Kids diving in Cozumel?

[DandyDon]

Hehe, yeah. I got my real drivers license - not the learners permit - at 14. But then, I'd been hauling cattle in a 2-1/2 ton truck from 2 counties away since I was 12. It was different 45 years ago...

 

[betsyinczm]

"But I would prefer a more experienced and advanced boat for my few dives in Coz. I'm happy to help newbies on local practice dives, but not when my cost per dive is running around $100 or more a tank"
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WOW.............you should seriously consider changing dive ops if that is true.........Betsy

 

[waynel]

Amen brother. I drove a tractor at that age on the soybean farm. I also knew how to work on it when needed. Maturity is born of responsibility.

 

[DandyDon]

"But I would prefer a more experienced and advanced boat for my few dives in Coz. I'm happy to help newbies on local practice dives, but not when my cost per dive is running around $100 or more a tank"
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WOW.............you should seriously consider changing dive ops if that is true.........Betsy

Planet ticket Lubbock to Coz mid june: $493 ea
5 nights shared Caribe Blue & 5 - 2 tanks trips: $434 ea
Airport parking: $18 ea
Cabs & Vans: $30 ea
DM tips: $50 ea or more
$1025 for 10 dives = $100+ per dive before we get into other expenses

Did not include food...

Many spend a lot more per dive.

 

[scubawife]

Planet ticket Lubbock to Coz mid june: $493 ea
5 nights shared Caribe Blue & 5 - 2 tanks trips: $434 ea
Airport parking: $18 ea
Cabs & Vans: $30 ea
DM tips: $50 ea or more
$1025 for 10 dives = $100+ per dive before we get into other expenses

Did not include food...

Many spend a lot more per dive.

"per dive" calculations don't normally take airfare, hotel, cabs into consideration. I consider my "per dive" cost to be ONLY what I pay to the dive operator which is their fee + whatever I decide to tip.

As for the other comments on the thread, you guys made me laugh with the farm stories. My dad's a farm boy and got his license when he drove the tractor into town one day and went to town hall. They asked him how he got there, saw he drove the tractor and gave him the license. He was about 15.

It's a parental decision as to when to allow a child to get certified and unless I'm the parent then it's none of my business.

I have no problem diving with a group of mixed experience, including brand new divers. Where would we all be if nobody would have dived with us when we were newly certified? Or if divers with more experience don't want to dive with you now? And I've seen lots of divers with hundreds + dives who still have no sense of bouyancy. How many dives you have doesn't mean that much.

With a shop where the scheduled dives are appropriate for a jr diver, there should be no issue with a 10 yr old being on the boat. And I don't think that any reputable, small Cozumel dive op would put a jr diver on a boat with 5-6 other divers unless everyone new about any depth or other limitations in advance and were ok with it. Or, have a 2nd DM for the Jr and parent to dive a more appropriate plan while the rest of the group does a deeper dive. Either way, if you are that adament about not being on a boat with jr divers then let your dive op know that when you book. If they can't accomodate you can go elsewhere.

 

[waynel]

If jr diver means child, I sure will. The only thing worse than losing a diver is losing a child. My apologies, my concern is for the children not the adults, including parents.

 

[DandyDon]

"per dive" calculations don't normally take airfare, hotel, cabs into consideration. I consider my "per dive" cost to be ONLY what I pay to the dive operator which is their fee + whatever I decide to tip.

Ok, fine. You look your way, I'll look mine, but I still have to pay those costs.

If I plan a dive trip, it is specifically to dive - anything else is a side issue. How many good dives can I do for how much money, how much time away, etc. - if I don't get blown out or incur any other problems. So that's how I look at my cost per dive - and while I like to get my money's worth if possible. There is a lot more involved to get me on that dive boat, of course - training, gear costs, etc, but I'm not trying to include those.

Still, if I am spending over $100 a tank, over $200 er 2 tank trip, made all my preps, etc - and the DM says "We're going to do two shallow dives on Casa Blanca reef today because we have a 10 yr old with us," I'd be on the wrong boat.

 

[scuba41girl]

I would be extremely worried about a 10 year on any boat. If I see a 10 year alongside me at 60 ft. I'd forget my dive and become a baby sitter.

There have been some pretty strong statements about kids diving. Here is my 2 cents. My oldest is 13. He was certified at ten and made to do the same training as any other diver (I made sure of that). I keep him active in continuing education and practice in terms of diving. I understand that he may not be as strong physically as some grown men(there are reasons why kids shouldnt dive as deep) but he has the dive skills. We were diving off of SC on a boat in 3-4 ft seas when he was 12. He had better dive skills then most of the divers on the boat. The divemaster even made the comment that he "was the only real diver on the boat." (exaggeration of course) but my point is, kids have to judged on an individual basis. All kids are different and mature at different ages.

And in terms of the babysitter comment. I've never asked anyone to watch my son while we dive. He is my responsibility and noone elses. Also, he will be completing his rescue certification this summer.

 

[diveborg]

If you want to dive with a smaller operator, consider highering a private DM for you and your son.

Excellent suggestion. That way you and your son can do 2 shallow dives without forcing everyone on the boat to do them too. Seems like it would be a win/win for everyone that way.

 

[ckofabq]

Wow, this turned into a pretty good thread.
Wayne- you're right. Age alone is hardly an indication of the maturity needed for safe diving... and it is probably true few of the 13 year olds today would measure up.
Yup, the "Midwest farm kid" thing probably did wonders for many folks. (go Huskers!)

Thinking about it a bit harder, I DID pause when hopping on a boat a few years back and saw a 10 year old girl about to do her open water dives.
Turned out she has great situational awareness- and her mother's patient guidance was shining through. She did great and we all enjoyed diving together for the rest of the week.

It's exciting to have little fish for grandchildren, and while I'd love to see them diving-my wife and I talk regularly about letting them set the pace... or not at all. And if the time comes to go for the c-card, we won't short-change them by allowing a quickie certification. It's probably too easy as it is... and I still am concerned about there being no recurrent training requirements- for any age.
Craig-