Anyone tried SASY (pseudo SCUBA for kids younger than 10)?

[SkuaSeptember]

When my daughter was 7 she had gotten to be pretty good at snorkling and free diving. About that time SP was making SASY gear and the Rep let me borrow it for a few days. My daughter thought it looked really cool and couldn't wait to try it out. We brought it to a local beach that has some big tide pools, got her into her wetsuit and gave it a try. It took her less than 10 min. to realize that if she couldn't submerge she couldn't get any shells or hermit crabs. All done with that! The Bubblemaker and Seal Team programs,however were a huge success and she has been doing open water dives since she was 10.
If you can have your daughter try it for free or cheap, go for it, but otherwise, I'd work with her on snorkling and make that a featured family activity.

[adv_diver1]

I really don't think that children under 14 should dive. I know many are VERY capable, but I just worry about those little guys if something were to go wrong, they are hard pressed to make a life/death decision... not that a 14 year old is any better, but I just worry about the little ones alot.

I am scared of baby's by the way. I won't hold them because I don't want to hurt them or something happen to them because they are so small. I prefer to look at them, wave and make funny noises. I did not hold my 2nd child very much when he was little for the same reason. But now he is a little typhoon and I am much more comfortable.

Weird huh??

[DiveSooner]

Originally Posted by kfore

Hey RoadRacer - I'm an Okie as well. Which local shop offers SASY? A weekend rental would be the best way to zero in on whether or not this is a good solution for us.

Thanks!

Kfore, not sure which one RR was referencing, but Oklahoma Scuba in Norman used to do kids parties...

[hoobascooba]

Originally Posted by adv_diver1

I really don't think that children under 14 should dive. I know many are VERY capable, but I just worry about those little guys if something were to go wrong, they are hard pressed to make a life/death decision... not that a 14 year old is any better, but I just worry about the little ones alot.

definitely a matter of opinion from a parent, but at same time, a matter of competence from the child. My daughter is almost 10 and can't wait to learn scuba. I taught her how to swim, so I believe she is very competent enough to learn to be very comfortable underwater.

And I think this is the main issue here: competence, confidence, and consistency. The consistency comes from the parent. When you teach anything to your child, there's no greater importance than being consistent.

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by kfore

While cruising ebay, I saw a Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth (SASY) system for sale.

While I'd bet it would be fun for the kids because they get to play with some cool equipment that looks like what dad uses. So from the the fun perspective it might be good.

But practically why is SASY better then using a snorkle? Breathing compressed air at the surface is just a waste of compressed air. If you buy them an inflatable "snorkle vest" or even a real PFD and then teach them to use a snorkel. As a learning experience snorkeling is "real", something they can do as adults while SASY will always be a toy scuba system for kids

It depends on the goals SASY is for having fun at a resort if that is the goal, go for it..

[Ohmdiver]

It taught and re-inforced the idea of looking at a gauge,

[newways]

My dive buddy puts his kid(3) in a tub with a snorkel. the kid stays under forever.

[DarinMartell]

Why buy different equipment? Wouldn't a pony bottle with reg while wearing a life vest do the same thing? That way when you are doing deeper dives and the little one is not around you could use it.

Having the kids swim to the bottom opens up all sorts of injury issues if the hold their breath coming back up, I don't know if I would like that.

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by hoobascooba

...My daughter is almost 10 and can't wait to learn scuba. I taught her how to swim, so I believe she is very competent enough to learn to be very comfortable underwater.

Likely she could be very comfortable underwater. But it is very unlikely she would be able to help her adult buddy if there was a problem. Whoever dives with a 10 year old is in effect diving solo. Nothing wrong with solo diving if you know what you are doing, have the equipment, training and experience and accept the risk.

The thing about diving is that it is really easy. Just about anyone can dive after a few hours of instruction. It is easy, that is until the slightest little thing goes wrong and then some judgement is required.

[mark44883]

sounds like a ball wish i had that when i was younger