and after sessions, and check readiness for each skill. For fears like mask removal (scary for kids and adults), provide tips: Practice snorkel breathing without a mask in the pool. Slow pace is key – make it fun and engaging through repe- tition and praise. Engage parents in your programs : Many are seasoned divers but unfamiliar with supervising kids underwater. Rec- ommend refreshers or Reactivate courses for updated skills and UW signals. Suggest family AOW or Rescue Diver – kids can start Junior Rescue at 12 with Junior AOW. I've trained hundreds; it builds confident family buddies. Review standards with parents: 40-ft limit for 10-11-year-olds, 60 ft for 12-14. My personal rule at Kids Sea Camp: Confirm ages with IDs, not just applications ; ask kids directly if they're excited, feeling well, and not recently sick. Speak up on dis- crepancies – I've spotted mismatches in paperwork count- less times. Agency ratios are guidelines; be conservative – I'm comfortable with 1:2 for under-12s and 1:4 for experi- enced teens. Train staff to call dives, halt classes, or decline students if uncomfortable, or if maturity lacks – I've ad- TRAINING continued
vised many parents to wait a year, explaining gently that rushing could diminish the joy and safety of the experience. By training your staff this way, dive shops can create heartwarming family programs that foster a strong com- munity and repeat business through trust, bonds, and safety priority. Adhere to rules with good judgment, stay focused without distractions, vigilantly check waivers/forms, ask probing questions, and treat all kids like your own. This expertise-driven approach not only ensures safety but cultivates passionate divers, securing your shop's future. Kids aren't just smaller adults; they need specialized care, stricter instructor-to-student ratios (like your 1:1 or 1:2 emphasis), nurturing instructors who excel with youth, and programs that prioritize long-term passion over short-term profits. Parents deserve reliable guidance on what to expect
and questions to ask (e.g., about instructor ex- perience with kids, emergency protocols, and gear fitting).
email Margo
Looking for a Warm Weather IDC for Your Students? Did you know that
Course Directors with over 100 years of collective “experience” teaching instructors Former PADI Examiner on staff 99.9% success rate Successful job placement rate Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education Approved for VA Educational Benefits 5 Top 10 2025 Scuba Diving Magazine Readers Choice Awards their instructor training? “Experience” is even in our name and here is why: “ experience ” is the #1 reason divers decide where to take
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801 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
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