Kids in Diving

[ghostdiver1957]

As both an AOWI and Scuba Rangers Instructor... I only have one thing to say...

"Kids Rule!"

OK, so I did that for the kids... but the facts are that many kids are not only capable of diving, but they do it better than many adults. I've had 10 year olds much better in the water than 30 year olds... and given the fact that until age 15 they are limited in the depth they can dive and by the fact that they must dive with adult supervision, I feel quite comfortable with kids learning to dive. I have taken kids in the open ocean to 60 feet and they have performed quite well. Of course I oddly enough feel compelled to keep a closer eye on them than the adults I'm leading, but I can't put my finger on why, other than perception. The fact of the matter is I've had to rescue more than one adult... but I've never once had to rescue a child... Wondering why?

 

[DeputyDan]

When my kids and I dove the Hooker (In Bonaire) the youngest was 13 and I did not allow her below 60 feet. The first words out of her mouth when we surfaced were - We're coming back when I'm 15 cause I want to go to the bottom on this wreck.

Guess where we will be this July !!!

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Kids are naturals in the water. I have three kids and they've been enjoying surface scuba (if interested: http://www.surfacescuba.com/ ) and snorkeling while I scuba along with them. But diving is an inherently risky sport and I personally won't let them get certified until they are 15. Actually, I would probably be OK with a very mature 13 yr old with limitations but certified at 10 just scares me.

 

[hvulin]

Not a problem with me, but I don't want to dive with them (they have their parents for that)... I had to dive with 3 of them (in group) this summer as DM and it was a nightmare for me...

 

[SStrecker]

It all depends on the child... I have been diving with my son, since he turned 11. It makes the risk factor easier, when the child is an excellent swimmer, responsible, methodical and rules oriented. Nevertheless, I keep a close eye on him and have seen him through a steady progression of certification classes. This is actually one of the few extreme sports that is manageable for older fathers with a pre-teen son.

 

[riguerin]

My 10 yr old obtained his Jr OW this past summer. He now has 24 dives and over 1000 min of bottom time under his belt.

I don't know what to say, without sounding like a bragging parent, other than, "He's my #1 buddy". His SAC is almost as good or better than mine (depending on conditions)... he's always right behind me pulling kelp off me ... or tugging at my fins pointing out the lobster, moray, or octopus that I just swam past. I must admit that I watch him like a hawk.

He is a very good and smart kid (aced most of his PADI exam sections ...was recently selected as a US overseas academic student ambassador http://www.studentambassadors.org/ ). He's always been very comfortable in the water. We've always taken him on vacation and encouraged him to snorkel since an early age (4-5 yrs).

We try to plan all our dives within the PADI recommended depth limit of 40ft for JR OW (albeit we've made brief excursions beyond ). The kid can hang ... he knows how to surface by himself (we practice), if we ever get separated. Honestly, my only real concern for him would be if something happened to me (God forbid).

Here's a couple of pics of my little bro in Catalina and Costa Rica:

 

[waynne fowler]

As both an AOWI and Scuba Rangers Instructor... I only have one thing to say...

"Kids Rule!"

OK, so I did that for the kids... but the facts are that many kids are not only capable of diving, but they do it better than many adults. I've had 10 year olds much better in the water than 30 year olds... and given the fact that until age 15 they are limited in the depth they can dive and by the fact that they must dive with adult supervision, I feel quite comfortable with kids learning to dive. I have taken kids in the open ocean to 60 feet and they have performed quite well. Of course I oddly enough feel compelled to keep a closer eye on them than the adults I'm leading, but I can't put my finger on why, other than perception. The fact of the matter is I've had to rescue more than one adult... but I've never once had to rescue a child... Wondering why?

Kids are great!.. I love the scuba rangers programs.. dealing with the kids was one of the major reasons that I became an instructor.. I think scuba helps kids become good citizens. They learn how to trust and it teaches them to be trustworthy. I think one of the greatest things we can teach the kids is that the rules apply.. always.. we have set procedures that must be followed, they'll break em' later on after they are out of our care. As their scuba mentors it is important for us to set the standards high for our behavior. That being the case, I truly hope that the kids you have accompanied to 60' were beyond Jr. OWD in that as you know Jr. OWD's are certified only to 40' through the SSI curriculum.

Teach em young. Teach em right. They'll break the rules in those crazy years. But if we've built the foundation well, they'll have that to fall back upon. I'm sure that you love the kids.. I'm not scolding or passing judgment, just throwing out some food for thought.

 

[waynne fowler]

My 10 yr old obtained his Jr OW this past summer. He now has 24 dives and over 1000 min of bottom time under his belt.

I don't know what to say, without sounding like a bragging parent, other than, "He's my #1 buddy".

He is a very good and smart kid (aced most of his PADI exam sections ...was recently selected as a US overseas academic student ambassador http://www.studentambassadors.org/ ).

Here's a couple of pics of my little bro in Catalina and Costa Rica:

That's way too cool!.. You're very lucky to be able to dive with him.. I'm quite envious, my son is 26 now and has 3 kids of his own and we find it almost impossible to get in the water together now.. I miss the old days (sigh) but then I can wait until the grandson gets old enough to be certified... (G)

Congratulations are in order for his selection in the academic program... nice!

Nice photos.. is that a ranger??.... I didn't realize they made one that small?

 

[riguerin]

Nice photos.. is that a ranger??.... I didn't realize they made one that small?

Nope ! It's a SCUBA Toys Brigade, size XS ... Larry hooked us up. I believe that a Ranger (what I dive) would be same fit ... check out http://www.zeagle.com/index.php?src...es&PHPSESSID=d56418ab44f44101cdf5f0045aff864a

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

He is a very good and smart kid (aced most of his PADI exam sections ...was recently selected as a US overseas academic student ambassador http://www.studentambassadors.org/ ). He's always been very comfortable in the water. We've always taken him on vacation and encouraged him to snorkel since an early age (4-5 yrs).

I enjoyed the pics. Your son sure is a natural!

I know being in the water with your children in a blast. I remember taking my 7 yr old son, Matthew, out along the jetty at night(just mask, snorkel, fins, light). There were teenagers on top of the jetty who thought we were cave divers.:jestera:Matthew kept surfacing with crabs, lobsters etc. to show them. He thought he was the coolest being the center of attention among a bunch of teenagers!