Getting kids started in scuba

[ktrjc]

Question to parents and instructors about getting kids into scuba diving. How did you do it? What do you recommend doing prior to them ever getting into the pool? Or, did you just sign them up and let the instructor tell them everything?

My wife just got certified and I am getting back into it. My oldest son is really getting the bug and asking to do it soon and has tons of questions. Some of the questions are general, some specific. I answer what I can, I look up others answers or tell him I don't know about some stuff like Tec diving, Trimix and as he put it really deep diving. Just looking for some advice on how to fill the sponge he has in his head until he is old enough to get in the pool.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[pickens_46929]

Just got my two 10 year olds and my 12 year old through Jr. Open Water. We even did an accelerated course. My responsibility was getting them through the academic parts of it to prepare for class. So we watched the video a couple of times and at the end of each section I'd review things with them (cheated and used the Knowledge Reviews as a guide for my questions).

Go over the equipment, using the PADI terms for things... ALTERNATE AIR SOURCE... not octo or anything else. Make sure they know DIN from yoKe valve. Make sure they can put the ascents in proper order NOW ALL CAN BUDDY BREATH... normal... alternate... CESA... Buddy... bouyant... Make sure they know the dive tables and can do the ATA/BAR, volume, density stuff out of chapter 1.

Other than that... let the instructor do everything else... he'll have his own way of doing things which is most likely not yours (wasn't mine) and you (me) don't want to teach bad habits from the start.

 

[Diver0001]

how old is he?

 

[adurso]

Have him research the answers to his questions, with your help. This is a great opportunity for general learning. Show him how to find answers and use your diving experience to illustrate the points.

 

[Walter]

The first order of business is to determine if the child is mature enough to dive. Most aren't. Don't rush them.

 

[Deep Hull]

The first order of business is to determine if the child is mature enough to dive. Most aren't. Don't rush them.

Well said! I just completed the OWC with my son (16) in the Keys. My daughter (12) was chomping at the bit then, and still is. However, I just don't believe she has the maturity level to dive. As with most children, she has flights of fancy (what children dont?) and sometimes fails to consider things that could cause potential harm. Also, I have seen her reaction during times of stress and I truly believe placing her in an environment where any miscalculation could rapidly make her panic is a bad idea.

I've explained all this to her in detail and though she is not happy, she understands. I told her in a year or two I would again review and see if she is ready. I will also feel better about it because by then I will have more experience and be better prepared to deal with issues that may arise.

 

[jpsexton]

I am going through the OW class with my 15 year old son. We are finished with all the class work and confined water, all that is left is the checkout dives. I think he is mature enough but it was still a concern so I started with a try scuba class for him to see if it was really somthing he wanted to do. We then went on to the OW class and I have paid close attention the whole way through. He has done wonderfull and I think he is going to be safe diver. We have discussed it all during the process. I guess it really depends on each kid individually.

 

[spectrum]

I have one that's on the verge of wanting to take up the sport. I'd add they must be capable skin-divers and truly comfortable in the water. I'd add the same sugestion for all adults.

Pete

 

[DrDuktayp]

I have a 12 year old that certified a couple of months ago. Before we ever enrolled him in class he went through the PADI Seal Team. We had an opportunity then to see how he might do in class and determine that he liked diving in advance. My wife and I both dive and are fortunate to be able to drive less than 5 miles to two excellent shore dive sites here and thought it would be neat to share this with our children. Our rule is that he can ONLY dive with one of us as his buddy. When he dives with us there is usually my wife and I and sometimes my 16 year old daughter. We buddy up so that each child has an adult buddy. Also, we stay together in a group of 3 or 4. Skill wise I am amazed at how well he is doing on bouyancy. I'm sure that some of it is that he really looks up to our instructors (the owners of the LDS). He is eager to 'go deep' but understands that it just isn't going to happen.

After each dive each person is responsible for cleaning their gear and I am VERY strict on how it is cleaned and taken care of. He's done very well in this area too even though he can't keep the dirty clothes off of the floor of his room.

We just got back from a vacation filled with warm water dives (we dive cold water here in drysuits). We only let him go on the shallower dives and it was a great time for all of us.

Any how, I think that you have to look at each child and determine what they are capable of doing.

DrDuktayp

PS -- TIP Make sure they have everything ready in advance. This makes for a much more relaxing dive.

 

[Santa]

I think that it's great that someone puts this up for debate.

Padi recently lowered the minimum age for divers, and I suppose that under ideal diving conditions this can be acceptable.

However I'm a northern DM which means colder water, bad viz, heavier equiment, thicker suits and gloves. I've been with young students on just slightly rough days and even though I've worked with kids professionally for years it just takes so little for them to succumb to general anxiety or task loading. All those little unavoidable difficulties just add up. And when kids give up, so often they turn passive.

A dangerous attitude for any diver.

When they're done with the course, to my mind, they are usually nowhere near being able to assume responsibility of their own situation at sea even in a slight crisis. We don't expect such levels of awareness and independence from kids on other scores (like driving a car, or at times even riding a bike to school alone) - so why in diving, which is ultimately about control and assuming responsibility?

I'm all for giving kids great water experiences within their personal limits, at an early age, but I feel that we as adults should be extremely conservative about the conditions, and the degree of control we exercise.

And truly evaluate why it is we feel they should get into diving as opposed to so many other water sports.