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Re: Power Snorkel, Snuba, or Helmet Diving? Posted on: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 18:27:39 PDT

greatviz wrote:

>Rosalie B. wrote:
>>
>> I haven't been a certified scuba diver for very long (just since 1997)
>> but the age for kids to dive was 12 at that time. That was 10 years
>> ago - not that recent.
>
>They can get a Junior OW cert at age 10 now.

OK - the Red Cross used to have Jr. Lifesaving at that age, but
they've eliminated that course. I've taught the course to a troupe of
Boy Scouts for their badge, but now if I did that I couldn't give them
certificates from the Red Cross.

Actually, my second daughter was 10 and too young for the Jr.
Lifesaving, so I gave her Advanced Survival Swimming which for some
reason they didn't have an age limit on. It was the same as
Lifesaving but all the holds and releases were done fully clothed, and
there were some additions such as a burning oil swim, silent swim with
a rifle and a pack and other skills that were a little different.
>
>> And is he seriously suggesting that children not swim in a chlorinated
>> pool until after the age of 16?
>
>I think he is suggesting that anyone looking to sue you can find
>"studies" to back up their case against you if have put a child "at
>risk". Clearly, Harris intends to cut his legal risks by not teaching
>children under the age of legal consent.
>
So it's mostly CYA.

>> I have a 12 year old grandson who is as tall as his mother (who is
>> 5'6"), and has been boating, fishing, swimming, snorkeling (from about
>> age 5) and free diving with his dad. They have a small pool at home.
>> His dad was certified at about age 14. His dad is 6'3" so HIS growth
>> was certainly not stunted. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't
>> take a class and be certified. He's probably a better prospect as a
>> safe diver than Jr. is to do helmet diving.
>
>Perhaps. Let's face it, it's the parent's job to determine what level
>of risk they are willing to let their child assume when they enroll them
>in any sport that can have a potentially negative impact on their health
>or life.
>
>FWIW, damage to a growth plate can be just that, a plate. So, I think
>it might be misleading to talk about "stunted growth". The damage might
>just affect one limb. Actually, some males can grow through their early
>20's, so it's really not just about pre-teens either.
>
This particular child broke his collar bone in April - just running
around the field and tripped on his feet. They are talking about the
growth plate being damaged from this. Totally unrelated to scuba or
anything like that.

>This is an older, but still relevant article about kids and diving.
>I think it might be clearer than Harris's page and brings up some points
>to consider. Harris has a great deal of good info on his site that
>include references, but navigating through it can be time consuming.
>http://www.mavericksdiving.co.uk/education/kids.html
>
> From the American Journal of Cardiology April 2005, there is an
>interesting article of a group of divers tested for size of PFOs done 7
>years apart. 20 divers had PFOs and 20 didn't. Out of the 20 divers
>with PFOs, 6 had larger PFOs than they did 7 years prior. Of course,
>they need a better study to determine causality. But still, something
>to think about.

My initial foray into scuba was in 1967-78. I did it when I was
pregnant with #3. I know it wouldn't be allowed now, but then they
were more concerned with the way my teeth were in the front (they
thought it would make it difficult to bite on the mouthpiece) than the
fact that I was pregnant. Even my OB said it would be OK. My
analysis was that if I was OK, my baby would be too.