Three generations under the sea: Izmir dive program opens to 12-year-olds

In Izmir's Karaburun district, a diving program has lowered the minimum age for participants to 12, allowing children, parents and even grandparents to explore the underwater world together.

The Young Diver program, organized by the Turkish Underwater Sports Federation (TSSF), brought together participants ranging from 12-year-old children to a 65-year-old woman diving for the first time in her life.

Diving instructor Ece Yanaray accompanied her 65-year-old mother, Nilgun Yanaray, on her first-ever dive as part of the program, describing the experience as deeply emotional.

Yanaray, a certified one-star diving instructor affiliated with the TSSF/CMAS system, said she and a friend created a social media account six years ago dedicated to introducing diving to people of all ages.

She noted that a 12-year-old and a 65-year-old diver took part in a trial dive on the same day, and that despite a 53-year age gap between them, both showed the same excitement and enthusiasm underwater.

As a tribute to her mother's first dive, Yanaray pinned a red ribbon on her, mirroring the ribbon her mother had once given her as a child when she learned to read.

Nilgun Yanaray said she had agreed to try diving mainly to support her daughter's enthusiasm, but ended up enjoying the experience and now hopes to dive again and explore greater depths in the future.

As part of the same program, a family of four, including two children, also completed a trial dive together and plans to begin formal diving training the following week.

According to instructors, participants aged 14 and older are permitted to dive to depths of up to 18 meters, making the sport an activity that families can enjoy together at increasing levels.

Karaburun Diving Center official Hamdullah Aras said the program has no upper age limit, and that older participants can continue diving as long as they meet the federation's required health standards.

Aras added that lowering the minimum age to 12 has allowed many more young people to join the sport earlier, after previously being unable to start training due to age restrictions.

Huriye Ersen, who dived together with her husband and children, said the family now has an underwater photograph in their family album, describing the shared experience as one that strengthened their family bond.