I'm not nervous, my mom is.

[oreocookie]

When I got certified last year, my dad was the nervous one, he kept telling me to be careful and reminding me that diving can be dangerous (he's never dived before, so he probably has slightly exagerated ideas about it), and each time, I'd say "yes, I know", which is true, and walk out the door to go to the classes. Lucky for me he was sleeping when I left for the open water dive days or I might not have ever been able to get out the door. My mom, on the other hand, (she got certified when she was around my age (I'm 22) but doesn't dive anymore) just told me to be careful and have fun.

Every time I plan on diving, my dad reminds me again. I'm planning on doing AOW in June and I expect his concern. I'm going on my first dive trip in August and I expect even more concern then, and I kinda hope he won't be awake when I leave for the airport.

This is what parents do, they worry about their kids. Enjoy the class, your mom will enjoy the fact that you're having fun with it.

 

[nwNemo]

Wow, this is an awesome community, I let my mom read some of your replies, she says she is way less nervous (was that a proper sentence? oh well.) Thanks so much for calming her nerves and making me more excited than ever!

 

[DeputyDan]

My kids started diving at ages 12 and 15. My wife was was always nervous about it until we dove the Living Seas in Epicot.

She was able to see how much fun they were having and that they were not about to die every second.

No more unnecessary worries after that!

 

[diverrex]

I'm early 50's, my mom will be 80 this year. I still don't tell her when I'm going diving. I only mention it after I've come back.

 

[CamG]

Greetings nwNemo and Mother of Nemo welcome to SCuba Board the both of you! This is what we all are here for! I would like to start by saying that my 12 year old daughter was certified last summer and she was awesome. Not only did she do well on the academics but was stellar with the skills in the pool. She was in the class with adults and performed perfectly every time. The instructor asked her if she had any previous experience and other than a discover class the video was it. I guess what I am saying is all of the younger divers that I have had the pleasure of working with have been very good learners and thus good divers. I would ask your mother to consider taking the class with you. She may find it quite empowering and enjoyable to share an activity with you. I would encourage you both to purchase a DVD and watch it several times over. Study your academics together and then she really has to come and see what it is all about. I was stressed at first but once I saw the material and watched the DVD it helped me relax and enjoy the class. When my daughter was ready, we started the academics in January of 2009 going through the manuel slowly at her pace. When I quizzed her over a weeks time and watched the DVD several more times she could answer questions front to back. We both had a great time learning! I would suggest this for you and your mom it can be awesome to spend time learning together. Enjoy it and if she feels stressed have her PM me and we can talk privately. Scuba is a very safe sport when the rules of safe diving are maintained! This becomes a matter of training and mastery of the skills it takes to be a diver. You are on your way, good luck and have fun discovering diving!
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!

 

[psumike]

NWNEMO -

My daughter got certified 7.5 years ago as she turned 14. She did well in the water and took the preparation seriously. She earned her Rescue Diver and her Master SCUBA Dive when she was 15. at 18 she completed her Divemaster and became an Instructor just before turning 19. In the last two years she has now taught a couple of hundred students.

My son got certified when he was 13. He is now a Master Scuba Diver and is ready to start his Divemaster training.

We had the pleasure of diving together the week before Christmas and it was the most relaxing diving I have ever done. It was obvious watching them in preparation, during the dive, during the safert stop and post dive that they knew what they were doing, were comfortable and were safe. I could tell from watching the divemasters (who did not know that daughter was an instructor) that they watched initially and then quickly turned their attention to other divers on the boat.

KISMIF: Keep It Safe, Make It Fun

Mike

PS while I cannot speak about 6 gills, neither child has let me hear the end of the trip I took to see whale sharks w/o them

 

[RJP]

When I got certified last year, my dad was the nervous one, he kept telling me to be careful and reminding me that diving can be dangerous.

My dad's the nervous one too.

Every time I tell him about my latest dive or trip he asks "So...are you done now?"

 

[Scubadam]

When I first got certified I was 16. I am still 16, and my parents were both a mess, my dad went out on all the boat dives with us and just stayed on the boat while I went diving. I am sorry to say I have never heard of Puget Sound, for I recieved my certification in Aruba at a ship wreck.

 

[Rhone Man]

You're 13. Your mother is incredibly nervous about EVERYTHING you do. Hell, I'm 44 and my parents are nervous about the type of diving I do!

That is pretty much it. Best reassurances you can give her is how seriously you are taking you it, and how much you are learning. She will still worry, but hopefully she'll feel better.

Diving is actually a very safe sport - but for some reason adults freak out more than kids about BEING UNDERWATER. Statistically it is a very safe sport, but that won't reassure your mother.

Best of luck with the course, and welcome to a truly wonderful community - the divers of the world.

 

[Darcey]

As a diver and step perent to be I'm nervous about my future step-kids diving. In fact, I refuse to let them dive until they're MUCH older (they're 11 & soon to be 13) due to maturity levels and lack of trust they've made me have. My other half is also starting to see the light about how they're not ready even though he's anxious for them to learn. Heck, I'm scared to death and I'll be the DM or maybe even Asst. Instructor or Instructor for their OW class by that time. Parents worry. That's their job and it won't change the older you get. But, as someone already said, the fact that she got you that certificate says she trusts you and that's GREAT! It's up to YOU now to keep that trust by becoming a mature and safe diver. :cool2:

Good luck on your upcoming OW certification and happy SAFE diving.:banana: