OP
fatherandsondiver
Registered
Two last points to set the record straight, as a lot has been said here:
1) Padi does not set limits for 12-14 yr old divers. From their website: "Junior Open Water Divers ages 10-11 years old must dive with a PADI Professional or certified parent/guardian. Dives must not exceed 12 metres /40 feet. Junior Open Water Divers ages 12-14 years old must dive with a certified adult." There is no limit set for 12-14. Here is the link: Kids Junior Scuba Diving Open Water, Rescue and Master Diver Courses - PADI Scuba Diving Training Organization
2) My point with this thread is not to justify what I do with my son. That is my business, and while people are welcome to give their points of view, that is all they are. I was not trying to open a debate about diving practice.
A dive shop, however, should not invite me to their island and to their boat promising to do something they won't do. I was crystal clear with them upfront, before I came to Saba, that I was with a 12 year old and that I wanted to dive at 100 feet. I asked very clearly "will this be a problem, as I had a problem in the past". They said NO PROBLEM, PLEASE COME. At their invitation, I flew to Saba for a day with one and only one purpose in mind (you may disagree with my intensions, but that is not the point), to dive deep with my son. The shop then took my money and drove me to their boat. It was only when my ONLY alternative was to turn back and fly back to Anguilla (and eat the $1000 of travel costs, plus my time) when they raised an issue about my son's age. The issue, as communicated, had nothing to do with weather - just his age. As I result I made this posting and started this thread to question the dive shop's (Scout's Place, Saba Divers) business practice. I do not question their policy on 12 year old divers, by the way, it is their business and their neck on the line. I question the fact that they invited me to the island and took my money under false pretenses, and then were less than apologetic about it.
Call me a monster for wanting to dive with my son, but don't condone the dive shop's bait and switch. I was out a day and $1000 before they raised an issue that I had put on the table by email 30 days before.
1) Padi does not set limits for 12-14 yr old divers. From their website: "Junior Open Water Divers ages 10-11 years old must dive with a PADI Professional or certified parent/guardian. Dives must not exceed 12 metres /40 feet. Junior Open Water Divers ages 12-14 years old must dive with a certified adult." There is no limit set for 12-14. Here is the link: Kids Junior Scuba Diving Open Water, Rescue and Master Diver Courses - PADI Scuba Diving Training Organization
2) My point with this thread is not to justify what I do with my son. That is my business, and while people are welcome to give their points of view, that is all they are. I was not trying to open a debate about diving practice.
A dive shop, however, should not invite me to their island and to their boat promising to do something they won't do. I was crystal clear with them upfront, before I came to Saba, that I was with a 12 year old and that I wanted to dive at 100 feet. I asked very clearly "will this be a problem, as I had a problem in the past". They said NO PROBLEM, PLEASE COME. At their invitation, I flew to Saba for a day with one and only one purpose in mind (you may disagree with my intensions, but that is not the point), to dive deep with my son. The shop then took my money and drove me to their boat. It was only when my ONLY alternative was to turn back and fly back to Anguilla (and eat the $1000 of travel costs, plus my time) when they raised an issue about my son's age. The issue, as communicated, had nothing to do with weather - just his age. As I result I made this posting and started this thread to question the dive shop's (Scout's Place, Saba Divers) business practice. I do not question their policy on 12 year old divers, by the way, it is their business and their neck on the line. I question the fact that they invited me to the island and took my money under false pretenses, and then were less than apologetic about it.
Call me a monster for wanting to dive with my son, but don't condone the dive shop's bait and switch. I was out a day and $1000 before they raised an issue that I had put on the table by email 30 days before.