New Parents?

[robz]

My wife and I are new parents (of a 5 month old) and would like to start diving again, but at times we are concerned about the risk of diving. Has anyone else felt like this? If we do dive again, we will take a refresher course since it has been about a year and a half since our last dives. Any other parents have any words of wisdom.

 

[El Orans]

If we do dive again, we will take a refresher course since it has been about a year and a half since our last dives.

That's an excellent idea.

 

[dumbbomb]

well it's totally up to you. I think the refresher course is a def. must. But if you want to get back into diving, why not!! There is always going to be a risk in diving. However, if you know what you're doing you can reduce that risk. I think you're right to consider all the options and risks- people that do that make the best divers! If you do choose to dive again make sure your baby hasn't kept you up the night before though =D

 

[JimC]

My wife and I are new parents (of a 5 month old) and would like to start diving again, but at times we are concerned about the risk of diving. Has anyone else felt like this? If we do dive again, we will take a refresher course since it has been about a year and a half since our last dives. Any other parents have any words of wisdom.

Last night I got out of the water, took off my gear and gave my 2 week old daughter a kiss. Then we motored home in the dive boat. My only concern is that my wife isn't getting to dive because she has to take care of the wee one. I even have a cave dive planned in 2 weeks.. So no, I am not any more concerned about the risks of diving than I was a year ago. The risks remain acceptable, and are mitigated though training, practise and diligence.

Defiantly get out and do some ease back into it, 18 months is a long time to be dry. Take the refresher if you need it, but work up on easy dives.

 

[plwtwo]

My wife and I have a 1 year old...we've done 4 dive trips together this year. I just make sure that we dive a little more conservative when we're together. Like coming up with an extra couple hundred psi.. Remember you can always end a dive sooner, or stay a little shallower...and always ascend slowly...Never push the limits...esp..when you're together...

 

[ItsBruce]

My wife and I are new parents (of a 5 month old) and would like to start diving again, but at times we are concerned about the risk of diving. Has anyone else felt like this? If we do dive again, we will take a refresher course since it has been about a year and a half since our last dives. Any other parents have any words of wisdom.

I'm sure everyone will agree that 5 months is a bit young to start diving. While I am a firm believer in growing your own dive buddies, it takes a bit of time to grow them right. Be patient. You are best to talk about diving and good diving practice, to watch movies and videos, etc. The little one will grow with an appreciation of diving and will get into it soon enough.

 

[maj2]

My daughter is now 2 1/2.
I certainly don't get as much diving in now as I did in the Dual Income No Kids days.
She is just starting to understand that daddy likes to "swim with fishes", and is quite excited by the idea. I figure that means she'll either grow up to be diver or a mafioso. Thankfully, she recently asked for her own mask. She can't use it in the pool yet, but she likes wearing it around.
Long way from diving yet, but hopefully she'll maintain the interest expressed so far.
I still dive, just with a greater level of canservatism (and unfortuately less often).

 

[robz]

We have already discussed that if we do dive we will stay shallower and not as long. We also like warm water with good visibility.

 

[Airborne!]

We have a 9 month old now and it has not changed the way I dive or do any of the other “sports” in which I participate. It’s not like after he was born I said, “well, time to stop being a total moron and taking all those unnecessary risks with my life.” I never take a risk…now some of the things I do might involve risk, but I never take a risk. Kind of like driving a car involves risk, but I don’t take a risk by trying to beat that train at the crossing. Relax and do take the refresher, but don’t over worry about things, it clouds the judgment. Besides in a few years the child will be doing things that will terrify you. :icosm13:

 

[Diveral]

Got a 6, 3, & 2 year old. Can't afford to dive as much as i used to. Also have gone with safer profiles, updated the will, upped life insurance amounts and went with a better DAN plan. The kids know Dad's a scooba divin as the 2 year old says. Got the 6 year old into snorkeling and the 2 & 3 year olds can't wait until they're big enough to go scooba divin with Dad.