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Post by surflung on Apr 23, 2014 5:47:14 GMT -8
- One of those un-planned activities that turned out to be golden. The boys said, "Can we try out our tanks Boppa?" |
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Post by diverdon on Apr 23, 2014 7:15:27 GMT -8
Awesome! I have to show my sometimes overly cautious (Momma bear) wife  My 5 yr old is prime for this stuff!!! |
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 23, 2014 10:29:18 GMT -8
Maybe you can get some pony-bottle and make them some doubles!
Jaybird
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Post by Terry on Apr 23, 2014 13:45:24 GMT -8
That's a great video Eben; you sure can't put a price on the time you guys were having. Looks like you guys were really having some fun Terry
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2014 17:46:22 GMT -8
Well my sons were not quite that young,,,,,,,,,my oldest, Robert, was 10 when I taught him to dive........unfortunately he later in life ruined an eardrum and that ended his diving......the youngest, David, was not ready to get into the water until he was 12.......and the training took some time as he was learning to swim at the same time.........and both learned on single hoses (durn) but David has a Ram MB Mk-3 he loves to use. I remember his first boat dive at Cozumel, after hearing the dive guide rattle on for 20 minutes on what not to do he was not sure he wanted to get into the water.....90 feet sorta scared him.....but after I told if we can get into the water and if he was still not wanting to, we will get out.........well, after we jumped in, the last of the group who was waiting on us, he saw a HUGE star fish on the bottom, about 50 feet. Before I could get my gloves on he was on his way down........never has had a squeamish moment since.......save perhaps when the tiger shark in the Gulf of Mexico at the Flower Gardens kinda scared him after showing its teeth before swimming off....... Here are some photos of him the day he did his checkout dives at Lake Travis in Texas and later his first dive in Cozumel........Travis he used one of my 72's........Cozumel he used a 80......he was about 4 feet tall then    David today........he will be 40 this Sept.  Surflung, enjoy these years, once they are past all you will have is good memories and photos and videos. |
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sidm
Pro Diver
Posts: 219
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Post by sidm on Apr 23, 2014 18:11:37 GMT -8
There has been, maybe still is, some controversy among the major certification agencies on minimum age for diver training. A lot of that has to do with liability issues for the agencies and instructors. In my mind though, with good supervision, 10, 8, or even younger is a great age to introduce kids to diving. They are adaptable, enthusiastic, and will have a whole lifetime of diving adventure ahead of them. My hat's off to both of you.
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Post by SeaRat on Apr 23, 2014 19:01:49 GMT -8
I seem to remember JYC's children in the water in scuba during their pre-teen years. My kids both used scuba early (though neither took it up and got certified). So I don't think there is a big problem with the kids in the water early with scuba. They need very close supervision though.
Surflung, that is a great video. Thanks for sharing it.
John
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Post by surflung on Apr 25, 2014 6:53:03 GMT -8
- Thanks for the compliments, comments, and personal stories. I started scuba when I was 6-7 years old... My Dad let me try his Voit 72 cf tank and single hose Voit 40 Fathom. I got to swim and breathe in 3-4 feet of water next to the dock on Leech Lake Minnesota. And even now that I'm 60, I still play around next to the dock sometimes just for an excuse to play with my dive gear... Check out the boat lift, pick up sticks and rocks, etc.
- When I was little, I remember my Dad had that long 40 Fathom first stage mounted on the tank so that it hit me right in the back of the head. That and the heavy weight of that full sized tank weren't comfortable but, I still wanted to be like Mike Nelson. One weekend there was a dive when guys from out of town came and I saw a kid my age with a little yellow Vigo 18 tank (like in the video). I never got one of those but I DID get a Surf Lung.
- I think comfortable equipment will minimize the negatives when people experience diving for the first time. I've put these little tanks on grown up women and let them play by the dock in 3-4 feet of water. Mask, Fins, Tank, and Double Hose Regulator... No BC, SPG, Octopus or other equipment to intimidate or cause claustrophobia. Free swimming with the ability to breathe underwater. Yes, I keep a close eye on them... But every one of them seemed to enjoy the diving experience.
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Post by sitkadiver on Apr 25, 2014 9:44:18 GMT -8
I seem to remember JYC's children in the water in scuba during their pre-teen years. My kids both used scuba early (though neither took it up and got certified). So I don't think there is a big problem with the kids in the water early with scuba. They need very close supervision though. Surflung, that is a great video. Thanks for sharing it. John John, you're right, in "Lagoon of Lost Ships", JYC says that he taught Phillipe to dive when he was 4 years old. And thanks for sharing everyone, it's always great to see young people picking up such a great sport/hobby. |
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My 5 yr old is prime for this stuff!!!
