Young beginner divers

Question
What is a good age to start diving lessons?
Where in Los Angeles (more specifically west valley, 91325) area is a good place tomget my kids started?

Answer
Fran -

My personal opinion on what the right age is to start diving lessons is around 8. Anyone younger I encouraged to do recreational 'play' diving as I think kids age 7 and younger do not have the attention span to do an hour lesson.

More importantly, I also based whether or not a child was ready for diving lessons on the following abilities:

Are they safe in deeps water?
Can they swim deeply to a depth of 12 feet with their eyes open and push off the bottom?
Do they know how to tread water or dog paddle? Divers need to swim to the side with their head up to hear the coach.
Can they go head first off a low board (1 meter)?
Are they willing to jump feet first off a high board (3 meters)?
Do they have any acrobatic ability like gymnastics or trampoline?

These are some of the factors involved in figuring out how to learn the sport and be able to do a one hour practice.

Most divers now have a gymnastic background so if your son or daughter does not have this ability I would concurrently enroll them in a beginning level gymnastic class.I think that 2 days a week of diving and 2 days a week of gymnastics is a good combination.

You live in an area that has many diving programs, coaches and divers. Southern California is one of the most successful areas of the country for diving.Go to this website to find a program:

www.usadiving.org. Click on Clubs and then Find A Club. Enter CA and a list of teams will come up.Lots of choices near your zip code.

www.aaudiving.org - Another source to find a team.

www.diving.about.com. Enter 'Lessons' in the search box. Lots of good info here for families new to diving.

Good luck. I am sure you will find a program you like.