We won't go there. Now that my two 6 yr old daughter is 21, and her "little" brother is 17, they not only still expect dad to pay for school, they expect him to find the $ for them to dive with him.
Did having kids make you take a diving break?
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SDiverJim
Contributor
If you really wanna freak out your blog posters - let them know that I put my 7' hose on one of my deco bottles and let my 6 yr old play in the hot tub with it. I've got a 'raise your own dive buddy' program going. So far I have two really great candidates
My two grew up in the water. My son swam well UW, long before he could swim very well on the surface. He was angered when at Boy Scout Camp he did not get a "deep end pass", because he did not have a real good overhand crawl stroke, yet he could swim the length of an Olympic size pool UW on one breath.
They were both good snorkelers long before they ever touched a tank and reg.
They were both good snorkelers long before they ever touched a tank and reg.
Grow your own works. Since I have been certified, I have been able to get two sons, a daughter and son-in-law checked out. My grandson starts his Jr OW cert next week.
My wife and I took up diving just as we were becoming empty nesters so while we never needed to make this decision I have given it some thought. I took up diving at 48 but would have done so at 8 given the chance, hence since taking the plunge I has asked "what if" many times.
I don't think risk needs to be a major concern here. Recreational diving is a very safe sport and if you are well trained, practiced and use common sense I don't see it as contrary to responsible parenting.
Obviously for many young families money can be an issue and you need to make choices. Looking back at the many family adventures we had I am glad that I was not out diving, with or without my wife while our kids were too young to participate. We were an active family with lots of camping and regional adventures. Leaving them behind would have diluted those fleeting years and I have no regrets that I started latter.
Now.... had I been certified pre-family I'm not certain what I would have done. Perhaps if we had been involved one or both of our daughters would have been drawn into the sport. I did enjoy skin-diving with one as a pre-teen and she would be a natural. If my mentality were as it is today I think I would decide that if family life as I know it does not allow me to dive frequently enough to remain sharp I would get out of the game for a spell.
I don't think there one right answer to this and I'm sure that means and lifestyle are major inputs to a decision. I'd deal with it more as time management issue than one of (un)acceptable risk.
Pete
I don't think risk needs to be a major concern here. Recreational diving is a very safe sport and if you are well trained, practiced and use common sense I don't see it as contrary to responsible parenting.
Obviously for many young families money can be an issue and you need to make choices. Looking back at the many family adventures we had I am glad that I was not out diving, with or without my wife while our kids were too young to participate. We were an active family with lots of camping and regional adventures. Leaving them behind would have diluted those fleeting years and I have no regrets that I started latter.
Now.... had I been certified pre-family I'm not certain what I would have done. Perhaps if we had been involved one or both of our daughters would have been drawn into the sport. I did enjoy skin-diving with one as a pre-teen and she would be a natural. If my mentality were as it is today I think I would decide that if family life as I know it does not allow me to dive frequently enough to remain sharp I would get out of the game for a spell.
I don't think there one right answer to this and I'm sure that means and lifestyle are major inputs to a decision. I'd deal with it more as time management issue than one of (un)acceptable risk.
Pete
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My wife and I stopped diving for a couple of years, until we felt comfortable leaving our child with a baby sitter in a foreign hotel.
This year, our kid took a bubble maker course, she loved it, and is already looking forward to going junior OW year after next. Like other posts, I see a buddy in the making
This year, our kid took a bubble maker course, she loved it, and is already looking forward to going junior OW year after next. Like other posts, I see a buddy in the making
OP
Jillifish
Registered
We are lucky enough to be able to take my mom on vacation with us this year. She will look after the baby while we dive.
It was a big reason why we chose Hawaii and not someplace that requires passports: We wanted the whole trip to be as easy as possible. With a 9-month-old that is.
It was a big reason why we chose Hawaii and not someplace that requires passports: We wanted the whole trip to be as easy as possible. With a 9-month-old that is.
Amphiprion
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I completed my intro to tech classes and went deco diving in cozumel about a month before my daughter was born. I've started some solo diving and plan to get into the caves after I get a better life insurance policy.
I do know that my daughter would be ok if I weren't around. I'd rather not have that happen, but I'm not going to be held hostage by fear of the what if's. If that were the case I would work from home and avoid the highway on the way to work.
I do know that my daughter would be ok if I weren't around. I'd rather not have that happen, but I'm not going to be held hostage by fear of the what if's. If that were the case I would work from home and avoid the highway on the way to work.
I kayak, I cycle, I camp, I climb, I've just started diving, and I do a lot of other things that many people won't do with kids or after having kids. Personally, I take my kids out to do the stuff with me and they love the experiences.
It builds a better relationship between me and my kids, in my opinion, and makes them realize that there aren't really any limitations in life except the ones you place on yourself.
It builds a better relationship between me and my kids, in my opinion, and makes them realize that there aren't really any limitations in life except the ones you place on yourself.
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