Minimum age for Scuba Diving

[bracko]

But as for being a responsible diver and buddy, I lean toward 18 – which is also the age of greater legal accountability in many jurisdictions.

this would bring out a very interesting point if U18yo's were allowed to dive together, but the idea of junior divers being accompanied by an adult is seen in many activities... rock climbing and long distance treking? you're relient on the person you're with (possibly) for your life.

 

[marcosdutra]

Medical Arguments Against Children Diving:

1. Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO): While in the womb, all infants' hearts have a passageway that allows blood to bypass the lungs. After birth, this hole gradually closes as the child matures. Young, or slowly developing children may still have a partially open PFO by the age of 10. Research is ongoing, but initial findings suggest that PFOs may increase the risk of decompression illness.

2. Equalization Issues: A scuba diver must add air to his middle ear via the eustachian tube to equalize the air pressure as he descends. Most adults can easily equalize their ears. However, the physiology of a child's ears can make equalization difficult or impossible. Young children have flattened, small eustachian tubes that may not allow air to flow to the middle ear effectively. For many children under the age of 12 (and some older ones) it is physically impossible to equalize the ears because the eustachian tubes are not sufficiently developed. Failure to equalize the ears can lead to severe pain and ruptured ear drums.

3. Unknown Physiological Effects of Diving: The effects of increased pressure and nitrogen on developing bones, tissues, and brains is unknown. A lack of concrete evidence about the effects of pressure and nitrogen on developing bodies does not mean the effects are bad. However, pregnant women are discouraged from diving for the reason that the effects of diving on fetuses are unknown. Pregnancy is a temporary condition, so women are discouraged from diving while they are pregnant. Childhood and adolescence are (in most cases) a temporary condition, so the same argument can be made against children diving.

Remember that children may experience discomfort differently from adults. They may not have a good understanding of what is physical sensations are normal when diving, and therefore may not communicate potentially dangerous physical problems effectively with adults.

Diving is a risky sport. Diving is different from most sports in that it places the diver in a environment hostile to his survival.

Can a child truly understand the risk he is taking when he goes diving? Children may not understand their own vulnerability until it is too late. Even if a child says that he understands he can die, become crippled, or paralyzed for life as a result of a diving accident, does he truly comprehend what that means? In most cases it is unlikely. Is it ethical to expose a child to a risk that he does not comprehend and can therefore not accept?

 

[dgreenh]

I voted 12 but I have taught a lot of 10 year old's that were better students than some adults. I don't mind teaching 10 year old's at all. It all depends on the kids, their physical and mental maturity. I don't think there is a right answer on this except "it depends".

 

[Osric]

The OP asked two questions. The poll asks:
“What age is appropriate to begin Scuba training?” and the post seeks opinions about:
“…what age is old enough to be a responsible diver and dive buddy.”

I didn't think that through carefully enough. When I was saying responsible diver and dive buddy, I wasn't envisioning a 10yo being able to rescue an adult; but being able to do things like:

- thumb a dive because they're uneasy even though that might disappoint Dad/Mom
- follow directions underwater, and stay with the group
- understand that the consequences of failure are not artificial punishments, but real, irrevocable damage to their bodies up to and including death

Speaking of my own kids, I have a 12yo who is, in my opinion, responsible enough but not interested enough; a 10yo who is interested enough but not yet level-headed enough; and a 7yo who I'll be amazed if I think he's ready to dive before he's 18.

So I guess "it depends" is, truly, the answer. How I solve my problem in a way that seems "fair" ... well, I won't have to deal with it for a few years, as that seems like how long it'll take for the 10yo (the one who's really excited about it and wants to know if I think he'll be a good diver) to actually be ready to take the plunge (wife permitting).

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses so far,

Osric

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I didn't think that through carefully enough. When I was saying responsible diver and dive buddy, I wasn't envisioning a 10yo being able to rescue an adult; but being able to do things like:

- thumb a dive because they're uneasy even though that might disappoint Dad/Mom
- follow directions underwater, and stay with the group
- understand that the consequences of failure are not artificial punishments, but real, irrevocable damage to their bodies up to and including death

The NAUI OW curriculum treats kids exactly the same as adults when it comes to training. That includes performing an unconscious diver recovery from 20 feet in OW checkout dives, and demonstrating rescue tows ... since they're required to dive with an adult, they have to perform those skills on an adult.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[tddfleming]

I didn't think that through carefully enough. When I was saying responsible diver and dive buddy, I wasn't envisioning a 10yo being able to rescue an adult; but being able to do things like:

- thumb a dive because they're uneasy even though that might disappoint Dad/Mom- follow directions underwater, and stay with the group
- understand that the consequences of failure are not artificial punishments, but real, irrevocable damage to their bodies up to and including deathSpeaking of my own kids, I have a 12yo who is, in my opinion, responsible enough but not interested enough; a 10yo who is interested enough but not yet level-headed enough; and a 7yo who I'll be amazed if I think he's ready to dive before he's 18.

