Children and diving, a guideline

Scuba diving is an increasingly popular recreational activity in children and adolescents. During the dive medical examination aspects of human physiology, anatomy, and psychology, that differ between adults and children, deserve our special attention. For example, lack of mental maturity, diminished Eustachian tube function and heat loss can pose problems during diving. It is important that children who wish to take up scuba diving are seen by a dive physician, with extra attention to Eustachian tube function. In children, asthma, bronchial hyperreactivity, pulmonary hypertension, and right-to-left shunts are contra-indications for scuba diving. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a relative contra-indication. This article provides a review of the current literature and presents recommendations for recreational diving in children and adolescents. These recommendations are based solely on 'expert' opinion and were accepted by the Dutch Society of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine in 2020.