Certification
Certification
AIDA Youth Programme introduces breath-hold and water confidence skills for children and adolescents through age-appropriate progressions, not miniature adult depth courses. Bronze, Silver and Gold Dolphin courses serve ages six to eleven across roughly three days each. The four-day AIDA Junior course targets twelve to fifteen year olds with standards matched to their physiology and attention spans. Parent education on post-course supervision is part of the programme, because a youth card does not mean unattended pool breath-holding at home.
Entry youth courses need age-appropriate water confidence, not prior freediving certification. Skills are taught in shallow, controlled environments with AIDA youth coaching methods rather than copied from AIDA 2 Freediver performance tables. Adult pathways via AIDA 1 begin at sixteen with consent or eighteen by default. SSI and PADI junior snorkel and freediving offerings such as Basic Freediver with junior rules solve a similar job with different age splits.
Centres running youth courses need child safeguarding culture, patient coaches and realistic parent briefings. Dolphin courses should feel like structured water play with safety rails, not pressure to impress relatives with breath-hold numbers. That is the point. Leave a comment when you book with each child's age, swim ability and any medical or anxiety notes so the centre places them in the right progression.
Youth courses use continuous instructor assessment suited to children's learning, not adult-style performance exams.
Quick answers about this qualification. For anything else, use live chat or browse bookable activities below.
Find activitiesIt is AIDA's structured freediving and water skills pathway for children and adolescents, including Bronze, Silver and Gold Dolphin courses for ages six to eleven and a four-day Junior course for ages twelve to fifteen.
Parent education on supervision after the course is built into the programme.
Bronze Dolphin begins at age six within the youth programme. Adult AIDA 1 starts at sixteen with consent or eighteen by default.
Leave a comment when you book with your child's birth date and swim background for tier placement.
No for entry youth courses. Age-appropriate water confidence and basic swim comfort are enough to begin Bronze Dolphin or the Junior entry point your centre recommends.
Prior snorkel holiday experience helps nerves but is not mandatory.
Bronze, Silver and Gold Dolphin courses each run approximately three days for ages six to eleven, with skills progressing across tiers.
Centres may spread sessions across school holiday weeks rather than three consecutive long days for younger children.
A four-day programme for ages twelve to fifteen with adolescent-appropriate standards distinct from adult AIDA 2 depth targets.
It bridges youth dolphin progressions and eventual adult courses when age and readiness allow.
SSI Basic Freediver and PADI Basic Freediver serve older juniors with different age rules and depth limits. AIDA Youth splits younger children into dolphin tiers explicitly.
Pick the programme whose age bands and coaching style fit your family.
AIDA youth coaching uses shallow, supervised sessions with conservative limits and clear stop rules. Risks rise when children practise unsupervised after the course.
Parent education explains what responsible supervision looks like at home and on holiday.
Attend parent education, understand post-course limits and supervise water activity according to instructor guidance. Youth cards are not permission for solo breath-hold experiments.
Leave a comment when you book if you need written supervision guidelines before committing dates.
Swimwear, towel, warm layers and any personal mask or fins the centre recommends sizing in advance. Rental kit is common for growing children.
Ask about wetsuit thickness for pool temperature when you book.
Progress through Silver and Gold Dolphin tiers, continue to Junior course at twelve to fifteen, then adult AIDA 1 when age rules allow with parent consent where required.
There is no rush. Many families repeat a tier until skills feel solid and fun.
adventuro lists AIDA centres offering youth programmes at pools and calm water sites. Compare age band dates, parent briefing format and kit hire for children.
Leave a comment when you book with each child's age and any anxiety or medical notes for coach matching.
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