Two more divers join the sport :-)

[Frosty]

Well folks Im totally estatic.
2 weeks ago I had in my familly 4 qualified divers.
Now my 13 year old son has passed his JOW so is a a Padi Qualified diver.
We had a deal with the DS in Fiji that my daughter would either do her JOW or if they felt she wasn't ready would do it as a DSD (discover scupa dive). She did the "pool" (actually in a lagoon) work for JOW with My 13 year old and it was all easy.On the first dive she "wasn't sure" so we are leaving it another year.
Typical of how she thinks she came to me a day or two later and said she would like to do a DSD "with dad" The downer was she ended up doing three DSD's and without knowing it demonstrated all the skills she needed for about everything but the nav section. one more dive and the bookwork and she would have been qualified.
The youngest son was old enough to get his JOW but IMO isn't mature enough. He did the pool sessions with his older siblings and did a dsd.
Utter cracker of a holiday. 5 qualified divers in the familly and the youngest two keen as mustard to become qualified.
21 dives in for "the old man"
What frightens me is adding up how much the gear is gonna cost --arggggg

 

[ganu76]

Good deal!! Congrats!

I too am waiting a couple of years for oldest kid's cert. We're shooting at 12 y/o for her.

Let me know how you solve that problem about gear expenses; I'm going to need some of your pointers there.

 

[tdtaylor]

Diving with your kid is great, although I find I don't relax as much- typical "dad" behavior. I dive with my daughter, now 17, and have several diving weeks planned with her next year. This has lead to her spending two years volunteering at the Baltimore Aquarium, which then lead to her pursuing a Marine Biology degree at the University of Rhode Island (I am currently there for Parent's weekend). Currently, she is looking into a semester long research project in Bermuda- boy, am I jealous. She has an absolute passion for all things in and under the water, and I believe SCUBA has had something to do with that.

Enjoy your diving, as I know you will,

One Proud Dad,

Terry

---------- Post Merged at 09:26 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 09:23 AM ----------

Good deal!! Congrats!

I too am waiting a couple of years for oldest kid's cert. We're shooting at 12 y/o for her.

Let me know how you solve that problem about gear expenses; I'm going to need some of your pointers there.

I waited until she showed an enthusiasm for diving beyond just another fun thing to do. Of course, once you do start, beware. WE are in the Northeast, so we need 3 mils wetsuits, 7 mil, different hoods, gloves,..... My other daughter dropped diving, preferring other pursuits. All us parents know how quickly their interests can change as teenagers.

 

[The Chairman]

Way cool! I got back into diving because my daughter wanted to. She never finished the class... but my son did. It's good to go diving together!

 

[Chris Brown Tech]

Welcome aboard! Its always great to see new enthusiastic divers coming in to the sport.

 

[LowDrag]

Definitely welcome!!! I have done two dives plus certifying dives with my son so far - he's 23 - and I get the less than relaxing dive with him along. I don't think it was him so much as the low viz situation and the fact that we are both newly certified divers. Good news though...we followed the missing buddy rule correctly... Luckily for me, he has his own job and can buy his own gear!!! LOL!!!

 

[CindyMac]

ganu76 -

Just wanted to say "Hi!" Saw you are in Gadsden, AL. I was born and raised there!!

---------- Post Merged at 10:29 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 10:26 PM ----------

That is terrific!! My only regret is that I was so stubborn about not wanting to dive - all those wasted years! My husband is sort of regretting it - he forgot that his wallet was going to take a BIG hit!! At least your kids have you and hopefully, they'll have many years to enjoy the sport!

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Loved reading this post. And good for kazbanz to evaluate both skills as well as maturity level and readiness in younger divers. The time will come when the whole tribe is certified, and that time will come very soon. Happy diving to you and yours!
DivemasterDennis

 

[freewillie]

Congratulations!!! I love diving with my daughter, who ironically also certified last summer after a discover scuba dive. We were at the Beaches in Turks and Caicos. She loved the experience and begged and pleaded to finish and obtain her certification during that vacation. She did.

Fast forward to this summer when we were in the Hawaiian Islands. We both did 8 dives, two days in Maui and two days in Kona with 2 tank dives for each day. The Manta Ray night dive was just amazing. But her first night dive was just off of Lahaina and was a magical experience. Her log entry after that dive was written in all caps "Best dive with daddy ever!" Getting that from my 14 yo is pretty special.

As for the gear, you might need to take out a second mortgage. I'm a big believer in kids having their own gear, at the very least their own mask and fins. My daughter's first ocean dive after certification was Casino Point at Avalon, Catalina just off California. While the DM was in a dry suit and I had my 7 mm with hood, gloves, and booties my daughter went with no gloves, no hood, and full foot fins without boots. Poor girl was visibly shaking after the dive she was so cold. I had to thumb the last dive since she was too cold to get back in the water. I even called the scuba shop several times to confirm they had scuba gear for kids and was reassured multiple time they did and would make sure she was taken care of, but they didn't.

Just after that we found some inexpensive gear online. She got full 7 mm wetsuit, hood, gloves, and booties with mask and fins. She has since outgrown the wetsuit and for now we will rent until she stops growing or starts to dive locally more frequently.

But enjoy, it is a blast to dive with your kids.

 

[MeraSonnet]

Yea, way to go!! Congrats to all. My Junior Diver and I certified 2 years ago together when he was 11 on the Florida panhandle. Then spent the last two summer vacations (his 12th and 13th) drift diving the shallower reefs off Cozumel, which are exquisite. We go out on the small boats with a private DM just for us, which keeps the cluster craziness to a minimum so I can keep a good eye on him and still enjoy the dive. Knowing that family dive travel was a priority to incorporate into life, I did invest for him in his own BCD and regulator. I feel good knowing the quality of his reg contrasted to an unknown rental, and that I stay on top of its annual servicing. Family diving is fantastic!