A question regarding junior divers

[pbr]

My 13 y/o son is about to be certified by PADI as a junior diver. We are taking a week long trip to the bahamas on a live aboard where he will do his check out dives.

Question; I've been told that his depth limit is 40 feet but I'm curious if that is "strickly" enforced. If he is comfortable going deeper, say 40 - 60 feet will the dive master compel him (and therefore me) to stay at 40?

 

[DeputyDan]

My understanding for PADI is as follows:

Ages 10 and 11 limited to 40 feet
Ages 12, 13 and 14 limited to 60 feet.

Age 15 can receive "adult" certification

My kids were SSI certified at age 12 and the limit is 60 feet. SSI won't certify (as far as I know) under age 12.

 

[DiveTyme]

On check-out dives one and two, the depth limit is 40'. For three and four the limit is 60'. (the same for adults) If he was 12 or under then 40' is the limit.
Tim

 

[Mako Mark]

it should be a max of 60 ft when he has completed his certified, but dont rush him, the best fish are near the surface anyhow.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

My 13 y/o son is about to be certified by PADI as a junior diver. We are taking a week long trip to the bahamas on a live aboard where he will do his check out dives.

Question; I've been told that his depth limit is 40 feet but I'm curious if that is "strickly" enforced. If he is comfortable going deeper, say 40 - 60 feet will the dive master compel him (and therefore me) to stay at 40?

...is that they aren't adults. They are, to an even greater extent, unpredictable.

So long as everything goes perfectly, your son is likely to have no trouble at all. As things sometimes do, however, should anything NOT go perfectly, any deeper than 40'-50' is a lot of water to get up through. And what might be an easy fix for you, might not occur to a 13 year old.

Youngsters can be drilled in the pool, and can exhibit reasonably good skills and comfort. Then a rubber mouthpiece rotates slightly around their rental reg, so it sits slightly at an angle in their mouth, they inhale and get a wet inhale, hits them at the back of their throat, and they bail. It happens fast. I've been there when it happens. You don't want something like that to occur at 60' or deeper.

Your 13 year old is "about" to be certified. So he doesn't have loads of experience. Since you asked, my advice is to focus this trip on diving with your son in < 40' of water. There is much to see and do shallow, and it will be quality family discovery time. If you need a deeper dive, let your son find something else captivating to do on the boat while you dive deeper. If this is your first family scuba trip, take it slow and avoid any traumatic memories. The depths will still be there when your son is a bit older and more experienced.

There are reasons for the limitations. There are very few reasons to ignore them.

Wishing you and your son a wonderful trip.

 

[DandyDon]

Don't count on the Dive Guide for protection - ever. You may often get it, but don't count on it. Learn to plan your own dives, dive your plans, and while following a Guide - be ready to say NO-WAY if you don't like the path. Lots of good Dive Guides in the Caribbean, some of whom are actual Dive Masters, but you really never know.

And rules are only guidelines outside of US. Further out, just suggetions.:shakehead

 

[ABQdiver]

I have a 13 yo daughter who got certified last summer SSI. She is certified as a "junior diver" and will get a standard cert card when she turns 15. I am feel very strongly about her NOT going below that 60fsw point. Like others have said, there are plenty of great experiences above that anyway. The kids bones, growth centers and experience levels are still developing and I sure don't want to take the off chance of hurting my kids future with some silly boo-boo at this early point in her life.

I also agree with Don! We were in Cozumel and the DM took the group down to about 80fsw. We did not! Stayed at above 60' just like we planned and actually told the DM prior to the dive, just so he would know my position.

 

[pbr]

...is that they aren't adults. They are, to an even greater extent, unpredictable.

So long as everything goes perfectly, your son is likely to have no trouble at all. As things sometimes do, however, should anything NOT go perfectly, any deeper than 40'-50' is a lot of water to get up through. And what might be an easy fix for you, might not occur to a 13 year old.

Youngsters can be drilled in the pool, and can exhibit reasonably good skills and comfort. Then a rubber mouthpiece rotates slightly around their rental reg, so it sits slightly at an angle in their mouth, they inhale and get a wet inhale, hits them at the back of their throat, and they bail. It happens fast. I've been there when it happens. You don't want something like that to occur at 60' or deeper.

Your 13 year old is "about" to be certified. So he doesn't have loads of experience. Since you asked, my advice is to focus this trip on diving with your son in < 40' of water. There is much to see and do shallow, and it will be quality family discovery time. If you need a deeper dive, let your son find something else captivating to do on the boat while you dive deeper. If this is your first family scuba trip, take it slow and avoid any traumatic memories. The depths will still be there when your son is a bit older and more experienced.

There are reasons for the limitations. There are very few reasons to ignore them.

Wishing you and your son a wonderful trip.

Hey Doc, this is a great post, thanks for the thoughts! I agree completely, let him go slow and make sure he completely enjoys the experience.

You are quite right, the deeper dives will come, no sense in pushing him and, maybe, having a bad experience.

Thanks again.

 

[pbr]

I have a 13 yo daughter who got certified last summer SSI. She is certified as a "junior diver" and will get a standard cert card when she turns 15. I am feel very strongly about her NOT going below that 60fsw point. Like others have said, there are plenty of great experiences above that anyway. The kids bones, growth centers and experience levels are still developing and I sure don't want to take the off chance of hurting my kids future with some silly boo-boo at this early point in her life.

I also agree with Don! We were in Cozumel and the DM took the group down to about 80fsw. We did not! Stayed at above 60' just like we planned and actually told the DM prior to the dive, just so he would know my position.

Quite right ABQ! Safety and prudence comes first. If he doesn't want to dive below 40 feet than so be it. In any event, we are definitely not going below 60 feet if we even get there.

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[scubacoz22]

My understanding for PADI is as follows:

Ages 10 and 11 limited to 40 feet
Ages 12, 13 and 14 limited to 60 feet.

Age 15 can receive "adult" certification

My kids were SSI certified at age 12 and the limit is 60 feet. SSI won't certify (as far as I know) under age 12.

Yes, SSI will certify them at 10 , my 9 yr old grandson has done all his pool work and taken his written test ( he got a 96 on the written test) and as soon as he turns 10 (Aug 2) he will be doing his open water and will receive his certification. He is a natural in the water. Kathy