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

[kfore]

My eleven year old son and I are OW certified, and my wife will hopefully be certified next summer, but that leaves out our six year old daughter.

While cruising ebay, I saw a Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth (SASY) system for sale. SASY: The Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth It's basically a personal floatation device that looks like a BCD. Kids breathe through a regulator supplied from a pony bottle, but since the "BCD" is positively buoyant, they stay safely at the surface.

This seems like a good idea that would let the whole family enjoy time in/on the water with no one left on shore. (Obviously a parent would have to stay topside with the little one, but at least everyone is in the water!).

Has anyone here tried SASY for their little ones? Is it worth the investment, or should we just stay with traditional snorkeling...?

[jimmysdevoted]

sasy
SASY: The Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth
PADI Kids

supplieda ir snorkeling for youth is also available for adults.
I had considered it, amd will do it this spring. But I never jump into anything.
using smaller pony bottles or slightly larger than pony bottles that is strapped ot foam filled vest, much like a boating preserver it allows you to alleviate the problems of water coming in the snorkel tube and gets you ready for proficiency for regulator breathing.

PADI is now teaching it. I provided the PADI link and you can check out who in your rea will be teaching it.

[RoadRacer1978]

I have a 6 year old son that wants to dive so bad. A lds offers the SASSY class at a local pool. I have been planning on taking him and letting him try it out. I think it would be very fun for him and it allows a younger child to experience breathing through a reg and teaches them to look at and read guages. Once my work schedule permits and he gets to try it I'll give a full report.

[cgvmer]

2 years ago when my daughter was 8 we were on a cruise she was able to do a session in the pool. She had a blast. I will set this up with my daughter is a fish, she swims year round on a swim team. So when she used up her first tank they gave her a tank from another child that got scarded. When she stepped out of the pool she walked up to my wife and I and told us she was getting certified when she turns 10.

This past summer we did a SNUBA session as a family which really settled it for my daughter. (Now her certification is on her Christmas list).

[Ohmdiver]

Sasy was cool for my daughter when she was younger. I had her in the pool and the lake she loved it!

[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!

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by kfore

...It's basically a personal floatation device that looks like a BCD. Kids breathe through a regulator supplied from a pony bottle, but since the "BCD" is positively buoyant, they stay safely at the surface.

What's the point? If they are at the surface why do they need a tank filled with compressed air. Why not a snorkle?

OK maybe it is more fun becasue the kid thinks he is doing the same thing as the parent. Like a toy cell phone or toy kitchen appliances for little girls. But just from a pactical perspective - what's the point?

[Ohmdiver]

Originally Posted by ChrisA

What's the point? If they are at the surface why do they need a tank filled with compressed air. Why not a snorkle?

OK maybe it is more fun becasue the kid thinks he is doing the same thing as the parent. Like a toy cell phone or toy kitchen appliances for little girls. But just from a pactical perspective - what's the point?

It worked as a great learning tool for my kids. and for the most part you answered your own question...

[cgvmer]

There is a difference. Even though sasy unit is meant to keep them at the surface, a strong swimmer can swim to the bottom of th e pool. When my daughter did it, the instructors threw items into the pool for them to retrieve. Many of the kids could reach the bottom.

[Ohmdiver]

^I would like to see that, my daughter wasn't a strong swimmer and tried to get below the surface and couldn't. I would have thought that it was not possible.