Coldwater_Canuck
Contributor
I'm not really sure those activities are compatible in comparison to learning scuba though. The two main arguments against kids scuba diving are nothing like "they can't learn to do it" it is based on a psychological factor (developing reasoning) and a physiological factor (effects of nitrogen), neither of which is particularly importent when shooting a gun.We as children also learn basic survival skills, and hunting skills early. We typically are shooting at the age of 10. I remember being 8, 9 , and 10 with Blow Guns, Tomahawks, Throwing Stars, and Small Crossbows to name a few. All used under absolute adult supervision, zero injury ever! Some people can scream "Your parents are nuts!" all they want, but I have wonderful parents that allowed us to experience many things as children, and we were never injured. We learned safety, and respect for those items.
The first problem is reasoning, something if I remember correctly doesn't develop until mid-teeens: in an underwater emergency can they take everything they have learned and apply it to that particular situation or can they just do drills out of the books. The other problem is the effects of nitrogen on children's development. Now there is no proof that it is harmful, but there are some hypothesises that it may be. It's amazing how much we don't know about decompression even in adult divers who have been studied much, much more. With kids, there has been very little research and with some of the things that might be happening, personally I wouldn't risk it.
Okay I don't get this reasoning. You're declaring it safe ("I wouldn't worry about it too much") based on the fact that it hasn't been proven dangerous ("this debate is an ongoing one")?I wouldn't worry about it too much, as Rhoneman pointed out, this debate is an ongoing one. You look like you are doing a fine job in encouraging your son to love the water.
You are less cynical than I when money's involvedIf a 10 year old can be certified then you can rest assured that the certifying agencies have not arbitrarily picked this age; to do so would open them up to serious litigation in case of a mishap. There is a method behind the madness.
Also, if it was this clear cut and non-arbitrary why are the ages different accross agencies?