Youngest grandson made his first dive today

[Gary D.]

Our 9 year-old grandson made his first dive today and without a mask. He has been breathing off a reg for a while but on the surface.

Today he went for his first dive. Single 72, Conshelf Supreme, Sherwood Shadow, Gauges and that was it. No mask, no fins and he had a ball.

He is starting backwards than what is taught. Instead of starting with a mask on and trying to function with it off, I’m starting him with out one so it will be a luxury to have one.

So before anyone has a cow, I had a hold of the tank the entire time (he didn’t know that). It will be a long time before I let go of him or let him go anywhere but the 5’ deep pool but it’s a start.

Hopefully when it comes time for him to go to school he will breeze right through it.

The only bubbles the older two boys are going to make in the water is farting in the bathtub. The youngest one wants to dive NOW.

One proud Grand Pa.

Gary D.

 

[junior diver]

I wish I discovered diving that young... Good idea starting without a mask or fins. I've seen people take their kids down on the octo to about 6 mtrs. Worried me loads because it looked like one of them was about to hold his breath and try and get to the surface. His dad grabbed him just in time.

 

[jrdivagrl]

wow, glad he gets to experience diving at 9! I got my open water at 12. I think that 10 is a bit too young to be learning dive tables and stuff! You are a great Grandfather!

 

[DennisW]

Gary,

If you are taking care of him, I'm not worried at all.

 

[Gary D.]

Sad to say I have been just too busy to get the 9-year-old back into the water.

So today I made time as nobody decided to get stupid, yet.

His name is Christopher. He was going to be Alex but while his mother was carrying him her best friend, Christina, was killed in a car accident just a mile or so from our house.

The day it happened we got several calls as the two girls looked like twins. A lot of people thought it was our daughter that had died that day. Thank god it wasn’t. But the little guy she delivered has been a very special kid with a pre-delivery name change to honor Christina.

He wants to be like Grand Pa. So today I tossed a tank into the pool and went in with him. I can do it Ok Papa. And down he went to the tank on the bottom. I was expecting him to choke up some water but the little bugger remembered what he was told last week and cleared the reg without any problems.

So there he is, at 9 years old, lying on the bottom of the pool sucking up some 21% Nitrox. No big deal right. BIG deal! No mask, no fins, no BC, no nothing but a reg and a tank.

About 5 minutes later he comes up, exhaling, and says I’m ok and how am I doing? I say fine and off he goes again. This time it’s a good 15 minutes. Don’t ask about his SAC yet. That’s going to take some work. He looks like a broken hose on an air compressor.

He’s also negative buoyant at this point. He can just lay on the bottom as long as he likes.

Might just have a new PSD in the making.

One proud Grand Pa.

Gary D.

 

[baitedstorm]

Congrats......!
Most people, sadly to say, wouldn't bother to take the time to teach the little tike anything before his "official" age to learn. I think what your doing with him is amazing. I'm just about finished with my DM class and often use my kids (12 & 8) as students (not in the water), you could ask them tons of questions about diving and they'd give you some pretty good answers. To date my little one has taken a few breaths off my reg at the surface and is already hooked.

I love the idea of no mask!

 

[Davidl]

My brother learned when he was 10, and got to goto bonaire when he was 11 (didnt think I was missing much at the time, but boy am i jealous now). I think you definitely need to be sharp at that age to do OW diving, to understand all the concepts of the tables and such.

 

[Rick Inman]

Gary,
If I dive with you, will you hold my tank for me, too?

 

[Gary D.]

Gary,
If I dive with you, will you hold my tank for me, too?

You ready for dinner?

The Whitehouse closed after the accident to help the kids cope. Looks like it worked, they are much better today.

Gary D.

 

[Rick Inman]

You ready for dinner?

The Whitehouse closed after the accident to help the kids cope. Looks like it worked, they are much better today.

Gary D.

Yeah. Saw it on the news. (To see what Gary is referring to, look here http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?threadid=68365&s=)
Dinner a week from Friday? (right after payday). I'll PM you as we get closer.