diving with children is same as solo

[blackman]

Funny this because I have been taught and act up to the fact that when diving with people that have an inferior or insufficient training I consider that only I am responsible for my life. I have had a few cases of dives when if I hadn't acted personnaly on my gear after a problem I wouldn't be here since my buddy didn't react in the right way of just didn't react at all......

 

[MikeFerrara]

I don't see how solo diving can be compared to diving with a child. First of all the child has gone through the same training as an adult does to get certified and should have demonstrated that they can act as a buddy prior to being certified. So you do have a buddy and if your buddy isn't any good, it's time for remedial training or a complaint to the certifying instructor.

Second, most agencies certify divers under 15 as Jr divers with the stipulation that they are to dive with an adult. Under 12 they usually have to dive with a pro or a parent. That puts the adult in a supervisory role. Supervising another diver (of any age) is nothing like being alone.

 

[randy54]

Another major reason that NO it is not the same, is that your attention cannot be as focused on yourself, since you are acutely aware of her being there, and your need to monitor her.

 

[ScubaDuba17]

I started diving at age 12 and i was actually better in the water then about 1/2 the adults. I also have been diving with my dad since i started 8 years ago and never once did either of us feel we couldnt help the other if we had to. Like everyone else said its still another tank with air and a reg. Just have some faith and your child. I also like diving with my dad more then any other buddy because we were around each other all the time and there for could communicate better underwater. Also as you know the more your in the water with your daughter the better she will get so just keep hitting the water.

 

[Zeeman]

I think people look down on kids way too much nowadays. remember, there was a time when 12 year olds were considered adults and part of the work force just like a 20 year old (If memory serves, King Tut. was 12). A 15 year old can steal a car as well as any 30 year old car thief. Kids, especially teens, can potentially be just as capable as anyone else - they just lack physical size. They may or may not lack experience - is a 14 year old with 300 logged dives going to be less help than a newly certified diver with only the mandatatory 4 OW dives under their belt?

I think it's more a case of the parents, having brought their child into the world, and still rememebering the changing of nappies, feeding at 2am and the general helplessness of their child as a baby, still seeing this in their teens. I'm 31 and my dad still treats me like a 3 year old at times. Heck, on a recent trip to Europe, my 60 year old Auntie wanted to escort me and m 20-ish year old cousins to Budapest to keep us safe from any "bad people".

The only potential danger with a child is a short attention spand, but, from my memories of being a kid, or a teen, if I was doing something I loved (I'm guessing diving would qualify for most kids and teens) my attention would be 100% there - for as many hours as the activity went on.

Whilst yes, it is your precious child you are diving with, and I, too, would take all the precautions I could to keep them safe, don't underestimate what they can do in the case of an mergency. With the right training, they can be capable of doing what is needed to make the difference.

Z...

 

[carlislere]

Not if your daughter is properly trained.

 

[GDI]

If the kids are correctly trained I would not under estimate them. The water does not care about age. gender or experience level

 

[Dv4fun]

Thanks for all the posts. Based on all the responses and giving strong rebuttal on the subject I have concluded my original hypothesis is incorrect.

 

[Diver0001]

So generally everyone diving with children is as well as diving solo, except for the factor of having to monitor the other diver. Is my hypothesis correct ?

If you're monitoring the other diver then you are actually supervising. That's not at all like being solo....it's much more complicated.

What you're right about -- at least what I think you're alluding to -- is that your own skills need to be totally squared away if you're going to supervise another diver. I'd agree with the premise that, as supervisor, you need self-rescue skills on par with those of a solo diver (if not better).

Another point is that young teens can be perfectly adequate buddies. I'm not sure why you believe your daughter isn't but I think it would be interesting if you would be willing to go into that a bit.

R..

 

[jtivat]

The air in the tank and the extra reg might though.

I have a 40cf with it's own reg right under my right arm how is hers going to work better than this?