FAMILY OPEN WATER COURSES IN THE PHILIPPINES
Are you planning your next family holiday? Do you want to do something memorable, active, engaging and fun for all of your family? If the answer is yes, then learning to scuba dive in the Philippines checks all of the boxes!! Here are 5 key reasons why we at Divenet recommend that families should consider taking the PADI Open Water Course together.
GETTING ACTIVE
While we want to relax on holiday, for many families this can present challenges – children have boundless energy and Mum and Dad want to chill out by the pool. Inevitably this leads to bored youngsters and frustrated adults. You may work long hours in your normal life but it is a proven fact that exercise, laughing, doing something you enjoy with people you love are the best ways to escape stress! It’s important to remember too that the PADI Open Water Course is a serious dive program but it is not a military boot camp. PADI Instructors are expert educators who recognize that making it fun for kids and adults alike is paramount. The course is varied and includes theory, practical, pool and ocean training but you are never overloaded and you will have enough time for periods of home study, as well as all of the fun parts that happen underwater! A big part of getting active is also achieving your goals and with a well-structured course and professional instructor/s. A at the end of each session you will feel like you achieved something together as a family – that’s an amazing sensation and one that doesn’t happen as often as it should in busy households where people have different interests and schedules.
LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER
It may seem strange to think that you might learn about each other – after all, you are family and you live together! This is a revelation for many families that learn to dive together as the parents get to see a side to their children that they haven’t seen before. Likewise, the children see their parents in unfamiliar situations. In life we wear many “hats”, the way we behave at the office is not how we are at home or in school or at a job interview. For parents it can be really enlightening to see their children in a learning environment – obviously parents receive school reports but it’s not often something a parent sees first hand. Parents also see how their children deal with problems and uncertainties and often, for the first time, children see their parents learning something on an even footing as themselves rather than taking on the parent or teacher role. Suddenly the entire family is on a level playing field. So beware parents – you may be outdone by your kids!
EDUCATION
We all want our children to have broad learning experiences both in and out of school but it can be difficult making learning fun – especially over an extended period like a holiday. The PADI Open Water Course is not only educational for children, but also for adults alike. Topics that are covered in the course include: eco-systems, nature, conservation, physics, biology, health, fitness, first aid, equipment considerations, weather, climate and ocean changes, tides, global currents, geography, safety, rescue and survival skills, communication and most importantly team work.
Older children in your family may find some modules easier than younger children, and this presents an opportunity for siblings to help and support each other – if that isn’t a great example of teamwork and family support then what is? The program works with you all as a class and you progress at the speed of the most cautious learner which means everyone benefits from everyone else doing well – there are no elements of competition in diving like there are in other sports, instead the focus is on support and development.
RESPONSIBILITY
Of course we want our children to be responsible and to make wise and well considered decisions but when we are young and have heaps of energy and see no danger in anything, it’s not always guaranteed. This is where the PADI Open Water Course really helps youngsters. They have multiple checks that they need to remember to perform together. They have to evaluate conditions and make decisions about how to proceed. They also have chance in the last pool session to voice to the instructor what they feel they need more practice on which makes them evaluate themselves too. They are taught self-responsibility and to be responsible for each other. When you are used to the kids fighting for something as trivial as the TV control it is not only refreshing but incredibly heart-warming to see them working together, caring for and supporting each other. And of course, all of this is happening while they are having fun exploring an entirely new underwater world, pointing out fish to each other and watching an occasional turtle swimming by! Who says that learning is boring??!
FUN AS A UNIT
The fun element cannot be overestimated and it comes in so many forms during the PADI Open Water Course –hovering like a weightless astronaut, seeing incredible marine life, your instructor making jokes underwater, passing tests together, or learning and celebrating every success together.
If you want to take your family through the PADI Open Water Course and share in some lifetime memories and experiences get in touch with us at info@divenetphil.com.
Taking the PADI Open Water Course in the Philippines is really just the beginning of a lifetime of adventures for families and once certified as PADI divers you have opened endless doors to a lifetime of fun family holidays.
