Diving and snorkelling – a fantastic family holiday
If kids can swim, they can snorkel and that brings a new dimension to beach holiday. It is a great way of experiencing marine life close-up and it’s something that family members of all ages can experience together. Nemo is a family favourite and the possibility of seeing a clown fish or a turtle will excite children of all ages. Do manage expectations though depending on where you are.
Children can be equipped with underwater cameras and you can have competitions to spot various varieties of fish.
Diving however is a different experience and can have its dangers. It is however great fun and can be a great introduction for older children into photography, marine biology and underwater worlds. Diving does however require attention to detail, calmness in the case of emergency and attention to the rules and regulations which can be often foreign to children. It is generally a good idea for families to get started by having some basic training at home in a pool to check they like the idea and you should check minimum ages carefully.
Top tips when booking your family diving holiday
Check carefully what certification is offered and whether it is PADI or BSAC. PADI has schools all over the world and some courses cater for children as young as 8.
Check the minimum age for children and whether you can train together as a family.
Check that the instructors speak good English as it is essential that there is no misunderstanding when diving is concerned.
Check that there are adequate medical facilities and where the nearest decompression chamber is. Also ask what the equipment facilities are like in case of emergency.
If you have young children who would be unsuitable for diving, make sure you travel with an operator who provides qualified child care, such as family diving.co.uk who has english qualified nursery staff at some of its resorts. Our guide to questions to ask about kids clubs should help you.
You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday.
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