Suggestions for Check Out Dives

[ScouterJT]

I'm looking for suggestions to take my 14-yr son for his (PADI) check out dives. Looking at check dives on Fri & Sat of Memorial Day weekend, which gives us Sunday to do some diving together then fly back on Monday.

I'd be looking to do some dives at the same time.

Need to be relatively easy trip from NYC area. Am definitely looking for a kid-friendly operation.

thanks

 

[spectrum]

Where do you plan on diving with your son after he is certified?

 

[ScouterJT]

the dive trip would an alternative to our LDS check-out dives in a quarry in PA (which is kinda cold in May).

I expect that most of our dives will be in the PA quarry plus some dives when on vacation in the Caribbean.

When he gets older, we may do some NJ wreck dives

 

[neil]

....... which gives us Sunday to do some diving together then fly back on Sunday.

You don't want to fly out on the same day you do any diving. Did you mean fly on Monday? It's considered best to wait 18 to 24 hours to fly after diving to minimize risk of DCS. I always wait 24 hours.
Do a search for flying after diving and you'll find all the info you need.

 

[fisherdvm]

Might want to get him nitrox certified before the trip. Then he can do more dives in that one day, and it will shorten your time till the flight. Rent him a computer so you can maximize his/your bottom time and it will also tell you time till your flight.

 

[Fordan]

Believe you have to be 15 to take PADI's Nitrox class, although there are alternative certification agencies that will go younger, based on a thread a while ago about junior divers and Nitrox.

Personally, I'd do the checkout dives with the LDS at Dutch Springs (which I'm going to guess is the quarry in question), and do the trip as fully certified divers and get 3 days of diving together in. It's not that bad, and I believe it's a lot easier to go from cold/low-vis diving to tropical diving than vice versa.

 

[MsParamedic]

We have a LOT of people come down to Key Largo to do their check out dives, the flight is easy--but over Memorial Weekend hotel rooms will be a premium price.

Pat

 

[TomP]

Personally, I'd do the checkout dives with the LDS at Dutch Springs (which I'm going to guess is the quarry in question), and do the trip as fully certified divers and get 3 days of diving together in. It's not that bad, and I believe it's a lot easier to go from cold/low-vis diving to tropical diving than vice versa.

ScouterJT - I'm sure you've weighed the pros and cons but I think this is good advice and worth further consideration. It seems you're planning to dive the quarry to build experience and prep for ocean diving which makes perfect sense. If you start off by creating the perception that cold water and lower viz is something to be avoided then you may be derailing your plan before its even started.

If you do the trip maybe consider the keys. I did Key West in '91 and remember that it was warm and pretty clear but still had a familiar tinge of Jersey green . Best of luck whatever you do.

 

[spectrum]

the dive trip would an alternative to our LDS check-out dives in a quarry in PA (which is kinda cold in May).

I expect that most of our dives will be in the PA quarry plus some dives when on vacation in the Caribbean.

When he gets older, we may do some NJ wreck dives

Then he should make the check-out dives in the quarry. If that means holding off till June then so be it.

IMO the only acceptable alternative is to make the trip, get him certified, and then when he is ready to dive locally repeat the skills in local conditions with an instructor as a cold water orientation.

The the golden rule for new divers is to dive within your limits in the conditions in which you were certified. Clearing a mask in a cold quarry can be a worlds away from the Caribbean. Especially with a youth I do not get a warm fuzzy about cutting this corner.

Pete

 

[pir8]

The saying goes that you are certifed to dive if conditions equal to or better than you were certified in. If you are not going to certify in Dutch why would you come back to dive in Dutch? I would recomend saving a couple of bucks and do Dutch with your LDS. It really can be a great time up there.