Posted by Kendall Raine on April 25, 2001 at 12:19:42:
In Reply to: As a proud BubbleMaker Patch wearer... posted by Wayne on April 24, 2001 at 16:24:47:
Wayne;
Tough question. I started diving with my father when I was nine. I did some wacky things like the Wall at Andros (180 fsw on air) by the time I was ten. BTW, we did those dives on a J valve with no SPG and the nearest chamber in Miami. I survived, but everything went right. That to me as a diver and a father is the issue. What happens when things go wrong? Is the child strong enough mentally and physically to deal with it? That doesn't even address the long term physiological questions of diving at a young age. Fortunately for me I never found out, but I won't take the same chances with my daughter. I don't want to deprive her of experiences that will enrich her life, including the time spent with me, but I see my job as parent as gauging when she's ready to assume those risks based on the best knowledge available.