(NewsNation) — Matteo Miller celebrated his 12th birthday on Thursday, and on Friday, he will attempt to complete his certification to become the youngest master scuba divers in the world.
He says he feels the freest in the water, fulfilling more than 50 dives over the past two years.
“I can go to the same spot 200 times and I’ll never see the same thing. It’s just so calm and peaceful down there,” the 12-year-old told NewsNation.
Matteo Miller’s first scuba lesson
Matteo Miller’s love for the ocean was sparked at a young age, and by 8 years old, his parents Paul and Valentina Miller signed him up for his first scuba diving class.
“Every time he’s in the water, he gets out of the water and he’s like, ‘when are we going back?’ Every time he takes a class and gets certified, ‘when can I do the next class?'” Paul Miller said.
The middle schooler has roughly a dozen diving certifications.
Now, Matteo Miller’s birthday wish is to attempt to break a record and become the youngest master scuba diver in the world.
“I heard about this girl who claimed that she had the record for the youngest master scuba diver and I was like, ‘I have to beat her,'” he said.
Master scuba diver is the highest recreational certification for diving, according to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Being a master scuba diver puts you in the world’s elite 2% of divers.
Becoming a master scuba diver
To achieve master diver status, you must hold a rescue diver certification, complete 5 specialty diver courses and log at least 50 dives before you can apply for the course. Plus, you have to be 12 years old to be considered.
Matteo Miller’s love for diving has been fueled by a passion for the environment and a commitment to keep the world’s oceans healthy. He’s joined ocean cleanups and coral reef restoration dives in his home state.
“It’s sad because there’s so much trash in the ocean, but then it’s sort of cool and like good because we take out so much of that trash,” he said.
Michael Casey, the managing director at Diver’s Paradise in Key Biscayne, Florida, said Matteo Miller is among the young people getting scuba diving certifications that will change the future for the better.
“(They) are the policymakers of the future,” Casey said. “Everyone he talks, to those young people become ambassadors for the ecosystems and that’s what’s going to change things as we go forward.”