Does age make you a less safe diver?

[jlittlejohn321]

I was on a dive boat about a month ago and they were talking about how i should not go 100 feet cause im 13. They said it wasnt safe for me to. I am wondering what everyone else thinks about this. Does age really make you more or less safe?

[Chad]

It is probably due to the fact that your body is growing and little is known on the effect of pressure during development. No reason to chance causing a problem when you have a lifetime of diving ahead of you. If it helps you are not missing out on much. Most of the cool stuff to look at is shallow.

[scuba-taylor]

Originally Posted by Chad

It is probably due to the fact that your body is growing and little is known on the effect of pressure during development. No reason to chance causing a problem when you have a lifetime of diving ahead of you. If it helps you are not missing out on much. Most of the cool stuff to look at is shallow.

I agree you don't have to go deep just to see cool stuff!

[ScubaJenn81]

I agree that they just do not know what the effects on your body can be. There are plenty of skilled teenagers the respect the rules, and there are plenty of dumb adults that mess around. It is nothing against you being young, just staying safe to dive another 50 plus years.

[TxScubaBear]

True on seeing NOTHING that deep (100 feet), 30-50 feet will grant you plenty of sights to behold!

[cyclone]

I also agree, sometimes they tell us it's not about the age it's about maturity. I think it's the length of experience too. And what the heck, play safe, I think thats matters the most.

[tbuckalew]

Sounds like everyone is on the same track - and medically, they are right. Not much is known about the effects of pressure and growth. There are some theories (you probably wouldn't like them, but they would probably keep you from going deep) - but nothing concrete.

Besides, except for some wrecks, there really isn't much to see. Once the life giving portions of sunlight are filtered out of the water with depth, no much grows. That growth provides for the smallest of creatures the feed larger creatures and so on. That is why active coral reef structures are rather shallow and full of life!

[scubasavvy]

I've seen some dopey divers over 40 and kids who know the book, table, equipment, and procedures backward and forward. Give it some time my friend. Your body needs to finish growing, and it's dark down there...

[jlittlejohn321]

Yeah i didnt think it was that dark and there was a lot of life down there i saw a southern ray some goliaths eels and turtles and of course coral and fish

[cgvmer]

I know when you are certified with PADI before age 16 you are considered "junior" OW with a limit of 60ft.

So 100fsw would be considered deep for this cert.

Tbuckalew you commented that there are theories, do you have pointers to any possible issues?