You can put an adult mask on a child. They won’t dive with it — at least not happily. For children, equipment in the right size isn’t a matter of comfort; it’s the difference between a good dive and one that gets stopped.
The mask: the most important piece of equipment of all
When a first dive goes wrong, in the vast majority of cases it’s down to the mask. It doesn’t seal, slowly fills up, the child gets water up the nose, gets a fright — and from then on the head is busy with something other than diving.
What matters with children’s masks:
- Low internal volume. The less air in the mask, the less it squeezes on descent and the easier it is to clear — which is crucial for children’s lungs.
- Soft silicone skirt. It has to mould to a small face, not just sit on it.
- The right width. A mask that sticks out past the cheekbones will never seal.
The simple test we do before every course: hold the mask to the face without the strap, breathe in briefly through the nose, let go. If it stays on by itself, it fits. If it falls off, we take another one.
Fins: short and soft
Long, stiff fins look professional and are completely unsuitable for children’s legs. They require strength children don’t have and lead to calf cramps after ten minutes.
With us, children get short, soft fins with an adjustable heel strap. They can be worn with neoprene boots and grow with the child a little.
BCD: down to size XXS — and with a crotch strap
A BCD that’s too big slides up on descent and presses against the chin and neck. That rightly frightens children.
We have BCDs from size XXS, all with a waist strap and — importantly — a crotch strap. It prevents exactly this riding up. Adult BCDs usually don’t have one.
Tank: small, and only carried in the water
A full 12-litre steel tank weighs around 18 kilos. No eight-year-old should carry that. Children get smaller tanks with us, and on land the instructor carries them anyway — the equipment is put on in the water or sitting down on board.
By the way: children do use more air per minute, but they also dive shallower. At two metres deep even a small tank lasts a very long time.
Wetsuit: thicker rather than thinner
The point parents underestimate most often: children get cold much faster than adults. Relative to their volume they have more body surface and less fatty tissue.
A child who is cold becomes quiet, unfocused and anxious — and almost never says on their own that they’re cold. That’s why children get a thicker suit with us, even in high summer with 29 degree water. And that’s why children’s dives are shorter than their parents’.
What you should bring yourselves
- Swimwear — ideally already on
- Towel
- Sun protection, ideally mineral and reef-friendly, applied at least 20 minutes before going in the water
- A hat for the time on deck
- Water bottle — children drink too little when diving without noticing
- Water shoes, if you have some
- Passport or a copy for registration
What you can safely leave at home
- Your own diving gear for children. We provide everything, and our gear fits.
- A mask from the holiday shop — see above.
- Armbands and swimming aids. They get in the way when diving and aren’t part of the concept.
- An underwater camera on the first day. It’s distracting, and a child who wants to film doesn’t pay attention to their buoyancy. From the second day, go ahead.
- Valuables and jewellery. Earrings and necklaces stay in the hotel safe.
Is it worth buying your child their own equipment?
Honest answer: not for one holiday. Children’s feet and faces grow fast — a mask that fits perfectly this summer won’t fit properly next summer.
If your child keeps diving at home with a club and gets in the water regularly, their own mask is the only purchase that’s really worth it — because it has to fit most individually. Everything else is better rented.