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Dive Olly Dive

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 3; suggested age 3.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Underwater fun with positive social messages.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 3 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Olly and his friends often make mistakes, but that's how they learn valuable lessons about things like cooperation, honesty, and respect. When they're faced with a task they can't do themselves, the group relies on members' individual talents to work it out. The show's setting may stir kids' interest in learning about sea life.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    In some scenes, sea creatures chase or snap at Olly and his friends, but the overall tone is light.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Dive Olly Dive was written by Emily Ashby

Parents need to know that this cartoon series for young children is filled with positive messages about kindness, respect for others, honesty, and responsibility. Preschoolers will easily relate to the troubles that Olly and his friends face, and they'll benefit from seeing how communication helps the group resolve problems and improve their social behavior. In some scenes, predatory sea creatures like sharp-toothed barracudas chase the little subs, but overall the tone is light and shouldn't frighten youngsters.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about responsibility and doing a job well. What jobs do Olly, Beth, and Skid do for Diver Doug? How do they use their individual talents to get the jobs done? What might happen if they didn't do their work? Why is it important to do what we're asked to do? Kids: What responsibilities do you have? What would happen if you didn't live up to them? Families can also discuss the issues raised by the show -- including honesty, forgiveness, and self-confidence -- and relate the stories to kids' own experiences.
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More on Dive Olly Dive

What’s the Story?

DIVE OLLY DIVE follows the oceanic escapades of Olly (voiced by Robbie E. Harrison), a young submarine-in-training who works under the direction of Diver Doug (Gibson Nolte) at the Special Underwater Research Facility -- SURF for short. Olly and his best friend, Beth (Allisyn Arm), help Diver Doug maintain the ocean floor for the creatures and watercraft that call it home. When they're not on the job, the subs head off for adventure in their underwater wonderland with friends like transport vehicle Skid (Julie McGregor) and Brandt (Shane Withington), a hermit crab who aspires to be a pirate.

Is It Any Good?

This engaging series is sure to delight preschoolers with its colorful characters and crisp animation, which will help open kids' eyes to the world's diversity and perhaps pique their curiosity to learn more about the real-life versions of the characters. Kids will easily relate to the issues that Olly and his friends face in their relationships with each other and their underwater exploration, and they're well served by the strong positive messages about values like helpfulness, respect, cooperation, and honesty.

Very sensitive youngsters may need a little reassurance during scenes in which predatory creatures chase or intimidate the little subs, but overall there's nothing to worry about in sharing this vibrant, enjoyable series with your preschoolers.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Some inappropriate Dialogue|Language Have an issue like "cuss" and "ass" lot of profanity or inappropriate s**ual content. the context of "My Parents Are Going To Kick My Son Of A Cuss Ass, The T Word, Lot Of Profanity" The L Word Bad Dirty Words Not Nice.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    One of the very best

    Dive Olly Dive is our children's favorite show on PBS Sprout. It looks so vibrant it makes other shows on this network look old hat. Bath time never passes these days without the cry "Dive Olly Dive" ringing out. This must also be one of the best written pre-school shows on television with relatable storylines; genuinely exciting adventures and the voice actors also actually act rather than shout as in Dora the Explorer. I completely agree with your reviewer except we would award five stars to this show.

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