It was a proud day for Lakshadweep. Three young girls from Kavaratti, Aisha, Shifa and Rena, have completed their PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification at Lak Scuba, and are now some of the youngest members of India’s diving community.

The card is only part of it. It took curiosity and courage, the kind that grows when you live surrounded by the sea. For the people of Lakshadweep, the ocean is a teacher, a playground and a home.

Three young girls from Kavaratti join India’s diving community.

Growing up beside the sea

The girls grew up beside the turquoise water of Lakshadweep, and the ocean has always been part of their lives. Over the past few years they have watched visitors and professional divers explore their island’s reefs and come up with stories and photos of what they saw. They wanted to see it for themselves.

For children in Lakshadweep the ocean is part of everyday life: the waves, the reefs, the fishermen coming home. Yet most of them never see what is under the water.

When Aisha, Shifa and Rena came to Lak Scuba to start their Junior Open Water Diver course, they were excited and nervous. Breathing underwater for the first time is hard to believe, but with every dive they grew more confident and more taken with the marine life around them.

After their final dive, their excitement was impossible to miss.

“I was a little scared at first,” said Aisha, the youngest of the trio, grinning from ear to ear. “But once I saw the fish swimming all around me, I didn’t want to come up!”

For Rena, it was the beauty and calm of the ocean that stood out. “It’s so peaceful down there. You forget everything else.”

Shifa shared that her favorite part was learning to control her movement underwater. “It felt like flying — slow and quiet. I could move any way I wanted.”

Any diver will know what they mean: the awe and the calm of a first real breath underwater.

Learning to dive

The PADI Junior Open Water course is designed for young divers, and the girls took to it with real enthusiasm. From their first breath underwater to learning buoyancy, they met every skill with laughter and determination.

They learned to move slowly, breathe calmly and work as a team. Every dive showed them something new: clownfish among the anemones, a curious wrasse following their fins, sunlight through the corals.

“After the first few minutes, it didn’t feel scary anymore,” said Aisha, the youngest. “It was like entering another world.” Rena added, “It’s so peaceful down there. You forget everything else.” And Shifa, smiling, said, “It felt like flying — slow and quiet. I didn’t want to come up!”

The ocean as a classroom

In the classroom they learned physics, safety and the science of diving. Under the water they learned patience and respect: how to stay steady when the water gets murky, how to notice small things, and how to move gently over a living reef.

Those dives changed how the girls see their island. The reefs they had only heard about are now places they know, fragile and alive. Diving gave them confidence and a sense of belonging.

For Aisha, Shifa and Rena this is only the start. They may go on to be advanced divers, underwater photographers or people who protect marine life, and it will all have started here in Lakshadweep. For the rest of us who dive, their smiles were a reminder of why we started.

A new generation of divers

At Lak Scuba we have always believed diving can change lives, and watching these three girls take to the water so naturally reminded the whole team why we do this work. We remember their laughter between dives, their questions about coral and fish, and their faces when they saw their certification cards for the first time.

Their story is also part of something bigger in Lakshadweep. More and more island children want to explore the water around them, as locals seeing their own backyard in a new way. These young divers are a reminder that caring for the sea starts at home, with people who have seen the reef for themselves.

In Kavaratti, diving is no longer only something visitors come here to do. It is becoming part of island life.

Every new diver adds to it: stories swapped on the jetty, friendships made while rinsing gear, laughter at the dive center after sunset.

Aisha, Shifa and Rena went from watching others explore their home waters to diving in them themselves. They are showing other children in Lakshadweep that the sea around their island is theirs to explore too.

Learn to dive with us

Whatever your experience, you can learn to dive with us at Lak Scuba and explore the coral gardens of Lakshadweep. Bubble Maker and Seal Team start at age 8; Discover Scuba Diving and the certification courses start at age 10.

“We never imagined we’d see what’s beneath our island — it’s so peaceful and full of life. Now that we’ve been there, we just want to keep diving again and again.”

– Aisha, Shifa & Rena

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum age to start the Junior Open Water Diver course?

Children as young as 10 years old can begin the PADI Junior Open Water Diver course. The course introduces young divers to the ocean safely, with depth limits and guidance suited to their age.

How deep can Junior Open Water divers go?

The maximum depth depends on age and training conditions:

10–11 years: Up to 12 meters (40 feet)
12–14 years: Up to 18 meters (60 feet)

How long does the course take to complete?

Most students finish in 3 to 4 days, which includes theory sessions, shallow-water skill practice, and four open-water dives. The schedule can be flexible depending on weather, comfort, and progress.

Is it safe for children to scuba dive?

Yes, and safety comes first. PADI programs for juniors are carefully structured, taught in small groups and supervised by certified instructors. Children are introduced to diving step by step in calm, shallow water such as Lakshadweep’s lagoons.

What equipment do Junior Divers use?

Junior divers use gear sized for them: smaller BCDs, lighter tanks, and masks and fins that fit, so they are comfortable and in control. All equipment at Lak Scuba meets international safety standards and is regularly maintained.