Do you remember graduating from elementary school? Kenting Elementary in the far south of Taiwan has a one-of-a-kind ceremony to mark the special rite of passage. For the second year in a row, teachers and kids have learned to dive to take part in a ceremony under the sea.

In wet suits and diving gear, elementary school graduates are led into the water by diving instructors.

This unconventional graduation ceremony is near Hou-pi-hu後壁湖 Fishing Harbor. Kids dove down 5 meters below the surface to receive their certificates from their tutor.

There were no special guests apart from the bubbles and fish swimming by.

Chen Shu-fang
Kenting Elementary School teacher
Kenting Elementary is a school in the ocean. We wanted the children to experience a different kind of graduation ceremony, which is why we organized the dive, something most children wouldn’t get the chance to experience. There is some difficulty in it, but we let the kids have a go and do their best.

There are often classes in snorkeling and surfing at this school nestled between ocean and mountain. Last year the teachers started the unique diving graduation. This year, kids started training six months ago. Their two teachers got diving certificates to be able to accompany the children in the challenge.

Chen Shu-fang
Kenting Elementary School teacher
I always say they’re the happiest children in Taiwan. They are always learning through playing and happy. This is it: the whole Hengchun Peninsula is our classroom, including the mountains and the sea.

After the ceremony, these 10 children stayed in the water to wish their moms Happy Mother’s Day from under the sea.