Children & Scuba when to start?

[Jeff Toorish]

Scubal also makes a kids BCD - the "Juvi" for $119 http://www.scubal.com/content/index.php?proid=1009&catid=206&procatid=166

btw - DSS and FredT also make a small sized backplate ... (just had to add that - lol)

Aloha, Tim

Darn, I wish I'd found them, that is a lot less than I paid for Sammi's BC...and it looks like it would be a better fit.

Her next will be a BP/W.

JT

 

[Jeff Toorish]

I have three boys who grew up swimming and snorkeling before they were walking. I had been an active scuba diver before they were born but slowed down to just a couple of times per year once they were born. Then I found out that PADI was certifying children beginning at age 10. This was a couple of months before my youngest was to turn 10. So I signed them up for a Discovery Diving introduction to see how they might like it and whether the instructor thought that they were mature enough for it. Well they took to it immediately! So I hired the instructor to begin classes on the day that my youngest turned 10 (the other 2 boys were 12 and 14 at the time). I also signed up and took the Rescue Diver course to provide some more assurances. After completion of this course, I took two weeks off from work and we worked on their book work during the day while they attended either the class or pool sessions at night. They did fabulous in the class as they all easily passed the class work as well as the in-water skills. A couple of weeks later we took a week and went to the Florida Keys where we did a number of shallow water reef dives. The feeling that I got diving with my 3 boys in tow is still one of the finest experiences I have had. This was in 2004 and now the boys have between 30 to 50 dives each. My oldest has taken AOW and is getting ready to take Rescue while my second son is getting ready for AOW. We spend alot of time planning our dives and researching new areas as we have continued our adventures every chance we have. It continues to be a wonderful experience for all of us as it has provided new confidence and environmental appreciation for each of the boys. My oldest is now seeking to pursue diving as a professional. Scuba diving has formed a central theme to our lives as it contines to enrich each of us in countless ways.
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I believe I was in the AOW class with your oldest...we were buddied up actually. One of the best divers I have seen at any age.

Jeff

 

[ScubaGypsy]

Hey Jeff,

Yes you were in that class! And did it seem like I had to "push" him to enjoy it so much ?

He has really gotten the bug and is excited to go further. At this point I seem to be holding all three of them back! Maybe you might consider taking the Rescue Diver class with him in May?

 

[Archangel]

I have had the pleasure to dive with Riguerin and his son. His beautiful kid finns rings around this old man, and handles himself as well, if not better than some mid-twenty something newbies that I have had to rescue.

Riguerin is a patient and thoughtful dad, and I am looking forward to finding an instructor to teach my five year old in five years so that I can have a live-in divebuddy.

Rick, you are making memories of a lifetime,

Tevis

 

[ScubaGypsy]

Her next will be a BP/W.

Jeff,
I just ordered the smaller DSS bp/w's for each of my boys and the delivery is expected by the end of this week. I also procured smaller jetfins for each off of eBay at Xmas. I had previously changed over their primary regulators to 5' hoses. I suspect that they will find more comfort and capabilities with this style of diving than I have!

 

[Nut Bubblefish]

I think the prerequisites are:

- the child is able to make it. It all depends on the child. The minimum age in PADI is 10. Some kids will be more than ready at that age. Others will still be babies, or are too much all over the place to get the minimum of discipline that will avoid problems. Don't ask yourself if your child is ready. Ask others: their opinion will not be biaised...

- the child is begging for it. No child should ever dive to please his/her parents. It should be the parents giving up on saying no to their child.

- the parents are divers. That will help for explaining the theory. It will also make the child understand that diving is fun, but it has some risks that you should always keep in mind. And it allows both generations to share the experience.

- your child has tried a few times in a swimming pool, has breathed a few times on your octopus, and has made a couple of intro dives. If after all that he/she keeps asking for more, then have him/her certified. But pick a good center. I have seen centers advertising the Junior OW in 3 days. Forget it. Take at least 7-10 days, or have your child been through the book way in advance.

Once he/she is certified, I suggest few guidelines:
- 1 dive/day as an average
- be very strict on the depth limit
- let him/her write whatever he/she wants on the logbook. After a while, ask for reading it. If you are allowed, you will find it sointeresting. A completely different prospective from yours on diving.

The absolute DO NOT:
- don't even try before 8. The respiratory system is not ready at all, neither the mind. 10 is already a bare minimum.
- never let your child going underwater without an adult ( and one that you would choose as a buddy for yourself.)

Cheers.

 

[hopeitsapar]

The age is 12. The reason for that is the lungs are fully developed by then. The brain maybe not? But neither is mine.

My daughter is 10, and has been begging me to learn. She is going to start when school gets finished this spring. The instructor of LDS said she probably will do better in the water than adults, it is just working slowly throught the class work and tables. She can't wait

 

[Jeff Toorish]

Hey Jeff,

Yes you were in that class! And did it seem like I had to "push" him to enjoy it so much ?

He has really gotten the bug and is excited to go further. At this point I seem to be holding all three of them back! Maybe you might consider taking the Rescue Diver class with him in May?

Hi Doc,

You were certainly not pushing. I think he may be part fish.

I've already taken rescue, working on DiveMaster (DiveCon, it's SSI).

My daughter already wants to take AOW and rescue. She told me she would like to be a Dive Master by the time she's 13.

I understand about having to hold them back.

Jeff