Where for 11 yo OW dives?

[fisherdvm]

Should I stay in the midwest (Gilboa) or take him to florida, caribbean for his OW dives?

He'll probably enjoy it more in the warm climate, but it might be better for him to get used to cold water diving?

I am thinking of driving down to Florida, but then he'd want to go to disneyworld, etc... and we'd get less diving.

 

[Rainer]

I'd suggest doing training at home (cold water). No point turning him off to local diving. Then take a trip soon after OW is completed to warm water.

 

[Diveral]

Get him hooked in the warm water, you only have one shot at 11 and your first dives. By all means go to Disneyworld you can dive there. Do the Epcot Divequest and snorkel typhoon lagoon. 11 year olds love Disney. It also give you an excuse to ride Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Rockin Roller Coaster, Everest, Space Quest, and the Dinosaur Ride. I was so happy that my oldest daughter likes roller coasters and thrill rides. That way I wasn't stuck doing the boring stuff at Disney World.

Then Head down to the Keys for a few days and do the shallow dives, Dry Rocks, Christ of the Deep, banana Reef, Horseshoe reef, 40 feet ledge, etc. Conch Republic took out some young'uns last time I was on the boat with them and did a good job with the jr. divers. They also have an apartment they'll rent out for a very reasonable rate if you need a place to stay. The inshore reef dives are gorgeous and fairly easy.

Do that and you'll have a divebuddy for life.

AL

 

[DarkCoffee]

Our son was 11 when he took his OW. The dives were great but the never ending complaints about putting on on the 7mm/5mm wetsuit were 'trying'. He was so put off by the wetsuit struggle that he refused to dive for the rest of the season if it required a wetsuit.

 

[fisherdvm]

Yeh, you are right. Probably best to get an 11 yo into diving by making life easier. He doesn't mind a shortie at all, and begs to wear it when we go swimming.

I think a full suit, boots, and hood would be too much to ask of a skinny 11 yo, especially when Gilboa is likely 50 degree or less at 40 ft.

 

[keyscapt]

I agree.
Take him to warm water, where it's far less hassle, and he can just enjoy it. Later, after he's more comfortable with it, let him dive the cold "home" water.
The Keys offer some excellent shallow sites for checkout dives, as mentioned above.

 

[Steve50]

I took my daughter to the cold quarry. If I had it to do over - I'd go warm.

 

[SparticleBrane]

I think Fantasy Lake in Rolesville, NC is a fantastic training environment for open water dives. It will be chilly, though...low to mid 50s most likely. Instead of spoiling the kid with warm water, take them where it's cold. It'll make them appreciate the warm stuff that much more...

 

[Jimmer]

I did my open water in a local quarry up here in Canada at 11, cold no vis, the usual crap. Personally I had no problems with the cold or wetsuits or anything else. If he's anything like me, he'll be so excited to actually dive, he won't care where it is.

 

[jmani]

Well My son, who is 11 now, soon to be 12 can't wait to learn to dive here in Monterey. He is a very funny kid. Would not snorkel in Grand Cayman, the critters in the water scared him. But loves to snorkel here with 3 foot vis. He says he can't see things far away, and the wetsuit protects him from all the creepy crawlies.