Posted by Captain Tim on January 21, 2002 at 19:47:12:
In Reply to: are we hurting our children? posted by John Walker on January 21, 2002 at 12:13:44:
I receive many, many calls and emails about this question, when can my son/daughter learn to dive? This is an issue that I have to be very "PC" about. I used to tell them, as soon as they feel comfortable in the water. But, the agencies have dropped their standards to a new low. My personal feelings are that nobody really knows if diving effects the normal growth of children, hell, no body knows the effects for any of use in the long term. We are just the second generation to dive. JW is very correct here, to warn caution about taking children diving too soon. While I think it is ok to snorkel with them at any age, and every effort should by taken for them to enjoy the wonders of the sea, SCUBA, should wait a few years. (I also think 18 is a tad high.)
Captain Tim Burke
Owner/operator Great Escape Charters