Unusual request : my daughter wants to stay and dive in Florida...

[matts1w]

- Broadbeach camp was very interesting but price a bit steep (around 10K$ including flight...).

Broadreach offers a number of scholarships through the Broadreach Foundation :

http://www.broadreachfoundation.com/

(No, I dont work for Broadreach, but I did run trips with them for several years. It is an amazing opportunity for young adults. Granted, I know the price is prohibitive for most people.)

For what it is worth, I wouldn't send my kid unsupervised to the Florida Keys without some sort of structured and time-tested program such as Sea-Camp, etc... Of course the Keys are full of great people, but they also attract a number of individuals that are pretty rough. I have several friends raising kids there, and they keep their teens on a very short leash as there are ample opportunities to make poor decisions, witness adults behaving badly, and deal with sketchy situations. There is a side of the Keys that is a great small-town-America. There is also a side that is the "end of the road."

Then again, I guess one can find that anywhere...Man, I am glad I don't have kids...

 

[squidproquo]

Here's a link for a camp. They might have dates that work for you: http://scubaworks.com/?page_id=31 I received my ow certification from there and they are very professional. If that doesn't work maybe I can trade places with your daughter I love the Cote D'Azur!

 

[oblade94]

Broadreach offers a number of scholarships through the Broadreach Foundation :

Scholarships and Financial Aid for International Travel | Broadreach Foundation

(No, I dont work for Broadreach, but I did run trips with them for several years. It is an amazing opportunity for young adults. Granted, I know the price is prohibitive for most people.)

For what it is worth, I wouldn't send my kid unsupervised to the Florida Keys without some sort of structured and time-tested program such as Sea-Camp, etc... Of course the Keys are full of great people, but they also attract a number of individuals that are pretty rough. I have several friends raising kids there, and they keep their teens on a very short leash as there are ample opportunities to make poor decisions, witness adults behaving badly, and deal with sketchy situations. There is a side of the Keys that is a great small-town-America. There is also a side that is the "end of the road."

Then again, I guess one can find that anywhere...Man, I am glad I don't have kids...

Thanks for the feed-back on Broadreach, matts1w. Very useful to hear from someone who worked with them. I will definitely look at it for future years, if planed ahead, money would be less of a hinder.
Were you involved with any of their diving programme? and where?
Best

---------- Post added April 20th, 2012 at 09:52 PM ----------

I am here to tell you that an association with the south Florida diving community is no guarantee of safety for a 17 year old, either in or out of the water. I suggest you wait unit she is able to travel with an adult you know well. And frankly I wasn't kidding about the association with the movie Taken. South Florida has more than its share of predators. Click this link and enter a zip code. I think you may be shocked by the results.

FDLE Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators - Neighborhood Search

Point well taken, Reck Diver. Thanks for the warning. We'll be extra careful, should Thelma find a place/family to stay.

---------- Post added April 20th, 2012 at 09:55 PM ----------

Here's a link for a camp. They might have dates that work for you: http://scubaworks.com/?page_id=31 I received my ow certification from there and they are very professional. If that doesn't work maybe I can trade places with your daughter I love the Cote D'Azur!

Many thanks for this useful link, Squidproquo (fun nickname, btw); Thelma and I have been looking at the many possibilities. We might find something that would fit her well. Merci !

Fred

---------- Post added April 20th, 2012 at 10:08 PM ----------

Here's a link for a camp. They might have dates that work for you: http://scubaworks.com/?page_id=31 I received my ow certification from there and they are very professional. If that doesn't work maybe I can trade places with your daughter I love the Cote D'Azur!

Many thanks for this useful link, Squidproquo (fun nickname, btw); Thelma and I have been looking at the many possibilities. We might find something that would fit her well. Merci !

Fred

 

[oblade94]

So I think it's time for an update on Thelma's research. She'll be attending Seacamp in Big Pine Key late June / early July. It seems like a great programme, with a nice mix of diving, research in marine biology, and other activities within a fairly International crowd and in what looks like a beautiful environnent. i hope she'll learn as much English as she'll have a good time...
A big thank you to all of you for all your help and suggestions, and a special Merci to Squidproquo for the link to Seacamp.
I'm sure Thelma will relate here her adventures in the Keys.
Best,
Fred & Thelma

 

[matts1w]

She'll be attending Seacamp in Big Pine Key late June / early July. It seems like a great programme, with a nice mix of diving, research in marine biology, and other activities within a fairly International crowd and in what looks like a beautiful environnent. i hope she'll learn as much English as she'll have a good time...

Great decision! Seacamp is an awesome program and has withstood the test of time having been around for years.

 

[supergaijin]

My brother -in-law went to Germany and lived with a family and learned German fluently. He stayed for 3 months

I take it that you don't speak German. No offense intended- OK maybe just a little.... but my Japanese and French are flawless... to other people who don't understand what I'm saying. This is after 4 years of secondary school, 3 years of university, living in Japan for 3 years and now having a French wife.

I think there are people who can learn languages very quickly indeed- 3 months is idiot savante material.


To the OP and daughter, good luck and have an awesome experience.