Many people with children put off the idea of taking a scuba diving vacation because they feel that it will be too challenging or dangerous for their young children. While junior divers cannot be certified until the age of 12, there are plenty of diving opportunities for young children out there if you know where to look. Just one of these adventures can be found on the shores of the Red Sea.
On the Israeli Coast of the Red Sea, there is an exciting open sea facility made just for families with small children who wish to go scuba diving or wish to get acquainted with it. Of course, the amount of scuba diving activity that your children can take part in will depend on their age, water skills, and desire to learn.
Before you even begin planning your family vacation to the Red Sea you should get your children used to the idea of going for this. You can do this by introducing them to toys, videos, and CD Rom programs that are designed to familiarize children with scuba diving.
Another great way to get your children excited about the idea of going scuba diving in the Red Sea is to take them snorkeling. Snorkeling can also be a great training tool. By teaching your kids to perform certain underwater maneuvers such as picking up coins off of the ocean floor and weaving through hoops and other obstacles, you will teach them the basic skills of it maneuverability and you will get them used to being submerged under water for long periods of time.
Once you have covered the basics, you will need to choose a dive destination that is perfect for your family. The scuba diving location mentioned earlier on the coast of the Red Sea might be the perfect spot for your first family vacation. The park is called Dolphin Reef and it is located in Eilat, Israel. It is an open sea facility where families can swim and dive with dolphins in their natural habitat. Dolphin Reef also offers diving courses at their advanced scuba diving center along with diving expeditions to the Sinai and Jordan.
Keep in mind that your children will probably not be able to participate in all of these activities to be found off the shores of the Red Sea, so be sure to plan a good deal of dry-land activities as well. Remember; if you choose a destination that is family friendly, you will not have to leave your children out of all of your underwater activities and you will be laying the groundwork for future vacations. And just think; you may even instill a love of the underwater world into your children that will stay with them for the rest of their lives if you plan a family scuba diving vacation to the Red Sea.
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