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Old 04-14-2008, 01:40 PM   #2 (permalink)
Sounder
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Join Date: 04/09/2008
Posts: 352

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Location:
Puget Sound, WA
Dives Logged: 101-500
Well, as a parent it's ultimately your call. I don't think most 11yo's have the maturity to be in a life-threatening environment where they may have an emergency, or be responsible for saving another diver in an emergency, with only 11 years of life experience under their belt. Some 11yo's sure, but they're VERY few and far between... and if it were my son, he'd have to demonstrate a strong drive to learn and do things correctly and he'd have to be an exceedingly mature child.

In my opinion, that's too young but there are many people who will tell you stories of their successful diving child. Just remember, it's not the days where everything goes beautifully and you have a great dive that you need to be concerned about. It's the day where you're seperated in a freak current and then your 9yo or 11yo blows an o-ring and is alone, mid-water, OOA, and on their own.

Underwater, you're only 1 breath away from death... I don't think the reward is worth the risk of putting a child underwater. BUT, this is just my personal opinion.
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