Young Person

I have been diving off and on for almost 3 years now. My soon to be step daughter is very fasinated with diving. She is now 8 and a half and really wants to take some sort of childrens course. At what age do they start? Once in a while I clean the bottom of our pool in my gear(thats what im telling my fiance) And my step daughter jumps in and gets on my octo. I have been going over signs with her but I don't want to get to much into it with her bacause I am no where near an instructor. Is this ok for me to do? Or may I be spoiling her?

 

SSI has a program for kids her age called Scuba Rangers.

I am sure PADI has something likewise.

Both programs are essentially pool only activities.

 

That is dangerous practice to let them breathe off your octo and I personally don't recommend you continue to let them do that. An Air embolism can occur in as little as 4' of water if she were to hold her breath. So just because it's in a pool doesn't necessarily make it safe without proper instruction first.

PADI offers the Bubble Maker course to 8 year olds, but it is not a certification. here are some details:
The PADI Bubblemaker program is for boys and girls age 8 and above. It’s fun, easy and safe. The PADI Bubble maker program is a way for youngsters to join in the family fun of scuba diving or even start a trend! Children should be OK in the water, but they don’t have to be super swimmers since the maximum depth is only 2m/6 ft.

* For children eight years and older who want to have fun in the pool
* Also available as an open water experience (two metre/six foot max. depth)
* Conducted by PADI Instructors
* No pre-training required
* Uses equipment made for children – not adults
* Typical sessions last about an hour (sign up, gear up and fun included)

When she turns 10 she can become an Jr Open Water diver:
If you are between 10 and 14 or have a child between these ages, there is a PADI Junior Open Water Diver program available.

* A PADI Jr Open Water Diver between the ages of 10 and 11 years may only dive with a PADI Professional, a certified parent or certified guardian to a maximum depth of 12 metres/40 feet.

 

Check out Kids Sea Camp. Kidseacamp.com. I have takend my nephew on two occasions. They have a great program for kids of all ages and the adults get to enjoy diving also.

 

why don't you just buy her a mask, snorkel, and fins and teach her how to snorkel and free-dive?
she isn't developed enough physically or mentally for scuba yet. Even if she is fascinated, she isn't ready.

 

Bingo, we have a Bingo

Skin-Diving, The Essential Foundation to SCUBA Diving

Pete

 

You're risking her life. As you probably learned in OW, the biggest pressure change is in the first few feet. I'd never let my boys (age 8 and almost 10) breath off of an octopus without training. It's not a good idea in general to let snorkelers breath off of your octopus.

 

Exactly. I've also found that the better someone is at snorkeling, the easier scuba comes to them.

 

PADI Bubblemaker
PADI Seal Team
SSI Scuba Rangers

That's all I can think of

 

I'd get her a high quality scuba diving mask (twingo is the name I believe for kids), and a high quality snorkeling fin. Those cheap sets for 10 bucks are nasty on the feet, and stiff on the face. Unfortunately, kids grow fast, and gears don't fit after a few months.

Snorkels - any brand will do. The simple J type without purge valves with teach her good diving and snorkeling skill, as she will learn not to breath too fast, and learn to clear a snorkel better. It might be hard to find one with a comfortable mouthpiece for a girl with small jaw.