My daughter age 12 just became certified. We went diving in Belize for a week and she did great . However, my diving was more stressful because I wanted to check her air even after she would check and show me. I have noticed the new computers that show your buddy's air supply. Can someone suggest the models they prefer and if they like the ability to monitor their buddy's psi, I feel like it might help me be more at ease? Also, she is using dive tables but would like a computer for her with back light and very simple to start out with, suggestions for her? Thanks!
As other people here have said, I think the real problem here is your stress and trying to keep her in cotton wool. I have three children and have taken them all diving. I understand the stress from a loving parent, however as others have also said, if you continue this process she wont wish to dive with you, or will drop the idea altogether. If you also apply this to the other things in her life she may well totally rebel. Its not easy being a parent who cares, you have to be there for them when they need you, but also give them the room to learn and grow.
You check her air and she does for you, and then that should be it, YOU must believe in the diving ability of both of you, if you haven't seen a huge pool of bubbles then why the need to recheck immediately. Trust in yourself and her. Also you should get her to start checking you, helping her to be a good buddy as well. Don't take her down the path of fussing and doing everything for her, or she will be useless when buddied with another person. Help her grow by letting her develop her skills, let her make small mistakes so she learns, if you never let her make a mistake, she wont do as good. You discuss with her how often you both should check air and on each other, then take it in turns so she learns too. It also then justifies why you are doing what you do.
There are many cheap computers on the market and I am sure she will pick up how to use one in a flash, before you or I would. Do you have s computer? If so perhaps one like you have so you are both familiar with each others gear. That's one thing I did with my wife and I, we both have same regs, computers, DSMB, reels so we are both familiar with what each other has.
Ensure she sets up her gear and NOT mum. Take her through the routines of checking then after that let her pre-empt the routines, if she misses one, discretely check so you know both are safe then ask her if she checked AFTER the dive, then discuss what might have happened and show her why she should do these things.
All this helps her become a better diver, and give you both confidence. Thus your stress levels drop and you ACTUALLY begin to enjoy diving with her, and her with you and that's what I bet you want from all this.
You both want enjoyable safe diving but for it to work it has to be both of you, not just mum.
