Did you keep diving after having children?

[girldiverllc]

Unfortunately, I didn't get certified until my kids were older, however, having kids has never limited WHAT I did. I went back to college when my daughter was 13 days old.

As far as diving with kids (and I can only speak from later in life) I think that having a parent that dives has been an incredible learning experience for them.

One...they have a very keen perspective on our responsibility to protect our whole earth...not just the 30% above the waterline.

Two...they don't have any preconceived notions about what a "mom" or a "woman" can or can't do. Lifting heavy gear, going to depth, ripping drift dives...well, that's just normal stuff.

Three...my kids are now 16 and 18. Both certified. One loves it...one can take it or leave it. But both have benefited from the experiences.

BTW...I never did "grow up"...if "grow up" means "stop living". And my kids don't know the word "can't".

 

[capybara]

BTW...I never did "grow up"...if "grow up" means "stop living". And my kids don't know the word "can't".

Amen to that!

 

[hgroberts]

i am a single dad, diving after becoming a daddy, haaaaa , lol, i stated diving to get some peace of mind,lol, i love my children very dearly, i have two, 16 yr old daughter, 9 yr old son, gawd i love diving, no one can scream , daddy she hit me, daddy he is anoying me, daddy , daddy daddy, ROFLMAO !!! nothing but peace and quite underwater, ahhhh, the tranquility of diving!!!!:shakehead

I like diving beacuase dad can't talk!

 

[drbill]

Capybara... I just heard from my friend who gave up diving when she gave birth to her son. She says she is ecstatic raising him and gets far more joy out of that than she did from diving. Just thought I'd let you know. I'll share her exact words later if she gives me the OK.

 

[divinotter]

hi! I am a women and more important have a daughter who just had her first baby. Not only is she a diver , but a very avid surfer as well. She kept asking the doctor when she could get back in the water and still cheated by a couple weeks. Both she and her husband surf. Husbands are the most important factor. Her husband told her when she was 9 months and seeing her surfer's body completely destroyed - that she would get in shape again and he would help her. He also kept saying- hey, you carried my baby for 9 months- the least I can do is watch him on the beach - while you surf/dive. He did and he does- they've never been closer (women remember things like that) So, they alternated who went in - this requires understanding outside dive buddies- but they are around. Also she limits her water time to feeding schedules- she would nurse before and after going in - depending on the feeding schedule- that's why dad has to be there on the beach with the baby- Last but not least, she got an excerise ball and uses it in the middle of the night- her only down time- to get back into her wet suits. So, you have to be willing to make some sacrifices and so does your husband - but that's what babies are all about- By the way we got them, some surf/and dive related baby stuff and they are always talking about when swimming lessons will start - most parents talk about walking- they talk about water milestones!! Husbands saying and doing the right thing is the absolute difference between being able to continue family things or giving up-

 

[drbill]

Here is what my dive buddy Jen wrote:

That is so funny, you probably shouldn't use me as an example of the impact
of kids on diving cause I was losing interest in it before kids...too much
equiptment. I love snorkeling and free diving now and of course surfing.
Geez, the poor woman is probably going to steer clear of kids now..seriously
though once you become a mom you just want to do things that are with your
kids, experience life with them and see how they respond to each new moment.

Diving obviously you cant do that until they're older. It's like when I'm
underwater I'm thinking I'd rather be looking at my baby then all these
fish..but if your snorkling you can bring your baby out there with you in a
little life jacket, easier in hawaii than here.

Anyway it is great to hear from you. I am having so much fun with kai,
just the best experience of my life..its like when you just know that you
could not feel more at peace or content.. I completely remember thinking
before kids of how they would affect my independence and ability to do
things like surf and dive. But once you're a mom something changes, its
strange and you think to yourself how could I have ever thought that this
would be a sacrifice. this is what life is all about, living in the moment,
raising your little ones. Maybe it is not the same for all women but I am
in absolute bliss. More so once we move to the big island of course!!

miss ya, love...
jen

 

[tedtim]

My wife and kids bought me an OW Scuba course for my birthday. The kids were both teenagers at the time. I guess it was a move by them to get me out of the house :blinking: . My wife started diving just over a year later. Our kids were still at home. The kids are now off to university. We have not looked back. So much for saving for retirement.

 

[smatterchu]

We waited until kids to start.....kinda backwards, maybe...

Our twin boys are 2 1/2 years old now, and we just started SCUBA diving. We'd enjoyed snorkeling for years and always wanted to dive. We even got Lasik surgery with the hopes that 'someday' we'd be able to go diving...(not that it's a requirement, but it was on our 'reasons for Lasik' list)

Well, a bunch of us 'twin parents' vacation together, and this December we are going on an annual cruise together. A bunch of us wanted to go diving on the trip, so we all got certified (if we weren't already). We're all hooked, and we're hoping to be able to help with each others' kids so each can dive some weekends... We all live in the Orlando area, so there are several close-by spots.

For these parents, all of the twins were born in April 2004, and we know it's important to continue having hobbies and interests after kids... Mom and Dad need to have things to talk about besides strollers and poop schedules. Kids need to see us have interests and activities. Eventually, we want to give them the opportunity to join in...

For DH and me, we intentionally waited about 10 years before even thinking of having kids. We knew it would be a real undertaking, and we wanted to make sure we'd had time to plan, enjoy 'us time' and be ready for kids (not that you ever are). The Grandparents are very supportive of us having 'lives', and they try to help when they can. We have several diving trips planned over the next year (Cruise to Belize/Cozumel, FL Keys & Hawaii), and we couldn't go if we didn't have a lot of support here on land.

If diving is what you love, find a way to keep it part of your life. The first few years might be a little sparse, but eventually you'll be able to go and do more than you realize. It's all in what you want...and how you prioritize. DH and I don't have too many 'movie nights out', but we save up our childcare for trips away...and it works out...

Good luck. You're smart to weight the options and know what you are signing up for. I think that's a big step to being ready...

And think of it this way....compared to SCUBA, babies don't need too much gear, lol... And hey - the mask might come in handy for diaper changes.

 

[CC1020]

I started diving again when my daughter was 7. This summer we enrolled her in ScubaBuddies through our local LDS, and plan to get her Jr. Certification when she turns 10. Since my wife doesn't dive, nor does she want to, I'm growing my own dive buddy

 

[girldiverllc]

Husbands are the most important factor. Her husband told her when she was 9 months and seeing her surfer's body completely destroyed - that she would get in shape again and he would help her. He also kept saying- hey, you carried my baby for 9 months- the least I can do is watch him on the beach - while you surf/dive. He did and he does- they've never been closer (women remember things like that) -

Wow...what a GREAT husband! This brought tears to my eyes...