Naama bay advice please with 12yo

[MatureStudent]

Hi

Going to Naama bay / Sharm shortly and hubby + daughter are talking about taking a dive course.

Is she old enough? Any recommendations and what not to do?

Any and all other relevant help and advice gratefully received.

[TrevorB]

12 years old, should not be a problem learning Scuba it’s the minimum age for BSAC and I believe Padi

Have you not thought of asking one of your BSAC branches for a try dive, most clubs will arrange that for you free of charge.

They may have an age restriction, but often when parents are involved this is less of a problem

There is a list of clubs on the www.bsac.com

[Steve in Sharm]

There are 85 operators here in town, be carefull who you go with!!

The only centres I recommend are Emperor Divers, Camel and Ocean College. If its a BSAC course you want then Emperor are the biggest BSAC school in the world.

Feel free to ask away with any Q's you may have.

[Eddie Clamp]

There are 85 operators here in town, be carefull who you go with!!

How are you young man. Damaged, or is it gout? :)

My eldest grandson is 10 today. Have to say that I will not feel able to encourage him to dive until he is at least 13 or older. Just me I am afraid but bubblemaker or other is not something I would consider with all those forming bones.

Now snorkeling is something else :)

[Steve in Sharm]

How are you young man. Damaged, or is it gout? :)

My eldest grandson is 10 today. Have to say that I will not feel able to encourage him to dive until he is at least 13 or older. Just me I am afraid but bubblemaker or other is not something I would consider with all those forming bones.

Now snorkeling is something else :)

Damaged I'm afraid Eddie, 3 weeks laid up now.

[MatureStudent]

Thanks for your help.

I've had a look at Emperor's website but I can only see PADI courses for beginners???

My daughter will be 13 in February. We did ask local clubs but none would take her on a trial dive, even with my husband taking part too.

I'd just like them both to get the most from this holiday. We're staying at the aqua blu and I believe there's a beach at the sister hotel along the road from where you can snorkel. Should they just stick to that and if they enjoy it, think about a bsac course in the UK when she's older?

[Eddie Clamp]

I am an oldie but goldie diver with six grandsprogs - none of whom I would even think of putting to diving until they were at least 13.

Sorry but it makes sense. I really enjoyed snorkeling with my grandson in Selsey this past year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7rwQBT0wcM


Thanks for your help.

I've had a look at Emperor's website but I can only see PADI courses for beginners???

My daughter will be 13 in February. We did ask local clubs but none would take her on a trial dive, even with my husband taking part too.

I'd just like them both to get the most from this holiday. We're staying at the aqua blu and I believe there's a beach at the sister hotel along the road from where you can snorkel. Should they just stick to that and if they enjoy it, think about a bsac course in the UK when she's older?

[Tony Dwyer]

Thanks for your help.

I've had a look at Emperor's website but I can only see PADI courses for beginners???

My daughter will be 13 in February. We did ask local clubs but none would take her on a trial dive, even with my husband taking part too.

I'd just like them both to get the most from this holiday. We're staying at the aqua blu and I believe there's a beach at the sister hotel along the road from where you can snorkel. Should they just stick to that and if they enjoy it, think about a bsac course in the UK when she's older?

Where do you live, perhaps we can help? My branch is in Basildon, Essex. I'd be happy to set up a try-dive for you.

[MatureStudent]

Thanks again. Tony, that was a very kind offer but we are about 400 miles north of you.

I know hubby & our daughter were really keen on diving but having looked into it a bit more, I think I may just try to persuade them to stick to snorkelling, with possibly the one day intro type course that Emperors does.

Even with the offer Emperors has, once all the manuals and certification costs are added in, it's a pretty penny. And as PADI courses, I now know she'd be better off trying to find a local BSAC club up here. I'll just have to look harder.

I'll maybe even persuade them that the 'savings' would be better spent on a day trip to Cairo! (And then I can join in - I can't dive due to petit mal epilepsy). :(

[boggilds]

where abouts in the uk do you live, BSAC clubs should be more than able and willing to do try dives with a 13yr old

[Ron MacRae]

where abouts in the uk do you live, BSAC clubs should be more than able and willing to do try dives with a 13yr old

At the risk of kicking this all off again only some clubs will offer a try dive for a 13 year old. My club will only accept 16 and older, 14 if a parent is a club member, for reasons that apparently have been done to death and cause great anger when repeated.

