first ocean trip for a 10 yr old

My granddaughter just turned 10 so how could I resist but giving her diving lessons and dive gear for her birthday. She will take lessons near her home in Houston, TX

The next question, where to go for the first ocean dive? Timing is likely the first week of June and her Jr cert will be finished by then.

There will be 5 divers going so looking for a place that is not too far or too expensive from her home in Houston. Thinking a place where we can shore dive would be good. Not having to deal with a boat, the other divers on it and the pressure to match a timetable for entry/exit seems like a good idea.

Playa Del Carman was recommended by someone as cheap to get to and I can probably use my timeshares for staying. The diving is perhaps not world scale but it was implied that leaving from shore is possible and there are reef structures within reasonable swimming distance. Any one know if this is accurate or been diving there?

Also looking for a place that is not wall diving. Since she will only be certified for 40 ft, seems good to have a place where that is about all you can reach.

I know Bonaire great diving from shore but that is probably too pricey to reach.

Any ideas from the Wetpixel crowd?

Why not Florida? the reefs are shallow, easy to dive. pennekamp is a cattle operation but their boats are very large and easy to spot. French and Mollasses reefs are great.You have the wreck of the Benwood in 40ft of water. You also have some very cool sling and cavern diving. anyway my wife and I love it. There is also Blue Heron Bridge for a shore dive

I was originally thinking of FL and have done the bentwood, etc. I will be doing the BHB in a few weeks so will know more about that then.

The reservation is about the waves on boat re-entry. Each time I have been to Penn. park, it was fairly rough except at night. Was thinking maybe it was too rough for a small girl. Last 2 times I did Penn park, many were seasick from the waves and I do not want that initiation so soon for the GD.

Is it normally calm or rough in June?

I was originally thinking of FL and have done the bentwood, etc. I will be doing the BHB in a few weeks so will know more about that then.

The reservation is about the waves on boat re-entry. Each time I have been to Penn. park, it was fairly rough except at night. Was thinking maybe it was too rough for a small girl. Last 2 times I did Penn park, many were seasick from the waves and I do not want that initiation so soon for the GD.

Is it normally calm or rough in June?

June weather is normally excellent. Something you could plan as well is a smaller boat and speak with them ahead of time to plan specifically for her. One option is Quiessance which operates small six pack boats, and another is Mike's Charters ( http://www.mikescharters.us/ ) a private, yet reasonable husband and wife operation where you will get complete personal service, and you can tailor your charter to your needs. Mike is a Cuban ex coral diver with lot's of great stories and a stingray chest wound to talk about, and Jen his wife can be your personal divemaster. Their 38ft Glacier Bay motor cat is very stable; a perfect personal dive boat. It's the boat I want.

My oldest grandson turned 10 last June and he has now done twenty-five dives at the Blue Heron Bridge. It is an outstanding spot for a child that young to get started. After each dive he sits down and makes a list of all the critters he found using several I.D. books. It has been a great teaching tool and at this point he has not ask to do a boat dive. My son and daughter (the 10 year olds mother) are both divers and it is great to dive with three generations of family. Now I only have four more grandchildren to get involved.

Phil Rudin

I was originally thinking of FL and have done the bentwood, etc. I will be doing the BHB in a few weeks so will know more about that then.

The reservation is about the waves on boat re-entry. Each time I have been to Penn. park, it was fairly rough except at night. Was thinking maybe it was too rough for a small girl. Last 2 times I did Penn park, many were seasick from the waves and I do not want that initiation so soon for the GD.

Is it normally calm or rough in June?

Most of the time, maybe I'm just lucky, I've hit Pennekamp just fine. I did hit it once when it was impossible. My rule of thumb with Pennekamp is 3 parts. If the wind is coming in from the East and the viz around the shoreline is messed up AND Pennekamp can't or won't give you a condition report, save your money. June, however, is usually great. I've hit Largo at that time about 3 different occasions and had superb conditions. You mentioned Playa as well. The dives on and around Cancun and Playa can be nice and easy enough. The Cenotes are fantastic easy dives. Cozumel a little bit more of a challenge with the current and deeper reefs.

Hey, I know this suggestion is a bit of a wild card and that you are on the 'wrong side of the pond', but... My son has been open water diving since 8 years old and the house reef and inshore boats dives at Red Sea Diving Safari served him well (8-10 years). Since, (10-11 years) he now tears the arse out of it at Elphinstone, Abu Dabab, the Fury Shoal (also RSDS) and St Johns (Blue Planet Liveaboards). Google those for more info and you'll find plenty of safe and thrilling diving for your youngster.

HTH, Tim

thanks for the feedback and ideas.

I will be diving BHBridge in 4 weeks, my first time there, so I will have some ideas first hand then. That spot seems appealing for shore diving.

At Penn. Park, is there any snorkeling from shore is it all boat access? I have only been diving there but the family wants to know as we try to decide where to go.

I like the red sea idea but that is way out of the funding for the trip.

Dave

I know that you discounted it, but both of my children did their first sea dives in Bonaire, on the edge of the wall by Captain Don's and Buddy Dive. It is the perfect place, really (and we flew across the Atlantic to get there...)

Tim

Tim,

You are right, Bonaire is a wonderful place. I was at those spots last Feb. 2008 and would love to go again in 2009. Your entry confinced me to check airfare to there again.

Airfare for 5 is just under $4000 for the dates in question which is a bit to steep for this adventure.

but thanks for the comments.