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I'm the mother of an adventurous 16 year old daughter who is about to take scuba classes with a local dive shop. I'm wondering if I should take the classes with her.
Some background: I was a teenager when the "Jaws" movie came out and to be honest, I hear that dum.dum.dum.dum.. music every time I get in the water. I have been able to snorkel with her in Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean, but I've been extremely nervous and have had a few embarrassing panic attacks. I don't scream and thrash about, but I made some record-breaking bee-lines for the ladders which frightened my daughter a bit. I just can't get over the feeling that I am literally entering the food chain when I get off the boat
I want to take the class so that we can eventually scuba dive together. Should I take the class at a different time, so as to not be a distraction (and potential embarrassment) to my daughter?
Take it at the same time. Scuba can be a pretty good equalizer. I know quite a few parents who say that diving with their teens is one of the best things they have done.
Take some time to read these threads. Learning to dive should be a fantastic experience, and there are a lot of great people out there who teach divers. Like anything else, there are also some people who have a tendency to take short cuts or take advantage of the situation. It's human nature to have a lot of trust for your instructor, and it can be hard for brand new divers to recognize the short cuts sometimes.
Take the class with your daughter. If during the class, it is not right, you can back out but at least you would not second guess your self for not taking it.
I am not sure where you live and where you might dive. If you dive in SE Florida or the Caribbean, you will most likely see sharks, barracuda, morays, and other sealife that movies and stories have made out to be "monsters". I personally have never known of any attacks that were not provoked or the result of a diver doing something stupid.
My 18 year old daughter was certified 5 years ago, and we have had a blast diving over the years. Hopefully, it is something that she will continue as long as she enjoys it. Good luck with your decision.
Take the class, there is nothing cooler than diving with your kids, and it is even better when it is a level playing field, being that you are both learning together. Happy Diving!
I see families at my school certified together and really enjoy it. It is easy to suggest reading up on sharks, but that may help you realize just how over inflated the risks are. Diving has an excellent safety record. Once you become more comfortable with the initial skills things should settle down. If you really feel going it alone will be better, you could inquire about private lessons. Training with your daughter will be ideal if possible IMO.
As far as the Jaws thing…You probably have a better chance of dying from a heart attack while jogging than getting eaten by a shark! The getting eaten thing is way overrated.
Getting certified and then diving together will be something that you can share and enjoy for the rest of both your lives........
The things you see and experience underwater together will be the memories you will talk about many many years from now.........
As our children age (our son in now a freshman at college) we have fewer and fewer things we do as a family.......thankfully we still dive together.....
The one family picture he has in his dorm is from our recent family dive vacation.......
Hi Car
What a wonderful opportunity you have. I to was a JAWs Child so I understand your anxiety.
You get over it truly. I would encourage you to do the class together.
Take the class together. I redid my OW with my teen sons as my old NASDS OW from the 70's was lost. It was the start of a great experience that I have continued to share with both my boys even as they grow up and out of the house. One of the best moves I made with them.
If you are a super parent, you do have to hold back a bit and let them be an equal partner in the dives, especially the planning and leading.
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