Beginning scuba lessons (lots of pics!)

[mm2002]

My oldest daughter is 8 yrs old, and really wants to dive "like mom and dad". I've been working with her a lot lately, and she's doing awesome. I just had to share these pics! I'm sure a lot of you saw the pics of her snorkeling, and that was the start of things to come. As far as scuba goes, The first exercise was just learning to be relaxed under water, breathing through a regulator, while laying on the bottom with 6 lbs of lead strapped to her. The second was writing on a slate...anything she wanted to. The most recent, breathing through a reg without a mask. Yeah, it's only a 2 ft deep pool, but I'm so damned proud of her!!! Enjoy the pics! Start 'em young folks, but do it safely.

[bennerman]

cool, looks like shes got the stuff

[chilly willy]

I brought my brother and his 7 year old son into ST when I was in town a couple of weeks ago, looks like I'll be doing the same for him when I'm back in town. The bug has bitten him big time, videos of mantas and sharks has also appealed to his sense of adventure.

[mm2002]

Originally Posted by bennerman

cool, looks like shes got the stuff

She said to give you a huge thank you for that!
I'm not sure who's the proudest (is that a word?)...her or myself.

[texdiveguy]

Awesome young lady and neat pictures...thanks for sharing with all us.

[Rileybri]

Sweet is that the new PADI kiddy pool diving specialty cert?

[bennerman]

lol, the regulator is bigger than her face :P

[snagel]

Dang Mark,

The kids are gettin' big...haven't seen them in awhile. I figured that it wouldn't be long before your oldest was takin' her junior certification stuff.

Snagel

[mm2002]

Originally Posted by snagel

Dang Mark,

The kids are gettin' big...haven't seen them in awhile. I figured that it wouldn't be long before your oldest was takin' her junior certification stuff.

Snagel

Yeah, they grow up too quick brother. Some say I'm rushing it a bit at 8 years old, but I'm keeping it safe and simple. By the time she's 10, and can take her junior OW, it'll be a walk in the park. I've already started putting together a rig for her (you should see the itsy bitsy trans-pac !) I got a child-size mouthpiece for the reg, and it's comfy for her. I'm going to wait on fins, etc, to see how she grows. It's a ton of fun!

[mitsuguy]

Originally Posted by mm2002

Some say I'm rushing it a bit at 8 years old, but I'm keeping it safe and simple.

I don't think you are rushing it either.... PADI doesn't either, else they wouldn't make 8 years old the minimum age for Seal Team and Bubblemaker...

For bubblemaker and the first mission of seal team, max depth is 6 feet, then after that, there is a max depth of 12 feet, all in a pool only for control...

For those, they even require having a full scuba unit...

The only problem with those would be finding a center that has enough interest to make it worthwhile... I would venture there isn't a huge amount of 8 and 9 year olds that want to learn to dive...