First Underwater Adventure
Scuba Explorer for Kids
Your child's first breath underwater — private, safe, and unforgettable. A pool-based introduction to scuba diving for young adventurers aged 8 to 12.
The Experience
Their First Breath Underwater — A Moment They Will Never Forget
The SSI Scuba Explorer program is designed for one purpose: to give children aged 8 to 12 a safe, exciting, and genuinely magical first encounter with the underwater world. This is not a full certification course — it is something even more special. It is the moment your child discovers they can breathe underwater, float weightlessly, and see the world from a completely new perspective.
The entire experience takes place in a pool or calm shallow water — never in the open ocean. Your child uses real scuba equipment, learns real diving skills, and earns a real SSI recognition. But above all, they have fun. With Boutique Diving Bali, the experience is completely private: just your child (or children) and Dominic. No group, no distractions, no pressure. Every moment is adapted to your child's comfort, confidence, and curiosity.
The program also introduces children to ocean conservation through SSI's Blue Oceans Explorer module — teaching them why the oceans matter and what they can do to protect marine life. It is the beginning of a journey: from explorer, to junior diver, to a lifelong love of the ocean.
What They Will Learn
What will my child learn?
The Scuba Explorer program teaches genuine diving skills — in a safe, controlled environment where the only goal is your child's comfort and enjoyment.
Breathing Underwater
The most magical moment: your child takes their first breath from a real scuba regulator and realises they can actually breathe underwater. Dominic introduces this gradually — starting at the surface, then in shallow water — until they are completely comfortable and confident.
Buoyancy & Movement
Your child learns how to float weightlessly, control their position in the water, and move around using fins. These are the foundational skills of all scuba diving — and in a pool, they can practise them without any stress or current.
Mask & Equipment Skills
Clearing water from a mask, using a regulator, understanding hand signals, and becoming comfortable with diving equipment. Every skill is taught step by step, at your child's pace, with patient repetition until it feels natural.
Ocean Conservation
Through the SSI Blue Oceans Explorer module, your child learns why the oceans matter, what marine life lives in Indonesian waters, and what they can do to help protect the underwater world. It is the beginning of environmental awareness through experience.
What Your Child Gets
The Private Explorer Experience
Completely Private
One diving coach, one child (or siblings). No group of strangers. Your child is the only student — all attention is on them.
Patience & Encouragement
Dominic is a father of two. He teaches children the way they need to be taught: with genuine patience, encouragement, and fun.
Pool Environment Only
No open ocean, no waves, no currents. Everything happens in a controlled pool or calm shallow water. Maximum safety, minimum stress.
Real Scuba Equipment
Your child uses actual diving gear — regulator, BCD, mask, fins — sized and fitted specifically for them. A real experience, not a simulation.
SSI Recognition
Your child earns the official SSI Scuba Explorer recognition — a genuine achievement they can be proud of and a foundation for future diving.
Flexible Scheduling
The experience fits your family's holiday schedule. Morning, afternoon — whenever works best. No fixed group timetable to work around.
The Diving Journey
What is the diving pathway from age 8?
The Scuba Explorer is the first step in a clear pathway. Each stage builds on the last — and Dominic guides your child through every one.
| Step | Programme | Age | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start here | SSI Scuba Explorer | 8–12 | Pool-based introduction. First breath underwater, basic skills, ocean conservation. Earns SSI Scuba Explorer recognition. |
| Next step | Junior Open Water Diver | 10–14 | Full SSI certification with open water dives. Age-appropriate depth limits. |
| The goal | Open Water Diver | From 15 | The full adult certification. 18 metres depth, dive anywhere in the world with another certified diver. Junior OWD upgrades automatically at 15. |
Scuba Explorer
Ages 8–12Pool-based introduction. First breath underwater, basic skills, ocean conservation. Earns SSI Scuba Explorer recognition.
