Hi All,

On the way home from school today my son told me that his friend's parents have arranged a scuba diving course (with PADI divers ) for his twelfth birthday. My son thinks it's a fantastic thing to do, and is keen to do it too.

I don't think I mollycoddle him but I'm not sure that I could/should let him do this.

Am I being over-protective? Would you agree to your 12 year old taking a PADI diver course?

I'd be thankful for any advice

MG

I thought up till 16 and full medical, dental and everything, they only did a mini course in a tank/pool.

I may be wrong but thats the info I got a few years back, from mooloolaba.

My son got his PADI cert at 12 years old.

My friends kids did this at 10.... Well the junior PADI anyway... I would love it if mine showed interest in doing it too....IMHO 12 isnt too young at all....

But then I'm a bit of a Darwinist when it comes to child rearing...

What would be your concerns?

Shpuld have asked are the restrictions on age different to the US here in Australia?

I checked up on this earlier this evening because I thought they had to be 14 years old in UK.

Checked BSAC and PADI UK sites tonight because I was worried that he could get training here at 12 yr olds that he wouldn't be able to get in UK till he was 14 yrs old.

They start at 12 years old in UK too

Apparently, here in Brisbane, they have to have a dive medical, then watch DVDs and answers questions in two books before being accepted onto a course. This is followed by a day in the classroom, and a day in a swimming pool.

Then two days ocean diving. One day off North Stradbroke Island and one day off Moreton Island.

I have to say that I've scuba dived myself before, but always on holiday.

While I can see the attraction, and believe it's a brilliant experience, I'm not sure I'm ready to agree to my 12 year old child doing it.

MG

Can I ask if you were with him?

Asking because your avatar is a snorkel mask

MG

Hope I've done the multi-quote right

My concern is that he'd be going off into the ocean in a little boat, and out of contact for a whole day.

I'm aware that he does this every day he goes to school, and for up to four days at a time when he goes on school camps, but he's not in the middle of the ocean at school or camp.

Don't know about US, I just believed that UK age restriction was 14 until tonight.

MG

I just thanked you for this info but the post didnt appear, so thanks again

Thank You

Just read on another post that you have a 15 year old and an 18 year old.

Would you have agreed to them going on a PADI dive course when they were 12 years old?

MG

Not 12, but it depends on the kid I guess. Mate of mine sent her grade 7 son to the UK alone, not sure if I would have done that either, so maybe its just me

One wanted to do it about 15, but it never happened, he got a part time job and we could never find 3 days in a row to fit it in.

Hi,

I'm kind of guessing that if he went with his friend that at least he'd not be alone.

That said, I'd rather he didn't do it at all, and I'm not sure how his friend's parents have found the courage to allow their son to do it on his own, (unless they thought that it would encourage his friend's parents to provide their children as company for him).

As for visits to UK, I wouldn't consider sending my 12 year old to UK on his own. I think my main worry about that would be the fuel stop at Singapore and the change of flight/plane at Dubai, or wherever other airlines refuel/stop).

He's so 'spaced out/geeky' that I'd be worried he'd go missing in transit

Regarding the scuba, I don't want to stop him doing something he might enjoy for the rest of his life, and I feel like a 'stick in the mud' by not being more positive about this.

MG

MG

FWIW from the age of 9 (my brother was 8) we flew to the UK and back from Asia unaccompanied 3 times a year. There's an adult available to steer you in the right direction and we saw it as a bit of an adventure.

Hundreds of expat kids do it every year to go to school in the UK.

However, scuba diving in contrast could be considered more dangerous. I wouldn't want my little one doing it at 12......can't remember but think my brother did it at 13ish though, in Plymouth Sound without my parents.......just the instructors. He was always amazed when he went diving on holiday that he saw more than just old trolleys and murk!

As for me, he could never even persuade me to do the pool taster course. Too claustrophobic and I have an over active imagination......

If the children are properly supervised and actually want to do it, I would have no issue. To me it doesn't seem more dangerous than allowing them to run around on a field kicking a ball and getting kicked in the head in return with parents cheering them on.

My son learned to dive when he joined my folks for 18 months on their circumnavigation, he was about 11. He didn't get an official qualification until he was 14/15. He'd been swimming since he was born & was a natural water baby so I guess it wasn't a worry to any of us.
Folks still ask how we could have let him go off sailing with my parents for 18 months, it was such a huge experience in life skills it was impossible not to.