So I guess "it depends" is, truly, the answer. How I solve my problem in a way that seems "fair" ... well, I won't have to deal with it for a few years, as that seems like how long it'll take for the 10yo (the one who's really excited about it and wants to know if I think he'll be a good diver) to actually be ready to take the plunge (wife permitting).

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses so far,

Osric

I think it would be up to us as responsible parents to teach these things. I have told my kid from day one, for whatever reason you can call a dive, no problems. I also told her during pool work, if for some reason, this is not what you want to do, you can walk away, no questions asked, no disappointment. Its your call.

During one of our dive by ourselves, she thumbed a dive at about 35 min into it. Why, she became cold. Her and I sat out and warmed up for over 2 hours before we went back in. Even during our OW check out dives, she thumb a dive, due to her not being able to equilize, inst. was not happy with us, but his problem not ours.
As for follow directions under water, we came up with a system that works for us and we know where each other are. She stays to my right side within arm reach. Hand signs work good for us, as I use most of them on land, so she knows what they mean. I find myself giving her an OK sign from across a room and she replies with the OK. I also have a sign for stop that this moment, but I have never had to use it under the water, as one thing I made very clear, you screw around and out we come, we will watch from shore. She is 12, to be 13 in April. I trust her more than I do my middle girl which is in her 20's. I think they can learn these things but we have to teach it to them. I give her choices and explain what each will mean and she can make a decision. I gave her a choice of during my AOW and her Jr AOW in March or waiting until the water warms up more. I also told her how cold the water may be in March. She picked March. But she knows from experience how cold the water will be, as we will still in the Quarry in Mid Nov when the water temp dropped to 50. But, all of this depends on the kid. As I would not have considered putting my 2 older ones in the water at this age. All are responsible but the older ones are more of a risk taker.

 

[Codiak]

I have a 7 month old that does very well on the water surface, can't even crawl (he scoots) and yet he can get on his back in the pool. All this is a good thing since we live on a lake front.

As for diving, as much as I want him to get the experience sooner rather then later, his 10th birthday will be the soonest he sees the bottom on the lake. Hopefully more studies will be published by that time and I'll be able to make a better assessment as to the physical risks.

But like Tddfleming mentioned, my wife and I are using sign language with him, if by 10 he isn't communicating well or fails to obey commands he's not getting near a scuba class.

As to him being a dive buddy, sure to a point, but I want him to have a well developed abd rational personal survival instinct first and understanding his own limitations first. License or not, until he's 18 I'm going to be his only "buddy" for a long time... I make the call of when, where and with whom he will dive and if he doesn't like it... well it's called being a parent.

 

[scubaskipper]

With me, anything under 14 is a private class. You pay to take the class, you don't pay to get the cert., you earn the cert. by how you do in class. I've had a few parents with issues (rose color glasses) and most dive shops don't like it, (bad for business). In the end, my job is to turn out good safe divers.

 

[tddfleming]

I have a 7 month old that does very well on the water surface, can't even crawl (he scoots) and yet he can get on his back in the pool. All this is a good thing since we live on a lake front.

As for diving, as much as I want him to get the experience sooner rather then later, his 10th birthday will be the soonest he sees the bottom on the lake. Hopefully more studies will be published by that time and I'll be able to make a better assessment as to the physical risks.

But like Tddfleming mentioned, my wife and I are using sign language with him, if by 10 he isn't communicating well or fails to obey commands he's not getting near a scuba class.

As to him being a dive buddy, sure to a point, but I want him to have a well developed abd rational personal survival instinct first and understanding his own limitations first. License or not, until he's 18 I'm going to be his only "buddy" for a long time... I make the call of when, where and with whom he will dive and if he doesn't like it... well it's called being a parent.

My thoughts exactly, I did not become a parent for popular points. If you don't like it, suck it up, life sucks, get over it and move on.

Rhone was some good thoughts on this, as we treat them as glass houses, when in fact, they do better than us adults as many things, if we just let them. I am not saying put them in harms way. But I think as parents we try to min. something that can be a learning experience. My daughter forgets her lunch money that I gave her for school, guess what, she goes hungry that day and remembers it tomorrow. Forgets her homework, guess what, you get the 0 in class for the day. And I am not calling the teacher to have that fixed. Everything is a lesson to learn something from.

 

[marcosdutra]

Remember that children may experience discomfort differently from adults. They may not have a good understanding of what is physical sensations are normal when diving, and therefore may not communicate potentially dangerous physical problems effectively with adults.

Diving is a risky sport. Diving is different from most sports in that it places the diver in a environment hostile to his survival.

Can a child truly understand the risk he is taking when he goes diving? Children may not understand their own vulnerability until it is too late. Even if a child says that he understands he can die, become crippled, or paralyzed for life as a result of a diving accident, does he truly comprehend what that means? In most cases it is unlikely. Is it ethical to expose a child to a risk that he does not comprehend and can therefore not accept?