Perhaps give him a taster session in a pool first and take it from there. Doesnt suit everyone. Can feel quite unusual at first not being able to breath through nose and some have ear.sinus problems. These can/will/should be established in a safer environment of a pool first.

My son did the full Open Water PADI course at aged 12. He had a dive medical pre course. He attended the 5 day intensive course with adults and got the same licence but at a junior rating. Restricted him to only diving to 12 metres until he was 16 then he automaticaly upgraded to full OW. (Although this was usually ignored on most dives and he routinely went to 20+ metres). Buddying with me or an instructor of course. He was fine.

The hardest part of the PADI course for him was the 400m swim test in a wetsuit but no mask, snorkel or fins permitted and wearing 4kg of lead weights. He seriously struggled but passed. That was on Gold Coast near Surfers. Although legit, he was the youngest diver they had ever trained at that time!

Once he finished the course he then dived various sites on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, Julian Rocks in Byron Bay, Ningaloo Reef and PI PI Island in Thailand, where he also gained his underwater photography licence just off Pattong........all before he hit 13. He has since dived in Egypt.

He also did a tandem skydive at Byron Bay at 12. Shhhhhhhh.

So I would certainly agree to at least let him try a pool first.

'Wavebreak' to see the eel and the octopus........and naff all else

http://www.divingthegoldcoast.com.au...PageID=wavebrk

Hi Steve O,

Thanks for the link to the GC dive site

He's done his day in the classroom, and his day in the pool.

The instructors had to ask him to stop answering their questions to allow other (adult) students to answer.

He's loving it and is confident of his own ability.

So, ocean dives next weekend. He can't wait and I'm less nervous after his very positive experiences this weekend.

I'm glad that we chose to go the PADI route rather than other, (most likely just as reputable, but not as recognised world-wise), routes that were on offer.

Thanks to all of you who've helped me feel comfortable about him taking this on

MG

Thats cool Steve O. Is Kieren Curry still instructing with you?

sorry i dont have anything to do with gold coast divers,

i just used their website as it has some excellent pictures of local dives

i was with the BAD lads in bolton Uk from 94 to 06 but they dont seem to do the social side the same overhere ie meet ups in pubs etc

for anyone thats intrested in th UK
http://www.boltonareadivers.co.uk/

regards steve

Hi,

Well he did it, loved it, and he's now working out how he/we can save up to pay for the courses that are available to him now

He's very serious about saving/using his own money, and I guess that'll be his birthdays and Christmases sorted out for the next few years.

The instructor was very pleased with him, and said that the hardest part of the dives was trying to get him out of the water.

OH and I sat closeby for the debriefings at the weekend and it was really good to hear him be confident enough to take part in conversations with the other students who were all adults.

I'm very impressed with the Dive School we chose, Go Dive Brisbane, and would recommend them to anyone who was considering trying out scuba diving. I'd most certainly recommend them for those who have 12 year olds who want to try it out.

Thanks to all who helped me get over my nervousness over this

MG

That's excellent news MG!