Diver Dad
Guest
Anyone have any suggestions on how to better prepare my son before we start the course? its going to be a lot to take-in for a 10 year-old
My son is turning 10 and wants to be a diver
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divinginn
Contributor
i would start by doing some snorkling and getting him comfortable in the water. wish i could get my sons interested.
Jimmer
Contributor
I took the course at 11, and faired better than the adults. My instructor had to tell me to shut up and let the adults answer questions. I'm now working on my DiveMaster certification, and have found that the kids seem to just soak it up, and my instructor says the same. If he's comfortable in the water, and this is something he has a passion and excitement for, I would expect he'll do just fine.
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get the book, do some of the math problems for fun.
encourage him...tell him how happy you are to be able to do this together and have him as your buddy!
Tell him it's all important but emphasize the main "big" points. (not holding breath, watching your air...etc)
Mine, at eleven....I am certain no one told her to "do that" on her first dive (with the reg)!
encourage him...tell him how happy you are to be able to do this together and have him as your buddy!
Tell him it's all important but emphasize the main "big" points. (not holding breath, watching your air...etc)
Mine, at eleven....I am certain no one told her to "do that" on her first dive (with the reg)!
liberato
Guest
Have him go through all your old course materials on his own and ace all the review questions. And have him read scuba magazines and scubaboard for the next two years. If he is still interested then he will have a headstart.Diver Dad:
garyfotodiver
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My nine year-old is now learning to swim properly and I take her on snorkeling trips. When she is 12, she can take an OW class.
Some agency or another is not the judge of when a child is physically and emotionally capable of soing ANY activity, let alone diving.
Some agency or another is not the judge of when a child is physically and emotionally capable of soing ANY activity, let alone diving.
Make sure that he is comfortable in the water. He needs to be able to swim and snorkel. Start dive table problems with him now (download Table Tutor from Scubatoys.com), and have him start reading the material and watching the videos. Create quizzes exams and have him take them until he gets it right. He will have to meet all the standards for instruction just the same as an adult, and will have to prove he's capable and responsible enough to dive.
I have had 10 year olds that were great, and others that were...well...10. Find an instructor who can teach kids, and understands that they learn differently than adults, and can alter the instruction to meet their learning style.
I have had 10 year olds that were great, and others that were...well...10. Find an instructor who can teach kids, and understands that they learn differently than adults, and can alter the instruction to meet their learning style.
Hey thanks for the replies everyone, I should explain I was certified about 20 years ago, but somehow my paperwork a passport photo went missing, so it never was sent into PADI, this never realy was to much of a problem locally, but well on holiday (Mexico, Aruba, vancouver island) it was a real let down. I found out that I would have to do the course over
Its one of those things that I told myself that I would do someday, well I guess "someday" is here!
Its one of those things that I told myself that I would do someday, well I guess "someday" is here!
Vercingetorix
Registered
PADI will certify kids as young as 10. NAUI (my OW certification) permits kids as young as 12, but they are Junior Scuba (must dive with guardian). At 15, they are fully-certified, I believe (NAUI instructors, please correct me here and I'll edit this post).
SSI has a Scuba Ranger program that teaches kids as young as 8. There is no OW; all diving is in the pool.
SSI has a Scuba Ranger program that teaches kids as young as 8. There is no OW; all diving is in the pool.
RS
Guest
You're going to start together? I think that's great! I bet you both are in for some really fun times. Best of luck and please let us know how it goes.
I have one bit of advice from my experience with my wife going snuba. If he shows sings of distress or concern don't pressure him to continue. Back off and let the instructor handle it. I'm not an instructor but I think it's better if you aren't trying to calm / coach your son. Just let the instructor do it. And tell your kid if he doesn't want to do it, that's OK.
But you're gonna have a great time!
I have one bit of advice from my experience with my wife going snuba. If he shows sings of distress or concern don't pressure him to continue. Back off and let the instructor handle it. I'm not an instructor but I think it's better if you aren't trying to calm / coach your son. Just let the instructor do it. And tell your kid if he doesn't want to do it, that's OK.
But you're gonna have a great time!
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