Canada
What ages are included in the Open group of diving?
Diving
Diving Scuba Diving International Recreational diver training Technical diving USA Diving
Diving-Masters'_Diving Scuba_Diving_International-Entry_Level_Courses Recreational_diver_training-Scuba_training_for_younger_people Technical_diving-Abstract USA_Diving-Abstract
Divers who continue diving past their college years can compete in Masters' Diving programs. Masters' diving programs are frequently offered by college or club programs. Masters' Diving events are normally conducted in age-groups of 5 or 10 years, and attract competitors of a wide range of ages and experience (many, indeed, are newcomers to the sport); the oldest competitor in a Masters' Diving Championship was Viola Krahn, who at the age of 101 was the first person in any sport, male or female, anywhere in the world, to compete in an age-group of 100+ years in a nationally organized competition. 
These courses are meant for people interested in taking the first steps towards Scuba diving:  - A course designed to provide children between the ages of 8 & 9 an introduction to scuba diving in a controlled environment under the direct supervision of an instructor. Once the future buddy turns 10 they can enroll in the SDI Junior Open Water Diver course. - An introductory program to scuba diving, for people who are not sure they want to proceed with a full scuba course and certification. - Entry-level certification to scuba diving  - A skin diving course.  
Most training agencies have minimum ages for diving and often restrict younger children to snorkeling. BSAC allows 6-year-olds to train for the "Dolphin Snorkeller" grade. From the age of 8 years old PADI has the "SEAL Team program" and SSI have "SCUBA Rangers" which teach diving in shallow swimming pools. PADI allows 10-year-olds to do the full Open Water Diver course. They are called "Junior Open Water" divers. There are restrictions on their depth and group size when diving. Also they must dive with their parents or a professional. When they reach the age of 12 they can dive with a qualified adult. Over 15 they are considered capable of diving with others of the same age or above. BSAC allows 12-year-olds to do the full entry level diving course - the Ocean Diver course. This qualification has no restrictions for the young diver, but individual branches of BSAC are free to set their own minimum age for branch membership. 
Technical diving (sometimes referred to as Tec diving) is a form of scuba diving that exceeds the conventional limits – especially depth and bottom time – of recreational diving. Technical diving exposes the diver to significantly higher risks than recreational diving, including permanent illness and death, and therefore requires extensive experience, advanced training, and specialized equipment. Technical diving also often involves breathing gases other than air or standard nitrox. The term "technical diving" has been credited to Michael Menduno, who was editor of the (now defunct) diving magazine "aquaCorps Journal". The concept and term, "technical diving", are both relatively recent advents, although divers have been engaging in what is now commonly referred to as technical diving for decades. 
USA Diving, Inc. is the national governing body of diving in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and is a member of United States Aquatic Sports Inc., the United States' member of FINA (the International Swimming Federation). The mission of USA Diving Inc. is to conduct and promote the sport of diving in a manner that allows each participant to achieve the peak of excellence afforded by his or her ability, effort, desire, and dedication.USA Diving, Inc. is a non profit organization that is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Diving has helped develop and conduct various training programs for divers of all ages and skill levels. It has helped a great deal in expanding the diving world, especially to more than just those who are chosen for special advanced teams.USA Diving is responsible for training, selecting and preparing teams that represent the United States at major international events such as the Olympic Games, the World Cup Diving tour and the FINA World Diving Championships. Events run by USA Diving each year in the United States are the FINA/USA Diving Grand Prix, the U.S. National Diving Championships ( formerly known as the U.S. Open Diving Championships ), the Speedo National Junior Diving Championships and the USA Diving National Grassroots Invitational.USA Diving provides oversight to 42 Local Diving Associations (LDAs) encompassing more than 300 diving clubs nationwide that provide competitive and training programs collectively referred to as Junior Olympic or JO Diving for divers through High School (age 18 and under). Divers of exceptional talent and ability are selected from the junior program to enter the senior program which identifies and develops top national and international-caliber divers. The masters program is available for divers 21 and over who no longer compete on the senior or junior level, but wish to remain in active competition.USA Diving also serves as a source of news, educational materials and media for both divers and diving coaches, providing information on all aspects of the sport. The organization's official publication, Inside USA Diving provides continuing information on major programs, events and diving news in quarterly magazine format. Regular features include national and international meet results, general diving articles, competition articles and diver highlights. 