kids on dive boats

[Bob3]

It all cooks down to the kid.
Both my kids had been diving for a couple of years by the time they turned 8, though they were 14 by the time they got any deeper than 20'.
I'd often put them at the helm, they were better at holding a compass course than many adults. The little guy used to have to stand in the wheel.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

Generally speaking "children should neither be seen or heard".
If they cannot be invisible they should be silent and out of the
way.

HA HA HA !!!

Seriously, I agree with others that it depends on the child.
I am sure I'd be pleased to be on board a boat with Bob3's
progeny but too many parents think their child is God's gift
to all of us and we should defer to the wishes of the child
and behave as though the child is the most important person
in the immediate vicinity.

 

[Viv]

It really does depend upon the child and the boat and the parents. I was on a two tank day trip while in Australia this past fall and a couple had their toddler with them. The minute I saw that as I was checking in I was expecting trouble. However, everything went very smoothly. I actually got to know the couple quite well. Since I was solo I was buddied up with them. For my first dive I dove with the mom while the dad "babysat" on the boat. For the second dive there was a switch and I dove with dad while mom stayed on board. I was pleasantly surprised but it could have easily been a disaster.

 

[Green Mountain]

Originally posted by Viv
It really does depend upon the child and the boat and the parents. I was on a two tank day trip while in Australia this past fall and a couple had their toddler with them. The minute I saw that as I was checking in I was expecting trouble. However, everything went very smoothly. I actually got to know the couple quite well. Since I was solo I was buddied up with them. For my first dive I dove with the mom while the dad "babysat" on the boat. For the second dive there was a switch and I dove with dad while mom stayed on board. I was pleasantly surprised but it could have easily been a disaster.

This is the best advice. The parents shouldn't expect the crew to be babysitters when they are diving. One parent can stay on board and spend some quality time with the youngster.

At the same time the kid will have some exposure to diving and learn how to behave in an adult world. It can be a win-win situation as long as the parents are willing to sacrafice a little of their dive time.

 

[ScubaStan]

Went on a boat dive where there were a couple of young boys about 10 or 11 yo. They didn't get in the way of the divers as we suited up, exited or re-entered. They even helped some of us get our gear off. For the most part, they were helpful, but when they weren't helping, they stayed in the hottub.