Jr diver cert dives at 50'?

[mariesp]

Help! My family and I have completed the SSI classroom/pool OW training. My son is 17 and my daughter is 11. We're going to the Bahamas for 3 days in a couple of weeks for our certification dives. I have several concerns and really would appreciate some feedback/advice.

A little background...there were 9 in our class (w/three 11 year olds) and it didn't go that well for me or my husband. The instructor is very knowledgeable but I think he's teaching to do what he loves -which is dive (vs loving to teach). I felt rushed and stressed. I got thru the skills (eventually) but my confidence is not great. The instructor has a tendency to push the envelope and I like to take the conservative route so we approach things differently. Ex. He talked about us doing the 80' shark dive after completing our cert dives in the Bahamas and when we questioned going deeper than 40'/60' feet he said there are no water police down there!!

Here are my concerns:
My instructor said all 4 of our cert dives will be at 50' because those are the only locations available. My understanding is my daughter is not supposed to go deeper than 40' because she's only 11!! I don't feel comfortable with this for her or for the rest of us! I'd actually prefer to make at least our first 2 cert dives 25-30' feet and really don't want to exceed the 40' on any dive since we will be diving with our 11 year old. Am I being overly cautious?

I know there are alot of people going on this trip. What is the recommended # of divers/per instructor when you are doing the certification dives? (there are two 11 year olds in our group).

My 11 year old has done great w/the skills but has had problems equalizing in a 12' pool (she has to wear special ear plugs for air travel because her ears won't pop). I'm concerned about what's going to happen when we get in open water. (another reason not to go deeper than 40'!). Any others out there who were able to overcome deficiencies in how their ears equalize?

I am grateful for any feedback/advice anyone has. Thank you!

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Run away. If your instructor is not taking your concerns seriously, then run away. Trust your gut.

SSI standards may differ (though I doubt it), but PADI standards require a maximum of 4 students to 1 instructor in confined open water or open water if any students are age 10-11. No more than two of those students may be age 10-11. Maximum depth for training dives for those age 10-11 is 40ft. Once certified, maximum depth is still 40ft for those age 10-11.

You should realize that the equalizing difficulties your daughter has experienced may create real problems later on. Does she have any difficulties equalizing during ascent? It may be worth a trip to an ENT doctor to see if there is an anatomical reason she has such difficulties.

 

[scuba-punk]

...Max Depth (PADI) for Open Water Dives 1 and 2 is 40 feet regardless of age. For those 12 and older 60 feet is the limit for dives 3 and 4 - BUT with the 11 year olds, Drew is correct - MAX DEPTH 40 feet. Period. If you would like a copy of the training standards, please PM me. That way, you can see exactly what standards your instructor should be following (if you are taking the classes from via PADI - if you are using another agency, I don't have those - sorry).

I'm Not certain which part of the Bahamas you are going to, but the 2 dive outfits that I know on Grand Bahama Island (UNEXSO and Xanadu) do their shark dives in approx 30-35 feet of water. For new divers, a shark dive at 80 feet wouldn't last too long. In fact, it wouldn't be long enough to enjoy it or take anything meaningful from it. Besides, any diver can sit out any dive at any time - period - no questions asked - no peer pressure!

IMHO, when the safety and well being of your family is at stake, there is no such thing as overcautious!

As far as the ear squeaking goes - it just takes time with some people - I should know, I was one of them. There are other methods for equalising other than the Valsalva - in fact, some are even easier for small kids (sorry, making an assumption) that can't get the whole nose pocket thing going with their masks. Besides, once you get past 15 to 20 feet (assuming that you haven't had any problems staying equalised to get there) equalising gets easier. Please make sure that your daughter (as well as the rest of your family) takes to heart what I typed earlier - Any diver can sit out any dive at any time - period - no questions asked - no peer pressure! It's too easy to get hurt doing something silly or giving in to peer pressure (well, that's silly too). Again, please feel free to PM me if you have any questions that you prefer not to post.

Take care - be safe,
-Frank =-)

 

[joed]

forget about this guy. go to a naui or padi instructor at your local dive shop and tell him everything. He will probably give you credit for what you already know. Let him take your family the rest of the way on your terms. The guy who is instructing you now is for extreme people he is not family oriented. You sound stressed already and you are not yet in the water. Go slow and feel safe and all will do well.Joe

 

[scuba-punk]

Hey mariesp, I just noticed that this was your first post! Welcome to "The Board!" I think that you will find this an exceedingly friendly place, with plenty of helpful people.

-Frank =-)

 

[Rick Inman]

Don't just run off without letting the dive shop owner know exactly what is being said and what is going on. If your instructor is the owner, tell HIM. Print out this thread and show it to him. There may be a communication issue here. Whatever, if you let him know how you feel, he has a chance to change. He may not, but there are future 11 year olds at stake, and at least you have done your part.
Don't just cut and run. You might just be the catalyst for change.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[scubajoe]

joed once bubbled...
forget about this guy. go to a naui or padi instructor at your local dive shop and tell him everything.

The agency doesn't matter. Most if not all agencies, SSI included, follow RSTC standards. SSI would love to hear about your experience. There should be a monitor at the shop where you trained that can address this issue. Talk to the owner, if the instructor is the owner contact SSI directly.

Joe

 

[DutchDown]

There are no water police at 80ft. There are also no water ambulances and no water emergency rooms there, either. What there is is an 11 year old child at risk. Forget pride or courtesy...run away and find a SAFE instructor.

Phil

 

[Travisc]

This type of instruction is what leads to diving getting a bad name. I might recommend talking to the SSI Headquarters and lodge a complaint against the instructor. Someone less cautious then you maybe more gung ho and be hurt.

Travis

 

[MikeFerrara]

Please report the instructor and go find one who takes what he/she does seriously.

On another note...

I'm an instructor for an agency that allows certification for 10 year olds. I won't do it.

I was at a local dive site a couple months ago and saw a diver panic. I watched as one of the other two divers tried to help the distressed diver to the surface. They did more wrestling and sinking than they did ascending but they finally made it to the surface (ignoring the third diver which I later found out was their son). I didn't stay right with them because once they started moving they got going way faster than I was willing to go. Once I saw they were on the surface and buoyant, I continued my dive.

Later when I was getting out of the water a LITTLE boy came to me and started telling me how his mother screamed to be pulled from the water. His father was still removing her gear from the dock where they took it off her.

This child was pretty upset and I don't think he had very much fun that day.

Just something to think about. I know it's something I think about.