Ron.

[Edward]

Thanks again. Tony, that was a very kind offer but we are about 400 miles north of you.

I know hubby & our daughter were really keen on diving but having looked into it a bit more, I think I may just try to persuade them to stick to snorkelling, with possibly the one day intro type course that Emperors does.

Even with the offer Emperors has, once all the manuals and certification costs are added in, it's a pretty penny. And as PADI courses, I now know she'd be better off trying to find a local BSAC club up here. I'll just have to look harder.

I'll maybe even persuade them that the 'savings' would be better spent on a day trip to Cairo! (And then I can join in - I can't dive due to petit mal epilepsy). :(
Hi,

The cost BSAC membership and manuals within a family are not adding up the individual costs and multiplying by X.

One family member pays full, all others Abated fees. Same with manuals you only need one current manual per household.

Have a look here (http://www.bsac.com/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=19247&filetitle=Membership+rates%5FBSAC+Clubs) and here (http://www.bsac.com/shop.asp?itemid=2298&itemTitle=TP5+Abated+Student+Pack&section=1423&sectionTitle=BSAC+Diver+Training+Materials).

Also if you joined BSAC before booking your holiday you could save the membership costs by using one of our Travel Partners, here (http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=968&sectionTitle=Travel+Partners). I saved over £100 when I used Regal earlier this year.

Regards

Edward

[GaryC]

Thanks again. Tony, that was a very kind offer but we are about 400 miles north of you.

I know hubby & our daughter were really keen on diving but having looked into it a bit more, I think I may just try to persuade them to stick to snorkelling, with possibly the one day intro type course that Emperors does.

Even with the offer Emperors has, once all the manuals and certification costs are added in, it's a pretty penny. And as PADI courses, I now know she'd be better off trying to find a local BSAC club up here. I'll just have to look harder.

I'll maybe even persuade them that the 'savings' would be better spent on a day trip to Cairo! (And then I can join in - I can't dive due to petit mal epilepsy). :(
I guess that puts you in the lowland band central scotland either Glasgow or Edinburgh.

There are loads of BSAC Clubs in this region. You will have to be a little more specific if anyone is to let you know who will train divers age 13.

I am doing a similar thing with my own daughter. (although I don't have the same age problem)

If you intend to go to the Red Sea in Feb then you are probably cutting things a little fine time wise.

Personally I would find a local club that accepts 13 year olds and get as much of the training done in the Uk and then complete the rest in the Red sea. A full course will take 4 - 5 days out of your week and they wont get much time to dive for pleasure. Breaking the training will mean that you only have to do a day or two in the Red Sea. It is more expensive this way but lets you get some decent diving it.

Ocean College do the refferal stuff. (Both BSAC and PADI) Check out the Link. As someone who has been to egypt several times, I still find it somewhat difficult to navigate round the booking systems.

http://www.ocean-college.com/LearnToDive/LearnToDive.aspx

I have been with Emperor and Ocean college and both are good.

Gary

[Alison Boler]

I have dived in Sharm with my two girls since they were 10 and 12 - they did their open water qualifying dives out there. I would go with Emperor probably. They know BSAC well and when I've been with them there always seems to be a lot of kids diving with them. I would email them and ask them what they can offer. A referral as we did works well- you can do the classroom/pool stuff in the UK and then the o/w in Sharm. Consider learning with a school in the UK and finishing in Sharm. I know it costs more for the training, but as long as you find a school that has experience in teaching teens, they will supply the equipment - a saving! Getting the right equipment sizewise is absolutely vital btw so if you do go this route, ensure that they have it to fit your child. It will almost certainly not be a problem with a big school like Emperor, but again you must check in advance.
The sites around Sharm are absolutely ideal - start in about 3m - or even straight off the beach in some places. Crystal clear and lots of lovely fish to act as an incentive.
Hope you sort something out
allie