Underwater Altercation

[dumpsterDiver]

Yesterday took my two sons (age 10 and 12) for a shallow scuba dive. Our goal was to have fun and see how the new Golum 35 lb wing and backplate would work out for the older boy. (We didn't have the shoulder straps adjusted right and the tank was crooked) but he didn't really have too much trouble with it.

In any regard, I was leading the dive and had directed the 10-yr old to follow me and the older brother was to follow him. We had vis of around 15-20 feet which is worse than we are used to, so I was constantly looking back to ensure they were following me.

At one point I look back and they are having a shoving match! I gave them a finger wagging and it was over. Once we surfaced I said "what the heck were you guys doing?" Apparently one of them got tired of being kicked in the face and shoved the perpetrator and the other son could not let this go unanswered.


I found it pretty humorous, but took a very serious tone and told them this kind of behavoir was not to be repeated. I'm still giggling about it. I wonder if their behavoir is indicative of immaturity or a lot of confidence underwater?

 

[almitywife]

im sorry but what else do you expect from siblings!

kids are fearless and although i guess you have told them constantly the dangers involved in scuba their thought process most prob was 'im ok, im breathing and im going to smack him one'

 

[salth2owannabe]

That's funny!
I've got two boys with about that same age difference, now they are 17 and 20. I could have easily seen them do that at that age. Like you, I would have told them to save it for when they are out of the water.
I think it is equal parts age, they are boys and brothers, and they must be comfortable in the water.

 

[alcina]

Yes, it is a sign of immaturity and inability to problem solve.

If you're getting kicked in the face, move over a couple of inches.

If you're slapping at each other underwater are you paying any attention to your depth, surroundings, anything?

It's not surprising as they're brothers, young and boys - it's just one of those things. It's also one reason why kids diving is far more complex than just "are the comfortable" and "are they competent" ... they might be most of the time, but their brains don't process information the way an adult's does and they often do not foresee potential consequences from seemingly benign behaviour.

I'm not against kids diving at all - our have been doing it since they were 10, but we had and have fairly narrow guidelines in place for them to try to account for some of these "lapses". Things get far more serious underwater far faster, than similar scenarios will on land.

 

[Hoomi]

im sorry but what else do you expect from siblings!

Kind of my thoughts; Some siblings could be in a situation where absolute cooperation is essential to their mutual survival, and they'd still fight.

 

[fairybasslet]

Some siblings could be in a situation where absolute cooperation is essential to their mutual survival, and they'd still fight.

Some moms and their sons too.

 

[diver 85]

Saw my 2 boys(then age 12 & 16) @ 50' get into a 'verbal' one with an UW slate.......We saw this fish & one wrote down file fish & the other took the slate & wrote down cow fish....They each thought they were correct & started pointing & arguing UW(I could actually hear them trying to verbalize their words---UW now)...Finally the older one gave up & just waved both hands @ the younger one and swam off a bit...There was a gal videoing the dive to sell to us & @ the video previewing after the dive, she said 'now look @ this pretty cow fish coming up'...The younger just smiled & said to his older brother 'I was right'----& he was...........lol

 

[alcina]

Kind of my thoughts; Some siblings could be in a situation where absolute cooperation is essential to their mutual survival, and they'd still fight.

LOL how many times have I seen things that make me believe this!

 

[Doc]

It happens at all ages (and quite a lot), but rarely evolves into fisticuffs.

What most divers do not quite noodle out is that if they are getting kicked in the face, it is largely their fault from following to closely.

I know this isn't quite the case with these two young brothers, but it does bear remembering.

 

[don Francisco]

I wonder if their behavoir is indicative of immaturity or a lot of confidence underwater?

Probably a bit of both.