For young divers, owning their equipment can both help advance their training and spark a greater interest in the underwater world.
If you’ve ever embarked on a new hobby, then surely you know just how thrilling it can be to have a new set of equipment tempting you from your closet to get all the more impassioned about whatever it is you’re pursuing.
Diving is no different. Especially when it comes to getting kids and teens excited about a lifetime of underwater adventures ahead, kitting them out with fun gear designed with their needs adds that extra stoke to the spark of becoming a diver.
“Parents ask me all the time what gear to get kids,” says Kids Sea Camp founder, Margo Peyton, who recommends choosing gear that blends fun, functionality and durability for your growing adventurers.
For kids’ dive gear that goes the distance, here are some of our top picks.
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Best Scuba Gear for Kids
1. Tusa Kleio Mini Fit Youth Mask and Snorkel Combo
Leaky masks and snorkels are no fun at any age. So we love the “fitting ring” feature on this Tusa youth mask, designed to keep the silicone skirt perfectly snug. Made to fit kids between the ages of 6 and 12, the mask grows with them for some time too.
Special technology also reduces water flow into the snorkel, and a simple pinch-and-move motion adjusts the mask’s buckle with ease too. All that’s left to do is blow bubbles and enjoy the view.
2. IST Sports Adjustable Kids’ Open Heel Fins
Fins that don’t fit right are a pain point for any diver—maybe more so for kids. Enter IST Sports’ adjustable kids’ open heel fins. Available in fun colors like hot pink, neon yellow and royal blue, they’re made from a light material with a vented design to reduce fatigue while kicking.
An open toe box drains water quickly, and the adjustable straps grow with little feet, from sizes 3 to 5. Bright colors ensure your budding dive buddy is easy to spot underwater.
3. Cressi Kids Wetsuits
Even when diving or snorkeling in warm water, it’s best to zip your kids into wetsuits to protect them from bumps and scratches as they learn to perfect their buoyancy—not to mention, it helps avoid any potential marine life run-ins that can ruin a dive for anyone, such as jellyfish and fire coral.
Cressi’s line of kid-size neoprene shorties includes 2 mm and 2.5 mm options for boys and girls that promise easy movement both in and out of the water. The Lido 2 mm wetsuit has an easy-entry front zipper, while the Med X 2.5 mm zips up the back.
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4. Scubapro Rebel BCD
Peyton says this affordable Scubapro BCD is her top choice for kids in PADI Seal Team (ages 8 to 9) and for Junior Divers (ages 10 to 14) too, calling it a gift that encourages safe, confident exploration underwater. The BCD has adjustable sternum and shoulder straps and an adjustable cummerbund designed to grow with the diver.
The bright neon-green and black design adds a touch of fun, and the padded backpack provides cushioning against heavy tanks. The integrated weight pockets make gearing up simple and secure, and the wraparound air bladder provides excellent surface buoyancy and in-water stability.
5. Scubapro Aladin A1 Dive Computer
A worthy investment for budding divers, this entry-level dive computer from Scubapro brings peace of mind for both the kids who learn to use it and adults too, says Peyton. “Parents can have programmed safety stops in there, and it can monitor more than one tank,” she says about the wristwatch-style computer.
The Aladin A1 has three dive modes and a sport mode, as well as clearly marked buttons for ease of use. And what kid doesn’t love the chance to push buttons on a computer?