Junior Open Water Diver
Ages 10–14Full SSI certification with open water dives. Age-appropriate depth limits. Recognised worldwide and valid for life.
Open Water Diver
From Age 15The full adult certification. 18 metres depth, dive anywhere in the world with another certified diver. Junior OWD upgrades automatically at 15.
For Parents
What Parents Should Know
It Is Completely Safe
Pool-based, shallow water, one-on-one supervision by an SSI-certified instructor with Swiss Army safety training. Your child is never out of arm's reach.
No Pressure, Ever
If your child is nervous, Dominic slows down. If they want to stop, they stop. There is never any pressure to continue. The experience should be 100% positive.
A Holiday Highlight
Families consistently tell us the Scuba Explorer was the highlight of their Bali trip. It is a unique experience your child simply cannot get at home.
Builds Genuine Confidence
Learning to breathe underwater, control buoyancy, and manage equipment gives children a sense of achievement that extends well beyond diving.
Siblings Can Join Together
If you have multiple children aged 8–12, they can share the experience together — privately, with Dominic. Each child still receives individual attention.
The Perfect First Step
If your child loves it (and most do), they are perfectly prepared for the Junior Open Water Diver course from age 10 — either on the same trip or on a future visit.
Common Questions
Everything Parents Need to Know
The SSI Scuba Explorer is an introductory diving experience designed specifically for children aged 8 to 12. It takes place in a pool or calm, shallow confined water — not in the open ocean. Your child learns to breathe underwater using real scuba equipment, practises basic diving skills like buoyancy and mask clearing, and gets a genuine taste of what it feels like to be a diver. It is a safe, supervised, and fun experience that builds confidence and excitement for the underwater world. The program also includes an introduction to ocean conservation through the SSI Blue Oceans Explorer module.
The Scuba Explorer is an experience program, not a full open water certification. Your child earns the SSI Scuba Explorer recognition — a real achievement they can be proud of — but it does not certify them to dive independently in open water. Think of it as the foundation: it introduces the skills, builds confidence, and prepares your child for the SSI Junior Open Water Diver course (available from age 10) when they are ready to take the next step.
The SSI Scuba Explorer program is available for children aged 8 to 12. Children younger than 8 can participate in the SSI Blue Oceans Explorer and Snorkel Explorer modules (available from age 6), which introduce ocean conservation and basic snorkelling skills. From age 10, children who are ready for more can move into the SSI Junior Open Water Diver course, which leads to a full open water certification.
The Scuba Explorer program takes place entirely in a pool or calm, shallow confined water — never in the open ocean. This controlled environment allows your child to focus on learning and having fun without any of the variables of open water diving. Dominic selects the best pool facility in the Tulamben or Amed area, ensuring a clean, safe, and comfortable setting for your child's first underwater experience.
Your child should be comfortable in the water, but they do not need to be an expert swimmer. If they can put their face in the water, float, and move around in a pool without distress, they are likely ready for the Scuba Explorer program. Dominic assesses every child individually at the start and will not proceed until he is confident your child is comfortable and happy. There is never any pressure.
Parents are absolutely welcome to watch from poolside and take photos or videos. You cannot participate in the Scuba Explorer session itself (it is designed specifically for children), but you are encouraged to be there to share the excitement. If you want to dive alongside your child on a future visit, the Junior Open Water Diver course (from age 10) and the Open Water Diver course (from age 15) allow families to dive together in open water.
Every experience is individually priced based on your family's specific needs — the number of children participating, any additional activities, and the location. Because Boutique Diving Bali offers exclusively private instruction, pricing is prepared as a personalised proposal after Dominic understands your situation. There are no hidden costs. Reach out via WhatsApp or email to start the conversation.
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Start Their Adventure
Let Them Discover the Underwater World
Tell Dominic about your child — their age, their comfort in water, and when you are visiting Bali. He will prepare a personalised plan for their Scuba Explorer experience.
Or email directly: [email protected]