Thailand's expatriate population has changed over the past few years to where many families have children who would enjoy participating in this program. I am sure that one of the biggest challenges parents face here is to figure out what activities they should encourage their children to become involved in. This is a dilemma everywhere in the world, but it would be an especially difficult problem in Thailand. Stays here are transitory. Language problems are a fact. The Expat community is small and some would say rather unsophisticated and narrow in its entertainment options.

Scuba is the perfect sport for Expat families. Our diving is some of the best in the world and there are certainly enough dive shops where getting good informationะin English or any other languageะis very easy. Going diving is easier than buying a mobile telephone here; it's very straightforward and a lot more fun. You don't even have to talk to your lawyer.

With PADI's Seal Team program, a diving instructor can take youngsters in the pool with or without the parent's participation and get them excited about a safe, fun, and environmentally sound recreational sport. This pool program is designed to be fairly unstructured, yet supervised. There are no long explanations about diving theory; after all, kids have little fear compared with adults, and take to new ideas very easily.

This concept is not a new one. When I worked for Club Med in the 1980s, we would take children as young as three into the pool with scuba equipment. There were no questions; there was no fear. The kids would put the breathing apparatus (regulator) into their mouths, start breathing and begin swimming underwater. The most difficult part was trying to keep up with them. The look of awe on their faces when we surfaced was something to treasure.

PADI's standards require the children to be a bit older, but the idea is the same. Kids take to the adventure quickly and enthusiastically. Apart from the PADI Seal Team program, 8-9 year olds may also join the PADI Bubblemaker program, which can be conducted in a swimming pool, or in a shallow calm lagoon up to a maximum depth of 2 meters. When they turn 10 yrs old, they can take a Junior Scuba Diver or Junior Open Water Diver course that allows them to dive in the ocean up to a maximum depth of 12 meters under direct supervision of a PADI Professional. These courses also encourage the children to try snorkeling, something that is a great family activity as well as an activity that kids can participate in with their peers.

Encourage your children's teachers to contact a dive shop about the programs. We have some of the best instructors in the world here, and one of the best environments to learn in. It's a worthwhile and safe adventure to get your kids involved in and something they will remember their whole lives.