India

Mumbai schoolboy becomes world’s youngest certified Junior Open Water Scuba Diver

A 10-year-old Mumbai schoolboy has become the world’s youngest certified Junior Open Water Scuba Diver in the world as he dived into the sea off the Puducherry coast on Friday.

The boy, Dwit A. Nandu, a Class 4 student in St. Francis D’Assisi High School, celebrated his 10th birthday on Thursday (August 24) an d accomplished the feat on Friday, said his father Dr. Amit Nandu, a professor in a Mumbai college.

Scuba Diving is regulated by the Australia-based Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI), working in 186 countries, and it issues certification to divers which make them qualified to dive around the world.

According to PADI rules, the minimum age for a certified diver is 10 years. Dwit’s 10th Birthday was on 24 August. He had started preparing for the course well in advance and he completed a day after turning 10 to meet the official norms, creating a world record,” Dr Nandu said.

Deep diving runs in the family as Dr. Nandu is a Certified Deep Diver, his elder son Jinay, 21, a student of IIT Bombay is an Advanced Open Water Diver.

The first level certification is termed Junior Open Water Diver (12 metres) with the next step being Open Water Diver. This is followed by Advanced Open Water Diver who can go to a depth of 30 metres after which the next higher category is Deep Diver qualified for a depth of 40 metres.

The rigorous course required learning advanced swimming, finishing confined water training in a swimming pool and then completing four open water dives. There is also a written exam based on five modules that has to be cleared to get the certificate.

AddThis Website Tools
IN Bureau

Recent Posts

“Discussed expanding bilateral relations and synergy in various areas”: Cyprus President after delegation-level talks with PM Modi

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed expanding bilateral ties…

2 hours ago

India, Cyprus to develop roadmap to provide strategic direction to bilateral cooperation, strengthen defence cooperation: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that India and Cyprus will develop a strong…

2 hours ago

EU slams China over Tibet in 40th human rights dialogue

The European Union and China conducted the 40th iteration of their Human Rights Dialogue on…

3 hours ago

PM Modi awarded highest civilian honour of Cyprus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III…

3 hours ago

EAM Jaishankar, UAE counterpart discuss situation in West Asia and ways to reduce escalation

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah…

3 hours ago

India maintains nuclear edge over Pakistan with more warheads, next-gen ‘canisterised’ MIRV-capable missiles: SIPRI

India continues to maintain an edge over Pakistan in nuclear capabilities, with the Stockholm International…

6 hours ago