While simply gearing up and jumping into the water may be one way for kids to learn to scuba dive, Snorkel Dive Innovations believes there's a safer method. Its patent-pending approach incorporates a tethered system with adjustable depth limits of from 0 to 6 meters (20 feet), giving young divers the opportunity to build experience and technique while becoming more comfortable with diving at their own pace.
In step one, kids are swimming at surface level while connected to a safe, wave-free air supply. This allows them to watch and learn from more experienced divers who are swimming below, but still using the same system.
Kids can then move to step two where at 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6.5 feet) they learn slow ascends, how to clear their ears, and basic dive techniques while still tethered to the system and with an experienced diver.
By the third step, kids are learning to be more comfortable at depths of 2 to 6 meters (6.5 to 20 feet) while building experience to prepare them for their first formal scuba training course.
Snorkel Dive Innovations said that its approach is not intended to replace formal scuba training or the Junior Open Water certifications. The company expects to release more information, including technical specifications and pricing, later in February. A crowdfunding campaign on either Kickstarter or Indiegogo is planned for later this year.
Source: Snorkle Dive Innovations
