seeing his older brother get to do so much more. Both boys are now desperate to dive again, though it’s clear big brother will be a huge step ahead next time.
In hindsight, we should have perhaps waited until both boys were 10 years old so that they could do the main Discovery Dive together. But with school holidays and changing weather patterns in dive spots, it’s not always that simple.
Still, we now have two very enthusiastic young divers in the family, so it’s probably time I got my act together and booked a refresher course. In fact, we’ve been talking about doing the PADI Open Water Diver Scuba Diving Certification together as a family. Though, let’s be honest, I already know they’ll be better divers than me.
Our tops tips from our kids’ first diving experience
- Bring the snacks. Food provided onboard was minimal for our trip.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen and hats as you are very exposed to the sun when out on the boat.
- Bring your own snorkel masks. This way your child can practice with it beforehand and check it fits. Kids’ masks are often limited (some kids had to wait and share masks on our boat).
- If your kids are close in age, consider waiting until they are all old enough to do the same dive.
- Choose somewhere with warm, calm waters. Koh Lipe in season was perfect for this.
- If kids are doing a Bubble Maker Dive, they can wear a rash vest rather than bothering with a wetsuit; so if you have one, bring it along with you.
- Bring a drybag for your phone, cards, etc. Even if you’re on the boat, everything seems to get wet.
- Don’t bother with a GoPro if you are diving. You need to focus on what your instructor is telling you rather than trying to get to capture your best angle in your mask and regulator. A photographer with Forra Dive, Tom Goasguen, joined the boys on their dives to capture the incredible diving images featured in this article.
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- 🐳【180 °Panoramic and Anti Fog】The RIOROO children’s diving mirror adopts the latest anti fog…
- 🐳【Waterproof】The diving goggles are equipped with a nose mask. The soft silicone nose ensures…
- 🐳【Adjustable Strap】 The diving goggles have an adjustable strap that you can adjust to the…
- 🐳【Safe and Comfortable】The edge of the diving mirror is made of soft and comfortable…
- 🐳【Excellent Customer Service】 RIOROO always puts customer experience first. If you are not…
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