One of the greatest pleasures of being a diving parent is introducing your kids to the water. Andy Torbet has advice
UKDIVING TORBET ON THE TUBE
PHOTO: BECKI BIGGINS
All the young dudes
One of the greatest pleasures of being a diving parent is introducing your kids to the water. Andy Torbet has advice
I
’ ve been encouraging my two boys to take to the sea since before they could walk. Thankfully any encouragement was surplus to requirement, and they can, and have, spent all day in the sea, day after day, failing to become bored or unenthused.
Last summer we camped on the French Riviera and would spend a few hours in The Med after breakfast, lunch and dinner. Eating, sleeping and spending time submerged was the extent of their entire month. I have learned a few things over the years which might help those on the same journey.
■ You don’ t need to start all in. There is a temptation to get them wearing mask, snorkel and fins from the off. But I found too many new things left them a little overburdened. When very young, they felt more secure and happy swimming around a reef with only their masks on, popping their heads up to breathe. Next, fins were introduced and only later did they master the snorkel. We forget that awareness of your head orientation, and therefore keeping the end of the snorkel in fresh air, is not an easy task for an excited four-year-old.
■ Their first fins were too long. Putting a three-year-old in fins commensurate
Learning confidence in the sea by starting young
All snorkels and smiles
64