What to Expect During a Family Discover Scuba Diving Session

Scuba diving as a family can be one of the most exciting and memorable experiences of your vacation — especially when you're doing it somewhere as beautiful and beginner-friendly as Grand Cayman.

At DiveTech, our Family Discover Scuba Diving session is designed for first-timers — parents and kids alike — to safely explore the underwater world together, under the close supervision of our professional dive team.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what happens from the moment you walk in, so you and your kids can feel prepared, relaxed, and excited for your underwater adventure.

Who Can Participate?

Our Family Discover Scuba sessions are ideal for:

• Parents or guardians with kids aged 10 and up

• Families where no one is scuba certified (yet)

• First-time divers who want a safe, supervised experience

• Families looking for a fun alternative to snorkeling

If your child is under 10, we offer Bubble Maker and Seal Team experiences tailored to their age and ability.

How Long Does It Take?

The full experience takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, broken down into:

1. Orientation & Briefing (30–40 minutes)

2. Pool or Shallow Water Practice (30–45 minutes)

3. Open Water Dive (30–45 minutes)

4. Wrap-up (15–20 minutes)

We schedule morning and afternoon sessions — and can make adjustments for your itinerary or energy levels.

Step 1: Orientation & Briefing

We begin with a relaxed, kid-friendly orientation at our dive center. Your family will:

• Meet your instructor (we match you with family-certified pros)

• Learn about the scuba gear and how it works

• Understand basic hand signals and underwater safety

• Go over how to clear your mask, breathe calmly, and equalize your ears

This part is interactive and light — with questions encouraged and no pressure to remember everything. We explain exactly what’s going to happen next so everyone feels informed.

Step 2: Gear Up & Pool Practice

Next, your family gets fitted with:

• Properly sized wetsuits, masks, fins, and BCDs

• Lightweight aluminum tanks (smaller tanks available for kids)

• Kid-sized tanks and weights (if needed)

We then head to the pool or shallow lagoon (usually 3–6 ft deep) where your instructor will guide you through:

• Breathing through a regulator

• Clearing your mask

• Buoyancy control and movement

• Equalization techniques

This session is slow and supportive, allowing each family member to move at their own pace. If someone gets nervous — we pause. We go only when everyone feels ready.

Step 3: The Open Water Dive

Once everyone is comfortable, we head to one of our protected shore entry dive sites, like Lighthouse Point Reef or Cobalt Coast reef, perfect for first-timers.

You’ll:

• Dive to a maximum of 40 feet (12 meters)

• Spend ~30–40 minutes underwater

• Explore coral gardens, reef fish, and marine life

• Stay in constant view of your instructor

We often see:

• Blue tangs, parrotfish, and butterflyfish

• Moray eels and sometimes sea turtles

• Colorful coral and small crustaceans

The highlight? Sharing the joy of weightlessness and discovery — side by side with your child.

Step 4: Surface Debrief & Celebration

After the dive, you’ll debrief with your instructor to review:

• What you saw

• How everyone did

• Tips for next time

You’ll get a Discover Scuba recognition, and your dive can count as credit if you decide to pursue your Open Water Certification later.

Safety & Comfort Come First

We take family safety seriously:

• All instructors are PADI/SSI certified and CPR trained

• All youth equipment is sized for safety and comfort

• We follow strict maintenance and cleanliness standards

Nervous parent? Nervous kid? No problem — our dive pros are excellent with families and know how to keep the vibe light, encouraging, and fun.

What to Bring

• Swimsuits and towels

• Reef-safe sunscreen

• A reusable water bottle

• Dry clothes for after

• Sense of wonder 😊

All dive gear, training materials, and safety briefings are included in your booking.

What Parents Are Saying

my family and i dove with divetech... we had such a great experience! everyone on staff are all so friendly and knowledgeable.  - Sherpa67650085590

Three of my kids had the opportunity to dive with Divetech. They did a fantastic job accommodating my sons with varying degrees of dive experience..  - 753newyorker “

 Dive Tech made our 10 & 11yr old daughters (first timers) relaxed and confident on their underwater adventure!! Thank you so much —- pauljE9245OV

Ready to Book?

Booking is easy:

1. Pick your date

2. Let us know your family’s ages and experience levels

3. Choose morning or afternoon session

4. Show up with smiles — we handle the rest

Final Thoughts

Your child’s first dive. Your first dive. A shared adventure in the underwater world — all under the expert eye of a DiveTech pro.

Our Family Discover Scuba sessions aren’t just about trying something new — they’re about making memories you’ll talk about for years.

Let’s go diving — together.