Teenager in distress!

[scuba_chick55]

Hey, I'm 15 and a 3 months and I love to dive but I also live in Utah where we are in a serious drought and everywhere near where I live that has water has West Nile around it. I want to get my own gear but my mom said that if I wait till I'm 18 and graduated from high school she will pay $600 of it for my grad present. I plan to make scuba diving my career. My ultimate dream would be to own a scuba shop on Maui but if I can't do that I'd like my dad and sister to help me with a dive shop here in Utah to expand diving awareness. I want to become a Marine Biologist, DM and Instructor.

Anyways, to the question. I'm wondering if any of you could give me a bit of advice as to what to do because I can't dive here and the equipment, should I get it now or wait for my parents to help out with the cost (by the way, it's only 2 years and 9 months till I grad)?

 

[northcoast_diver]

So basically you want to escape Utah?

Your best bet is to study hard, and get good grades, then see what your parents can afford for you for college out of state. Southern Calif has some good colleges, with marine biology, as does U.C. Santa Cruz in Northern Calif. The Florida colleges as well. What you can afford will depend on your scholarships and your parents' bank account.

From your photo, it looks like you and at least one of your parents is scuba certified, so you can continue to rent gear together, for now, and go on diving vacations, in the meantime.

Marine biology is one of those careers where there is greater supply of willing candidates than demand in the science industry. If you do not find a job, you could also become a high school or junior high science teacher. Best to have a fall-back plan as well, and not put all your eggs into one basket.

If your mom is promising you a $600 grad present, that would cover a new Suunto dive computer and Suunto compass. Playing with the computer's features would teach you a lot about NDLs and surface intervals and Nitrox.

 

[goodknight411]

Here's an idea...

Since your not diving any rite now put your money in a CD or money market. This way you won't be tempted to spend it. And it will earn good interest. When you graduate, you'll have the money to buy your gear, take some classes you need, and have the 600 from your mom.

If you're going to be diving alot befor then you might should buy your gear now and use the 600 for classes or college junk. (trust me you'll need all you can get)

Just my 2 cents

 

[sharkdiver00]

Agreed with GoodKnight411, since you are not diving now... better put the money into a CD or similar so it can get some growth. Then when you are ready buy your gear and you will have the additional $600. Your body shape will probably change some in the next two years anyway, so why waste it now.

Don't forget that once you start college, you will need every penny you can get for classes, books, etc.

Good luck,
maria

 

[Dapher]

Since you are not diving now, I would recommend that you save up and purchase your gear after you are certified. Then you will have a chance to try your gear out when you are in your classes and find out what works best for you. You will also want to be able to afford good quality gear. My daughter who is also 15 recently certified. She worked hard this summer and purchased her first regulator complete with computer. She was able to get good quality gear that will last her a many dives to come. She is now trying out different BC's to see what works for her. She certified in a jacket style and does well in it. Last week she tried out a back inflation type and found out it does NOT work for her. If she had purchased it without being able to try one out first it would have been a big mistake. Besides, there is always kewl new gear coming out and you will want to be able to get what you like when you are finally able to get wet with the rest of us.

 

[medic_diver45]

You have a lot of great plans....good luck with them....stick with them. They won't to anything without a lot of hard work, determination and (for lack of a better term), bullheadedness. If that's what you want to do, don't let anything stop you. If you want to do it, go for it.

My other advice: Get your degree done right away, as soon as you can. I wish I had done that right out of high school- I'm almost 24 and you'd be amazed the difference in how hard it is to get back to school because of work, family, etc.

I'll be glad to come visit your shop when you open it (I'll get a discount right? )

 

[Gary D.]

Hey, I'm 15 and a 3 months and I love to dive but I also live in Utah where we are in a serious drought and everywhere near where I live that has water has West Nile around it. I want to get my own gear but my mom said that if I wait till I'm 18 and graduated from high school she will pay $600 of it for my grad present. I plan to make scuba diving my career. My ultimate dream would be to own a scuba shop on Maui but if I can't do that I'd like my dad and sister to help me with a dive shop here in Utah to expand diving awareness. I want to become a Marine Biologist, DM and Instructor.

Anyways, to the question. I'm wondering if any of you could give me a bit of advice as to what to do because I can't dive here and the equipment, should I get it now or wait for my parents to help out with the cost (by the way, it's only 2 years and 9 months till I grad)?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having big dreams and goals.

I was certified at 14 and had close to the same dreams but that was back in 1962. Yes there were people on this planet back then and the dinosaurs hadn’t eaten us all.

I had a tragedy happen in my life only a couple of years after my certification. It was that tragedy sent me on a path that did make diving a very large part of my life and my income.

Develop your dreams and look to the future to see where they will fit in. Start saving and making sacrifices now, as it will pay off later.

Don’t expect to get filthy rich, rich or even support a family on diving alone but it can happen. But you could become very wealthy (mentally) doing what you want and like to do.

Good luck to you and go for it.

Gary D.

 

[scuba_chick55]

I'll be glad to come visit your shop when you open it (I'll get a discount right? )

Of course!

 

[Sue-ba]

Hey, I'm 15 and a 3 months and I love to dive but I also live in Utah where we are in a serious drought and everywhere near where I live that has water has West Nile around it. I want to get my own gear but my mom said that if I wait till I'm 18 and graduated from high school she will pay $600 of it for my grad present. I plan to make scuba diving my career. My ultimate dream would be to own a scuba shop on Maui but if I can't do that I'd like my dad and sister to help me with a dive shop here in Utah to expand diving awareness. I want to become a Marine Biologist, DM and Instructor.

Anyways, to the question. I'm wondering if any of you could give me a bit of advice as to what to do because I can't dive here and the equipment, should I get it now or wait for my parents to help out with the cost (by the way, it's only 2 years and 9 months till I grad)?

Hey Scubachick, from a fellow Ut diver, we have 6 divers in the family so far. One more future diver. Start washing your parent's cars more often and the drought will be over since it always rains when you wash your car. OK?

One of our divers is a 14 yr old boy. He just did Seacamp in FL. He loved it even though he said it was like school but cool. Seacamp, if an option in your circumstances, may help you move closer to your dreams as it will help you with the diving and also with the marine biology. Also, I have a daughter that is majoring in biology at BYU. She did the shared program BYU has with Stanford. She spent a semester in Monterry studing marine life and diving. She loved it. Now she has decided to be dentist. Maybe she can invent a new underwater dentistry that is more relaxing.

Yes, the diving here is not too cool compared to like the carribean, but after a while we do always break down and do a lake. It does help get it out of our system and tie us over till the next vacation. I would wait to invest in equipment until you can actually use it more often. The longer you wait, the better the gear will be when you can use it, as technology improves or fads change. Remember the flouresant pink wetsuits? Good luck.

 

[scubasean]

Of course!

Don't be giving away discounts...Just give em great service, and they'll come running...