Kids & SCUBA Materials ????

[AquaTec]

I don't let my kids go skiing by them selves even though they are better skiiers than me.

why is that, because they would have a tuff time handling things like being lost on the mountain, or falling in a tree well.
I am there to look after them. until they are able to handle complex situations.

not to say that every parent or supervisor is capable of supervising a child, as you wittnessed in the situation you where involved in. that was just bad parenting not bad diving

 

[ElectricZombie]

I would consider it a bad diving practice...diving with those incapable of performing the fundamental skills of diving...and bad parenting.

 

[AquaTec]

ElectricZombie once bubbled...
I would consider it a bad diving practice...diving with those incapable of performing the fundamental skills of diving...and bad parenting.

How do they get those skills. and does age have anything to do with diving skills

 

[Zept]

The article a couple of people have referred to may be this one on Divernet. It covers psychological and physiological issues affecting young divers, gear, buddy skills, market forces and a bunch of other stuff.

Zept

 

[rstone]

I have taught many 11,12,13+ year old children to dive and my experience has been that most of them did better on the bookwork, exams, test, pool sessions, and o/w skills then most the adults in the class did. Do they have short attention spans? sure! but do some adults do to? hell yes.

While its true some may not be very emotionally/psychology mature, I have found many adults to be very immature to. These are the same adults who goof off instead of paying attention, who act like they know everything because they read a book, and who would bolt to the surface without giving it a second thought and the same oneswho are a accident waiting to happen, so lets not just limit this immature behavior to children.

As for being physically capable to handle a emergency, well I know many woman who couldnt rescue a grown male, let alone tow them or haul them up onto a boat. Since we are talking about physical limitations does this mean we should ban woman who dont have the strength? or handicap divers? While strength is only 1 issue in a rescue, lets talk about someones mental state in a emergency. True when diving with a child he may not be mentally capable to handle the emergency which is why any adult diving with a child should understand that you are in effect solo diving. Does that mean a child couldnt perform a rescue as well as some woman? hell no!.

Many new divers are not taught basic rescue skills that are taught in the rescue divier course or cpr or first aid, does that mean we should exclude them from diving until they do? There are many adults who when faced with a emergency will panic and because of that lack of confidence in their skills as a rescuer will flee the scene to get help. Does this action make them a threat to diving? If a child did this would YOU look less upon him.. dont answer that because I know your answer already.

Children are automatically discriminated against as being incapable of being mature, responsible, emotionally mature. While I would never suggest that ALL children should dive as some arnt, this is a decision that should be left to the parent and instructor to decide if that child is capable of understanding the big picture and this goes for adults to.

If we are to protect children from anything fun that could potentially hurt them, then lets ban them from any dangerious sport.. yeah right!. Remember children arnt certified and let loose like adults are. Children are still required to be under supervision and rightly so. How many Adults have died from being reckless and irresponsible, I can assure you that the numbers are ALOT higher then any you will find with children, and I can only attribute that to the responsefullness of the adults supervising these child and making sure they stay within their limits, physically and emotionally.

As for my fellow instructors who choose to not teach children based on their own basis, have obviously not had experiences teaching children or the opportunity to meet one of those special kids who impressed them with there dedication and commitment to be a responsible and safe diver.

Ryan Stone
IDC Staff Instructor

 

[AquaTec]

Ryan
Nicely said!!!

what you forgot to mention was just how fun it is to teach kids.
the excitment and honesty they display is so worth it.

Tomorrow I will be taking a bunch of 8 year olds in the pool as part of their birthday party.

all of us are very excited about tomorrow

 

[WreckWriter]

NetDoc once bubbled...


As you wish...

I had no idea. Thanks

Tom

 

[ElectricZombie]

"Many new divers are not taught basic rescue skills that are taught in the rescue divier course or cpr or first aid, does that mean we should exclude them from diving until they do?"

Yes, they should not be diving if they cannot perform a basic rescue.

 

[rstone]

AquaTec once bubbled...
Ryan
Nicely said!!!

what you forgot to mention was just how fun it is to teach kids.
the excitment and honesty they display is so worth it.

Tomorrow I will be taking a bunch of 8 year olds in the pool as part of their birthday party.

all of us are very excited about tomorrow

Very true, its amazing to see. I think what we tend to forget is these children our the future our of sport, they are the ones who will be the next generation of divers, and the ones who will insure the reefs are protected and that they someday will have something to dive. We should be encouraging the youth, not discouraging them and telling them all the reason they cant do it.

Every Child is different and while the jury is still out on the physcially implications of diving on maturing childrens bodies, their are children out their who have shown they are more then capable of being a responsible, safe diver. Does that mean I would want them diving alone? or with their 12 yr old buddy.. NO, but then their are some adults I wouldnt want to be a buddy with either, let alone let anywhere near the water and trust me I have seen plenty of them so I wont go into my horror stories of things I have see these self proclaimed experts do.

Remember guys, we as instructors dont issue a license to dive, that is not our right and to do so would bring the government into the picture. What we as instructors do is certify, and to you the diver all this means is that we are verifying that you have been taught to our satisfaction as a professsional that you have proven to us that your a safe, responsible diver who has shown us that you understand the material given to you and passed the required skills. The point being is you dont need a certification to dive, would I suggest you do so? NEVER, but just remember this isnt a license to dive, and you are responsible for making sure you dive within your limits and practice safe diving practices at all times.

You know personally I have no problem with children diving, what I DO have a problem with is some of the adults of these children. I think it should be MANDATORY that if the person diving with this child should be RESCUED, CPR, First Aid certified or higher regardless if it is the parent or legal guardian. How can you jusitfy diving with a child who may get hurt and be responsible for this child and have no clue what to do in a emergency to rescue this child should he need it.

My advice is if diving with a child and the idea of solo diving isnt your cup of tea, then dive with a buddy and your child and that way their is 3 of you and always have a 2nd buddy who can help if need be.

Ryan Stone
IDCS

 

[rstone]

ElectricZombie once bubbled...
"Many new divers are not taught basic rescue skills that are taught in the rescue divier course or cpr or first aid, does that mean we should exclude them from diving until they do?"

Yes, they should not be diving if they cannot perform a basic rescue.

Well I would tend to agree with you, but unfortunately I dont make the rules as a instructor, and although while I am aware I could add to the content of my O/W classes to include this information, I can not exclude them from being certified based on their performance of that added material. Until that changes, I'm with you on that one.

Ryan Stone
IDCS