A review of Divers Alert Network (DAN) emergency call records involving minors offers a clearer picture of what can go wrong when children scuba dive, and where prevention efforts should focus. The paper, based on 149 DAN emergency call records, highlights patterns that may differ from adult diving, especially around stress, ascent control, and supervision.
What the data shows: why DAN was called
In the call records reviewed, suspected decompression sickness (DCS) was the most common reason for contacting DAN, accounting for 38% of calls involving minors. Ear and sinus issues were next at 26%. The dataset also included suspected pulmonary barotrauma in 12 cases (8%) and suspected arterial gas embolism (AGE) in six cases (4%).
However, the paper notes an important gap between initial concern and final outcome: while suspected DCS triggered many calls, DCS made up only 6% of final diagnoses. In contrast, ear and sinus issues were the most common confirmed dive injury in minors at 32%, similar to adult divers in that category.
A standout signal: lung barotrauma in minors
One of the more striking findings is the share of lung barotrauma, reported as 15% of dive injuries among minors in the review. The article notes that reliable comparison data for adult incidence is not available, but describes this figure as appearing higher than in the general diving population.
The discussion around these cases points to a practical takeaway: for younger divers, the pathway to serious injury often runs through stress and loss of ascent control.
Anxiety, rapid ascents, and equipment problems
In seven lung barotrauma cases, there were confirmed reports of a rapid ascent, and six of those involved confirmed or strongly suspected anxiety. The article also describes additional cases where minors likely became anxious at depth, followed by uncontrolled ascents and injury.
The review also includes scenarios where an event at depth may have led to accidental breath-holding, increasing the risk of pulmonary injury. Two cases cited in the article involved equipment-related triggers: one child reported a free-flowing regulator, and another was reported as overweighted.
Alongside the incident descriptions, the article emphasizes that chronological age does not reliably predict maturity. That matters because decision-making, stress response, and the ability to follow procedures under pressure can vary widely among minors.
Supervision: treating child diving as its own category
A central theme is that diving with minors benefits from a more structured approach than “standard buddy diving.” The article suggests that, just as instructors train for specialities like wreck diving, specialized training for teaching and guiding minors could be useful—focused on children’s needs and behavior patterns that may increase risk.
It also recommends keeping minors at arm’s length from a capable adult diver who can closely monitor comfort and stress, with distance increasing only as the diver matures and becomes more predictable under pressure.
Rethinking the buddy system for minors
The article argues that minors may not be reliable buddies in the same way as adults, due to differences in strength, maturity, and unpredictable responses to perceived threats. One suggested approach is a two-adults-and-a-child buddy structure, ideally including an adult who knows the child well and can notice early signs of discomfort.
The prevention message
The overall prevention message is direct: understand how stress can escalate quickly for younger divers, and build conservative systems around supervision, instruction, and planning. With appropriate training and close oversight, the article concludes that risks can be reduced when minors join family diving activities.
Diventures Team is a multidisciplinary team of scuba professionals, editors, and digital creators, producing accurate and experience-driven coverage of diving, marine life, and ocean culture.
