TRAINING
Beyond the Minimum Safety Standards for Teaching Young Divers by Margo Peyton , Co-owner, Kids Sea Camp, SC
A S A PADI OPEN WATER Scuba Instructor (OWSI) and Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT), I have more than 36 years of diving experience. I created a company that specializes in teaching families how to safely
I remain open to learning from every experience, not only from the children I teach, but also from their family members and the many instructors with whom I have had the honor of working. That means factoring the changing conditions, cir-
enjoy scuba diving with their children. My goal was to create a safe environment in which to train my own two children and thousands of others. Over the past 26 years, I have helped more than 8,100 young divers earn PADI
cumstances, abilities, and needs of each individual into my dive plans and cur- riculum. PADI has equipped me with in- valuable tools, standards, mandates, and resources, along with an endless amount of advice anytime to foster safe, enriching
Diving with and teaching kids is NOT, and can never be, about money or using the maximum allowable ratios.
certifications and created a safe, fun place for tens of thousands of divers to dive with their kids. My success is deeply rooted in the exceptional training, standards, tools, and support I have received through PADI, along with many years of expe- rience diving with and training children.
experiences. I believe it is ultimately up to each instructor and dive shop to build upon the foundation provided by our training agencies. Dive shops and instructors must grow through support, personal care, attention to detail, experience, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Both must commit to an ultra-conservative approach when teaching and diving with children. Ratio decisions must be based on the instructor’s experience and comfort level, the students’ ages and abilities, environmental conditions, and the type of diving planned. Dive shops that want to include children and families in their training, trips, and daily diving must understand that teaching children is different from teaching adults. Instructors must convey any reservations, concerns, and questions. Diving with and teaching kids is NOT and can never be about money and sticking to the maximum mandates. This is a battle I have fought my entire career with almost every operator at one time or another, and still do. Teaching and training kids and families is about creating and contributing to the future of diving. I made a bunny slope for the dive in- dustry, and it was very needed. A safe place to learn with kind, gentle, patient instruction and many times 1:1 training, hand-holding, and talking through fears. This is not just needed, but required with kids. The dive industry has experienced too many preventable accidents. This editorial focuses on prevention through pre- paredness, conservative decision-making, good habits, and practices developed through my own experience - to ensure every child thrives safely underwater. By embracing these practices, we can safeguard lives while nurturing the next
26 YEARS
GIVE THEM A WEEK THEY WILL REMEMBER FOREVER!
WWW.KIDSSEACAMP.COM 803.419.2556 KIDS@KIDSSEACAMP.COM
42 | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
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