On Wednesday, July 16, 2003 9:16 AM, Bjorn wrote:

> Thanks Christian., Yes, I know your resevations. I even share them to a
> certain extent, but I think it is a case-by-case thing. In terms of
> watermanship, I would bet that there is nobody on this list who is more
> comfortable in the water than her, and that is a good start. I also doubt
> that the N2 will stunt her growth - she used all of Soyong's dive gear,
> incdluding fins and BCD, which fit her like a glove :-)

> There - that might start a diving-related thread :-)

G'Day, Mate!  I was a-starting to wonder where you'd gone to.  It sounds as
though you shared a wonderful diving experience with your daughter.  It's
something that you'll both be able to treasure forever.  But since you
suggested it ... !  :-)))

My opposition to teaching youngsters to dive is based around a number of
reasons - quite apart from any long-term physiological effects.  Indeed, in
controlled, shallow (which is a moot point in itself), sheltered conditions
I don't see anything inherently wrong with it.  Particularly when it's your
own child and you have - as you do - the necessary knowledge and teaching
skills coupled with an over-riding concern for their safety and well-being.
:-)

My main objections stem from the fact that quite often youngsters lack the
necessary discipline to recognise the inherent dangers in diving:  That
having been introduced to the activity and the basic skills they might well
become frustrated by the restrictions placed on them and turn away from
diving at the age when they're able to enter into it more fully:  And that
all too often their physical frailty might render them incapable of
assisting themselves or their buddy in an emergency situation.  (I know that
this last *may* apply to adults as well, which is why I'm also opposed to
anybody diving who's not phyically capable of handling common situations!)
:-)

In the case of children learning to dive - and particularly if you're not
going to be the one to teach them - there's also the question of choosing a
suitable Instructor.  At that young age, children are at their most
impressionable.  Guiding them correctly can already be a full-time task.
And for all of their good intentions and abilities, it seems to me that a
comparative stranger is not going to be familiar with the child's developing
character.  :-)

That's the objective view. Subjectively, I think that it must have been a
blast to experience the dive through her eyes and to be able to talk
together about the experience afterwards.  :-)

Strike