Dive Atlantis unveils new PADI certification programs

Dive Atlantis at Atlantis the Palm, Dubai has unveiled a range of new dive programs with youngsters in mind, allowing them to get even closer to the 65,000 marine animals that call Atlantis their home.
In collaboration with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), the resort has developed world recognized certification processes for kids and adults, in the form of three brand new programs.
The first of the new dive programs tailored for young divers is the PADI bubble maker course. PADI-approved and available to kids ages 8 to 12, the PADI bubble maker course is as fun as it sounds — a chance for kids to blow bubbles while scuba diving.
The newly launched PADI Seal Team and PADI Seal Team specialty program are world recognized certifications, which welcome young scuba divers who are looking for action-packed fun surrounded by sharks and rays by completing aqua missions. Children aged 8 to 12 will learn what it is like to dive with flashlights, take digital pictures underwater and float effortlessly like an astronaut.
Part one, aqua missions 1-5, covers basic scuba diving skills, such as breathing underwater, clearing a mask of water, recovering a regulator and swimming around experiencing the sensation of being weightless. Each session takes about an hour.
Part two, which requires PADI Seal Team as a prerequisite, offers 10 specialty AquaMissions.
Steve Kaiser, VP, marine sciences and engineering for The Lost Chambers, comments: “Children have a natural curiosity about the world around them. They want to know how things work, how creatures live, and especially where they live. They also have an urgent need for exploration. Scuba diving is an excellent way to really satisfy this need. As an added bonus, scuba diving also teaches a child math skills, physics and natural science, which can make them more critical thinkers in the classroom.”