i personally got injured on my high school swim team so now i cant do that anymore... so now i dive... i can do quite a few tricks! its pretty fun...

I did both while I was in the Marines but now I only get to swim when I work out at the "Y".

It sucks because I'd love to go diving off the coast again, but alas, I'm always too busy to take time off.

At what age did either one of you start diving?

I became a certified diver when I was 16. Kept it up untill I was 24.

Wow, certified at 16. Cool.

I have a child that wants to take diving lessons. What age do you think is too young to start?

I don't know how to dive, myself.

I've been swimming every sence I can remember. As for diving, I'm not really sure. I think it really depends on the child really.

I would suggest going to the local "Y" and see if they have Dive classes and find out what there age limit is. If your child is old enough then see if you can set in on a class.

They've taken all of the swim classes at the YMCA. Started at 2 yrs. old.

Our "Y" doesn't have a diving board. So...I have to find another place. It appears, from what I've seen, that they start teaching around 5. I wasn't comfortable with that age so I'm considering it again.

To be honest, its going to come down to a judgment call on your end. I don't kow your child or his maturaty level. And that has a lot to do with it.

That's my problem. I don't know anything about diving.

I can understand that but do keep in mind that when it comes to diving, expecally with kids, maturity really comes into play. When Diving there are several ways to get hurt, weather its playing around, or panicing.

I'm not trying to tell you not to or scare you, but just so you understand that its not like you see on t.v.

In a controled environment he should be alright. If he wants to learn, go for it. But I wouldn't let him do any alone untill he had several hours under his belt.

My child wants to learn. I have my concerns. I can imagine necks getting injured. I don't know if I made that up.

I have a couple of months to think about it.

take your time and if you can find a Dive instructor to talk to eather in person or on the phone and tell them your concerns.

Thanks for taking your time to give advise. I find that in my area we are to find a pool, sign the child up, and hope for the best. The Dive instructors that I have watched while my child takes lessons look like they're teenagers or late teens.