Kids and Diving: Get Involved

by Budd Riker, Vice President, Sales and Field Services PADI Americas

Sometimes I wonder how it will all turn out.

Everything I've done to ensure my children lead happy, productive lives is no guarantee they will. A few weeks ago, my wife and I watched a program on television about teenagers and how they are being affected in today's environment of violence, immorality, drugs, alcohol and more. Are my children in danger of becoming caught in this web of fear, pain and disillusion? Maybe. I'll do my best, like any good parent, not to let that happen. But how? What do I need to do? Where do I turn for help? The answers aren't easy ones to find. There is no road map, no instruction manual with blue bold. But, there is a significant factor within our control that will help provide our children with the best chance to thrive and to enjoy rewarding, joyful lives. That factor is us - parents.

While watching that television program, I listened to kids from all walks of life talk about what bothers them, why they turned to violence or drugs and I noticed a general theme running through all their comments: they just wanted their parents to notice them and spend time with them.

Time is one of the most precious gifts you can give your kids. I know this to be true because I learned it from my own children. Oh yes, I can get caught up in my life at times and don't spend as much time with them as I should.

But what does all this have to do with diving? And why am I sharing my views in The Undersea Journal?

I'm glad you asked.

There have been a lot of new developments in the area of children and scuba diving, including PADI's Bubblemaker program, as well as Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth (SASY) programs. PADI's minimum age for Junior Scuba and Junior Open Water Diver certification is now 10, and more and more manufacturers are downsizing their dive equipment to fit smaller bodies. I have heard many success stories and personally witnessed the joy on the faces of many children, including my own, who have experienced diving. But is it diving itself that creates such happiness? Or is it the fact that these kids share a unique bonding experience with their parents? I believe the latter to be the case.

However, there is a sour note amidst the sounds of laughter and happiness. There is talk of bone necrosis and kids' poor swimming ability, as well as talk of their being too immature, both physically and mentally, to handle the rigors of diving. While little to no scientific research supports this, the debate about the dangers of children and diving rages on. But as I look around, I see far greater dangers facing children today: The influence of violence on television and in the movies, negative media messages, a lack of parental involvement and an absence of quality role models are, in my opinion, far greater threats to the health and welfare of children than supervised dive experiences.

Are there risks involved in taking children diving? Only a fool would say no. But there are risks associated with most any activity. Last year, an 11-year-old boy was killed while riding a skateboard in my neighborhood, and, yes, he was wearing a proper helmet. Was he too young to skateboard? Too immature? No. What happened was terrible, but it was an accident. Should skateboarding be banned? No. Should there have been more parental supervision? Perhaps, but we can't eliminate all accidents. We just have to work to minimize them, while keeping in mind the value our children gain from such activities.

What value is there in having our children participate in scuba diving activities? What have we, as adults, learned from diving? We've learned responsibility, proper planning, respect for nature and camaraderie. We've also learned to exercise good judgment and we've learned about the importance of looking out for each other. Diving has taught us all that and much more. Isn't it valuable to replace the negative - the violence, the lack of respect and the emotional distance between parents and children - with these valuable life lessons?

I, for one, think the danger lies in not exposing our children to family experiences like scuba diving that also teach responsibility and respect for life.

So, what are you going to do? How will you guide your children through difficult times? What lessons will you teach them? Perhaps involving them in an activity like scuba diving may provide some of the answers. It may not be for every child, that's a decision parents, instructors and children need to make together.

But even if it's not scuba diving, please, do something with your children. Because your time is the most valuable gift you can give them, both on land and underwater.