10 yr old divers.

[DZorn00]

I am looking at getting my daughter into diving and she is 10. does anyone have a child this young diving. how do they do and how hard was it for them?

[cgvmer]

My daughter will be 10 in November. She has already told me she wants to certified when she turns 10. First off, she is a competitive swimmer so is very comfortable in the water.

This past summer, I took her on a trip doing SNUBA, which involves divign with a regulator attached to a tank floating on the surface. She did fantastic. The next thing I did with her was to play the PADI DVD that came with my son's class. This way she is more aware of terminology tha is being used.

I'l let you know how she does in Nov/Dec

[comet24]

OK I have no kids but the shop I DM with has a SCUBA camp every summer. Basically the kids spend the week at the pool learning to dive and about the oceans, reefs, sharks, ect. Then they go to the lake on Sat-Sun and do their check out dives. I was there for the check out dives but not during the week of pool stuff. Real job and all. The kids where great. Better then most of the adults we take up. Now part of that is the week in the pool just before. The parents have to come up and if certified can dive on there own and then we let them come on the last dive with us.

If your daughter wants to do it and with the right instructor it should be fine. Now we had a lot of staff up there for this weekend more then twice what we take up. Lots of supervision.

[Stingray Brett]

Im a minor and i love it!!!

[Kidder]

Here is a link on snuba diving. I had to look it up.
http://www.snuba.com/about_snuba.asp

[ScubaToys Larry]

Actually, snuba is no less, or more dangerous than scuba. It only takes 4 feet of movement when holding your breath to have a forced arterial gas embolism - doesn't matter if the tank is on your back or at the surface.

If she is mature enough, physically and emotionally - there have been a lot of 10 year old divers certified. I would like to suggest that you really try to encourage, but not push, and if she is having problems - give it more time. Let the instructor make the judgment call on if she is ready - and avoid pressure on the instructor as well!

I've seen that with diving parents, "What do you mean my son is not ready... he did the skills!" "Well, yes, but I just don't feel the comfort level is ...." "He's plenty comfortable... I want him to work with another instructor!"

You get the idea right?

Not saying you'd be like this at all - just the fact that you came here to ask the question speaks volumes for your concern for the safety... just remember - there will be years to dive together - and like the wine - Don't try to serve it before it's time.

[Charlotte Smith]

My friends have 13 1nd 14 year old girls and both are certified PADI OW and they actually did better than the adults in their classes, their brains seem to accept breathing underwater alot easier than the older people...

[txmntman]

My son just got certified this past summer. He is 12, and was certified as a NAUI Jr. Diver (no deeper than 60 ft). He now has 15 dives, and does very well....but, he was not ready a year or 2 ago. We have had lots of discussions about the dangers, and what he must do to dive safely. I was concerned when we first started. But, he has turned into a good diver, and a good dive buddy. We will be heading down to Cozumel around Thanksgiving, and are diving about once a week to keep in practice. As was said earlier, don't rush it, and the kids will do fine.

[Kidder]

It really depends on the kid. I have a niece that I don't think she will be ready until she's much older and nefew that could be ready right when he's ten. Just depend on maturity.

[scubasavvy]

Originally Posted by Kidder

It really depends on the kid. I have a niece that I don't think she will be ready until she's much older and nefew that could be ready right when he's ten. Just depend on maturity.

I second this, and also if they're not totally into it, you can't expect them to be ready for it. I know a lot of parents who would try to get their kid certified just so that they didn't have to pay someone to watch them while they were underwater...just drag the kid along. Or they're just a Clark Griswold type of parent who thinks their idea of fun is the same as everyone else's.

My cousin on the other hand who just turned 10 loves it. I took him to a friend who ran a Discover Scuba class and he likes to quiz me now on the gear and what its used for.