Preparing daughter for OW course

[cgvmer]

My daughter turns 10 in November, the first week of August she did a SNUBA run and has told me she wants a dive class for her birthday present.

She already is a good swimmer as she has been competing on a swim team since age 6.

I just ran across my son's PADI dvd, and dropped it in the dvd player for her to watch.

Any other suggestions?

[chewyjr15]

maybe let her breath through your reg while in a shallow pool, and maybe some snorkeling to make sure she is ready and wants to learn?

[cgvmer]

Actually, she has been snorkeling for a couple years. She did SNUBA which had her swimming in 20ft of water with a regulator, she dove without issue and stayed under the whole time, and when I asked her later how she cleared her ears she told me she just wiggled her jaw.

[Illini_Fan]

Being confident in the water will certainly help, but that first breath with your head underwater, none of my swimming experience prepared me for that. I happened to get hooked on it and hopefully your daughter will as well.

I think chewyjr15 has a good suggestion. Also, just reinforce with her that diving is serious, it can be very safe, but it still will be far more serious than what a typical 10-year old has experienced.

[deepdiver47]

Don't you have to be 12 yrs old for a Jr Open water diver cert?

[Vercingetorix]

Originally Posted by deepdiver47

Don't you have to be 12 yrs old for a Jr Open water diver cert?

PADI certs kids as young a 10 for Junior Scuba Diver. Child must dive with parent or guardian.

[Vercingetorix]

Originally Posted by cgvmer

Actually, she has been snorkeling for a couple years. She did SNUBA which had her swimming in 20ft of water with a regulator, she dove without issue and stayed under the whole time, and when I asked her later how she cleared her ears she told me she just wiggled her jaw.

OK...this kid's a natural. Knows how to clear ears. Stays down. No panic. She's done better than some adults I've seen.

[cgvmer]

She is a natural in the water, that's why I started her on watching the DVD, I want her to understand the need to breath, what pressure is etc, not just remember the answers for her test.

[TwIsTeD]

My Girlfriends daughter is 10 now. She's been snorlking and swimms like a fish.
I'd like to get her to try scuba, but she doesn't always want to try new things. If she gets scared at all it's out. Any helpfull suggestions from you parents who's kids started diving at a young age?

What do you do about equipment? I haven't found any BC's sized right. She is a small framed girl.

[cgvmer]

As I said my daughter did a SASI when she was 7 and SNUBA this past month which is driving her to want to get certified.

Have you looked into any LDS's with youth programs?