Where to go for easy safe dives for children?

[fisherdvm]

I am considering letting my son get certified this summer. He is going to be 12, and responsible enough for a kid.

Where do you find quiet water for gentle shallow dives? Is the florida keys a good place. I would not be concerned about variety, just simple reef with little waves nor currents.

What have others done for their children? I am thinking of using standard 80 tanks and help him in and out by removing the BC and tank for him. Are the smaller tanks worth the saving in weight?

 

[herman]

The Keys are not bad but don't overlook any local quarries. They are inexpensive and make great places to practice their skills. For a travel location, Bonaire is as good as it gets. Very easy diving and great dive sites.
As for the AL-80, unless he is unusually small or weak, I would think he should be able to handle it himself. I have dove with several young ladies who (13 to 15yo), who had no problems handling their own tanks. One of them was very petite.

 

[pir8]

Sorry but if he was my student you would have to be hands off. He must learn to carry his own stuff. I hzve taught several kids from 10 up and they all had to handle their own gear. I have sometimes used smaller tanks for them but they must handle their own gear. No exceptions.

 

[scuba41girl]

I agree with pir8. Both of my children are certified. They are 10 and 13. They both carry their own gear. The 13 year old uses an 80 while the 10 year old uses a 50. My motto is never teach your own kids. Find the best instructor and let him or her judge if your child is ready. My kids were certified in the ocean. They both did great.

 

[DiverVince]

For a new diver Bonaire is the place to go..I don't know of any place to beat it.

 

[Onecabernetnut]

My son did his OW dives in Maui last March at age 11. He used an 80 and the DM made him carry his own gear. I agree with the earlier post to stay hands off during the open water dives. Hawaii was a great location for his OW, great vis with lots to see and hear and the currents we encountered were very light. The Florida Keys, while close and certainly much cheaper, can have stronger currents to deal with.

 

[reefugee]

Very well said. When my daughter (12 years old) got certified, I was her pool/OW buddy (even though I was already certified). She had to assemble and carry her own gear. She did use a Al72 (?) tank though. Her OW dive was done in the cold Monterey water during October. We felt that if she wanted to dive with us - she needs to learn in that environment.

The instructor was really impressed with her. He said that she did some of the tasks better than older students that he has had. Of course some of the tasks (such as disconnecting the lp hose) were more difficult for her because of her size - but she had to do it.

I am glad that the instructor gave her no special treatments (other than letting me be her buddy in class and OW). Don't short change your son. He might be able to accomplish more than you realize!

Minh

Sorry but if he was my student you would have to be hands off. He must learn to carry his own stuff. I hzve taught several kids from 10 up and they all had to handle their own gear. I have sometimes used smaller tanks for them but they must handle their own gear. No exceptions.

 

[superstar]

I took my daughter to the Key Largo when she was 6. She had a snuba rig and we dove 5 straight days all on shallow reefs. We went in June and the ocean was from a dead calm on most days to less than 1 ft wind chop on a few days with almost no current. We dove with Its-a-Dive and they were great with the kids. I'm concidering taking my daughter back there for her Jr open water. The other place that stands out for kids is Anthony's Key Resort.

 

[123Scuba.com]

For a travel location, Bonaire is as good as it gets. Very easy diving and great dive sites.

I agree, I did my OW there when I was, ahem younger... My baby brother did too, you can dive off the beach all day, practice skills etc.

AL80s are the most common tank at resorts. They should be able to dive one without much issue and IMO if they can't perhaps they should hold off from diving until they can.

Yes, of course let them use smaller tanks if they are available and/or if you are doing a lot of local diving and want to get them their own but train them to be ready for anything.

 

[ChrisEdwards]

My Son (13) and I did our OW and AOW off West Palm Beach, FL. Strong'ish currents, but in these situations, you are pretty much just going with the flow doing drift dives.

During the AOW, while over a wreck, we did swim to a couple of different spots, against the current, that was pretty hard work.

I did a couple of resort dives off Key West, before getting certified. Maximum depth was about 35fsw down to the bottom and no noticeable current. We swam 15 minutes in one direction, crossed over a reef channel, turned 180 and came back a little slower.