High School Scuba Diving Program

[seaboyforever]

For years now I have thought about a Program for High School students throughtout the U.S. A program that would enable Students to learn and become memebers of the under world. That is Being certified by one of the many outstanding organizations that have came alive.

This topic is very broad and there are a million things a school would need to have to even start up such a program.. Of course there are Colleges that have this. but why cant High schools look into the idea.

I think such a program would encourage young folks to do better in school, give them after school activites among the sports we already have. There are a ton of Awesome benefits that truly would help our future of growing adults.

how pratical is this? Im not sure if other divers agree that such an activity would be worth the trouble, time, expense, liablity.

How many H.S. have scuba diving and how successful are there programs and can near by schools join in?

how can I help My H.S. in my area start up such a program, couldnt dive shops near by help or even be paid for such work?

what does the rest of the scubaboard think?

yours truly,
Jay

 

[ianw2]

Poway High School, in Poway, California had on in 1975. Howard Hall was the instructor. That's where I got my first C-card. (As I recall, my dive buddy was named Michelle and I don’t remember her from my class. Since we started diving again, and I found out how famous Howard has become in the intervening 30-odd years, I’ve wondered if my dive partner in 1975 is the same Michelle Howard is now married to.)

After the open water dive in La Jolla Cove, I had a 31 year surface interval until my wife decided that snorkeling wasn’t enough and we needed to get certified.

I don’t recall the program lasting too many years.

I have a hunch that most high schools and Boards of Education would be terrified of the liability issues.

Our youngest son is doing swimming class as his high school PE class. He just informed us that the instructor would like us (my wife and me) to do a SCUBA demonstration for the class this semester.

I agree. A SCUBA program would be a great thing for a high school.

 

[Jasonmh]

I don't personally know much, but there was a guy I talked to once who did this with a HS in Colorado,
http://sc.jeffco.k12.co.us/education/staff/staff.php?sectionid=15316
I think his name was Steve Houwen. If you contact him he might be able to give you some pointers.

 

[The Chad]

We are currently teaching the confined portion of the OW class at a local H.S. here in Denver. There is also one other H.S. in the area that I know of that does it. Ends up being once a week for 16 weeks and then the students have the op to do their OW dives over a weekend in May. If you need help or info PM me and I can put you in touch with the lead instructor

 

[SparticleBrane]

I seriously don't see it becoming an official course listed as an elective at most high schools, for many reasons.
Pool access -- how many high schools have their own pool to do training?
Liability -- if little Johnny gets hurt, even if it was completely his fault, who are his parents going to sue?
$$ -- Scuba is expensive, especially starting out. They'd have to buy a compressor, tanks, BCs, regs, etc...that's possibly tens of thousands of dollars that the school board would say to use elsewhere.

 

[Scuba-Jay]

I have a feeling the liability would prevent most if not all public schools from introducing a diving program. Private schools would have a better chance as they could limit the course to those who signed and paid for liability coverage....Its a shame as i think scuba classes in school would indeed give the kids motivation!!

 

[jeepguy]

Check out this site http://hometown.aol.com/newjerseymea/scuba.html for the Nottingham High School Scuba Club. In Hamilton Twp NJ. Wife is a teacher there and is where I certified. They do work through a LDS.:14:

 

[bikefox]

We have a scuba option at the high school where I teach (also in Colorado). As part of a Swimming class, students are exposed to Scuba and then given the option to do their open water dives. The class includes the classroom and pool sections at no cost, so students just pay for the open water dives (if they wish to).

 

[TimAZ]

my LDS has been working with local middle and high schools for about a year on both discover scuba and OW certification. Response has been enthusiastic on principle, but limited due to cost and scheduling. As we've worked the bugs out the last two terms, things have improved and we have a better feel how to present the project. Also, there is talk of the schools recieving goverrnment grant money to support a non-competetive after school activity program that this would be quite well suited to. Good luck on your project and feel free to contact me with questions or advice as you get your thing going.

 

[TimAZ]

I seriously don't see it becoming an official course listed as an elective at most high schools, for many reasons.
Pool access -- how many high schools have their own pool to do training?
Liability -- if little Johnny gets hurt, even if it was completely his fault, who are his parents going to sue?
$$ -- Scuba is expensive, especially starting out. They'd have to buy a compressor, tanks, BCs, regs, etc...that's possibly tens of thousands of dollars that the school board would say to use elsewhere.

Pool access does limit what schools we can conveniently work with, but we have only so many instructors regardless

Liabilty is always a concern, so there are of course the standard waivers we always use with minors as well as an agreement with the school.

$$$: This is where the LDS is essential. It HAS all the equipment to get the school program going. In return, the LDS gets exposure. Even being located right on the main drag, its amazing how many people don't even know there is a dive shop in our town. The opportunity through helping the school is great. Also, while the students do get deep discounts, often as not, we get to certify the parents at full price and have the opportunity to sell them gear, trips, and training well into the future.