Parents who dont dive.....

[malley1717]

Hello everybody....

First off, i would like to thank Joe and Larry for this unique Junior forum. I have been a member of scubaboard for a while and they dont have anything like this. Thanks!

Now my question...

How many of you junior divers have parents who dont dive? I am 16, and was certified when i was about 12. My dad tried a "discover scuba" course with me before i was certified, but didnt like scuba, and my mom claims she has ear troubles.
When we go on family vacations to places where i can dive, it is a bit of a problem. My mom is a wreck (no pun intended haha) when i go diving alone. Transportation is a pain, and i am unable to do as much diving as i would like. It will be a bit easier now that i can drive, but i was just wondering, how do you deal with those pesky parents?

[navyhmc]

Malley, I feel your pain. I started diving at 13 and found it very hard at first to find dive buddies-I have never been a fan of solo diving partly because of my original training: YMCA.

My best recommendation is to get one or two of your friends interested and get them certified. Another avenue is to find and join a local dive club. Believe me there are a lot of older divers that find they enjoy being a mentor to young divers and take them on a lot of trips. Some of my most memorable trips happened this way.

I guess I was lucky, my folks while they didn't dive, didn't try to hold me back at all. I think a lot of it was that they really diidn't understand the whole process.

Good luck and don't get discouraged. BTW, my first dives happened 34 years ago and I'm still diving.

[aggie99]

I have a similar problems that my wife doesn't dive so planning vacations sucks! You can always go to this website to find other single divers to buddy up with: Scuba Gear and Scuba Diving Equipment - Discount dive gear (Cheap online!)

[jbres1]

While I'm not 16 ,but boy do I wish I still was. But I still have a Mom that doesn't dive.
Last Jan. I flew out to Phoenix to vivit my Mom and do some diving up at lake Pleasant. My Mom asked me if I wanted her to go with me . I said, No I don't expect you to do this with me. I was shocked that she would even ask. My mom is 80 years old, and isn't the out doors type. Her idea of camping is a Marriott.
My vacation buddy is my 18 year old daughter, and I spoiled her for mid western diving. Her last 2 vacations were to Cancun/Coz. , and the Charleston S.C. . She only wants to dive in warm clear blue water, not the cold dark waters of the mid west.

Jim Breslin

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by malley1717

Hello everybody....

First off, i would like to thank Joe and Larry for this unique Junior forum. I have been a member of scubaboard for a while and they dont have anything like this. Thanks!

Now my question...

How many of you junior divers have parents who dont dive? I am 16, and was certified when i was about 12. My dad tried a "discover scuba" course with me before i was certified, but didnt like scuba, and my mom claims she has ear troubles.
When we go on family vacations to places where i can dive, it is a bit of a problem. My mom is a wreck (no pun intended haha) when i go diving alone. Transportation is a pain, and i am unable to do as much diving as i would like. It will be a bit easier now that i can drive, but i was just wondering, how do you deal with those pesky parents?

I was 16 a few decades ago but know a number of kids in your same situation. I know another who wants to dive but his parents hav no interrest in it. The solution is to join a local dive club. Socially it is hard for some kids but if they act like adult divers they will be treated that way and not lack for buddes. The problem is that it is hard for a 12 year old to fit in with a group that ranges from mid 20's to 60. Easier for 16 to 17 year olds.
Just go to the local meetings, do the local dive sites and ask for cell phone numbers and email address from everyone you meet. Eventually you get to know a lot of local divers. At age 16 you can't be the guy who brings the beer but a package of hot dogs and a grill and you are the popular guy at the local beach post dive. So get into the local dive scene and your buddy problem goes away.

This works for anyone not just kids.

[divergirl]

I started diving when I was 12 as well.. I would do a few drop in dives once in a while on the saturdays and go out with the group with my LDS.. when I was 14 I did my advanced course, and after that I did a few more dives (drop in dives with the LDS).. when I was in hawaii they had a day boat trip that I went on and they let my dad come along on the boat. It's been a few years since I was actively diving but I just got a friend of mine to do his open water course so now we go as much as we can afford hah

I guess my advice would be to hit up the drop in weekend dives with your LDS and hopefully meet some new buddies.

[Mooha182]

Finding a diving buddy will also present a problem to me because I am only going to be 19 when I get my cert done (still 18 ) and will be in Germany which is severe language barrier besides the local US base population. Neither of my parents dive, however my dad use to (found out that recently) and my mother is an avid swimmer. For other activities I have found bringing food / snacks (such as someone posted above) and other goodies helps along with being a supreme helper to everyone while you are there. Patience and goodwill almost always pays off.

[scubasavvy]

Malley,

I'm 20 and I put myself through my scuba classes, bought my own equipment, etc. My parents could care less about scuba or skiing, or skeet shooting, or going to Red Sox games, etc, but they understand that it's something I like to do. They've been really understanding when it comes to who I dive with and when I dive. I think if you talk to them about your training, maybe show them your book and make sure they know that you've been properly trained. Any mother or father is going to be a wreck when their child goes diving. You just have to understand it from their perspective and help them understand you...

[Murloc]

Originally Posted by malley1717

Hello everybody....

First off, i would like to thank Joe and Larry for this unique Junior forum. I have been a member of scubaboard for a while and they dont have anything like this. Thanks!

Now my question...

How many of you junior divers have parents who dont dive? I am 16, and was certified when i was about 12. My dad tried a "discover scuba" course with me before i was certified, but didnt like scuba, and my mom claims she has ear troubles.
When we go on family vacations to places where i can dive, it is a bit of a problem. My mom is a wreck (no pun intended haha) when i go diving alone. Transportation is a pain, and i am unable to do as much diving as i would like. It will be a bit easier now that i can drive, but i was just wondering, how do you deal with those pesky parents?

welcome to the boards Malley

yeah, us pesky parents are a pain in the bumpkis...but what you have to understand is you kids are our greatest asset as well as our greatest accomplishment in life....you are worth more to us then our house, our 401K, even our big screen tv's...and we tend to protect you as such

if having the folks join you in diving is a lost cause then I would do what some have advised here and join a dive club....invite the folks to the meetings so they can get to know the adults you'll be diving with...parents want to know who their kids are playing with....most charters offer what is referred to as "bubble watcher" spots on the boat if they have room...invite the folks to actually be a part of what is now your passion without them having to actually get wet....and above all be straight with the folks, don't BS them

if they ask you about the dive be honest...tell them what depth, what you learned, and if you have any difficulties...they will appreciate you telling them and will feel better,not to mention their trust of you wil grow as they realize you are "acting" as a responsible adult....doesn't hurt to stress that diving is by far safer then driving a car

and be prepared for the possibility of the folks actually giving diving a try and liking it...then you're gonna be stuck with them

[elijahb]

As some one who is 17 I feel your pain. I don't have a car a credit card or any scuba equipment (aside from personal gear)
I started diving this year. It was a trip with people from school but not a school trip cause of insurance issues... The leader was the swim coach and is an instructor trainer for most areas of diving. He is offering trips both this summer and next year over Christmas. I would love to go but they cost money (I still have to pay for my last trip). My mom is being really supportive of this hobby. I think it helped that she finished her people and classroom sessions. to bad she never got certified. My mom has never asked me about my dives. She usually asks me how the trip went and if I had any problems. I try to be honest but it is always hard to tell them you haven't slept for a few days... Try talking to your parents about scuba maybe even suggest that your mom talk to her doctor to figure out the ear issues. As you get older you will become more independent and more dive trips will be possible.

Does anyone know if there is a dive mentor program? I think a program like that would be good for all the junior divers after all you get sick of your parents nagging you all the time.