[19696]

Until now, we have never really had a policy on minors diving with our club. Recently, we have had enquiries about what we can do to get children & young people (i.e. under 18's) diving in the UK.

We are a non-training club, with mostly PADI qualified divers, but several members hold qualifications from other agencies.

We wondered what policies were around in other clubs, or how other clubs deal with the issue, particularly if the minor has non-diving parents.

We know the rules in terms of Junior OW, depth limits and so-on, but it is more about protection of the child, how are other members encouraged to assist, should there be any CRB checks, what if we are considered to be almost creche facilities, should other club members be expected to restrain themselves in typical diver conversation etc.

What do other clubs do?
Have any of you got a policy that i could have a look at?

Cheers

 

[722]

Until now, we have never really had a policy on minors diving with our club. Recently, we have had enquiries about what we can do to get children & young people (i.e. under 18's) diving in the UK.

We are a non-training club, with mostly PADI qualified divers, but several members hold qualifications from other agencies.

We wondered what policies were around in other clubs, or how other clubs deal with the issue, particularly if the minor has non-diving parents.

We know the rules in terms of Junior OW, depth limits and so-on, but it is more about protection of the child, how are other members encouraged to assist, should there be any CRB checks, what if we are considered to be almost creche facilities, should other club members be expected to restrain themselves in typical diver conversation etc.

What do other clubs do?
Have any of you got a policy that i could have a look at?

Cheers

If they are BSAC instructors, they can only instruct in a BSAC branch or school.

With regards to welfare issues (CRB checks are NOT necessarily compulsory) have a look at the BSAC Policy WELFARE OF VULNERABLE PEOPLE in Snorkelling and Scuba Diving - BSAC

Adrian

 

[DannyB]

If they are BSAC instructors, they can only instruct in a BSAC branch or school.

With regards to welfare issues (CRB checks are NOT necessarily compulsory) have a look at the BSAC Policy WELFARE OF VULNERABLE PEOPLE in Snorkelling and Scuba Diving - BSAC

Adrian

CRB checks might not be compulsory, they are a bloody good idea though! I am a scout leader and we have to CRB all our leaders/instructors. We've had a couple come back with minor comments, however we've had one "No contact, supervised or not with children or young adults." The person this came back for every single one of us that knew would have personally vouched is fine... Sometimes you never know.

Regards,

Danny

 

[19696]

If they are BSAC instructors, they can only instruct in a BSAC branch or school.

With regards to welfare issues (CRB checks are NOT necessarily compulsory) have a look at the BSAC Policy WELFARE OF VULNERABLE PEOPLE in Snorkelling and Scuba Diving - BSAC

Adrian

Thanks for the link, Adrian.
This isn't about training at all, as training is not done in any way in the club. It is simply aobut how we manage club diving, whether it is shore based, or on boats, and minors. We run dives which are aimed at less experienced divers, so more experienced divers are encouraged to go along and assist, but that is more about support. and making sure that both the young people and the divers are protected.

 

[42]

We've had much the same discussion at our club. basically we require the under 18 to have a guardian/parent in the club who's already a proficient diver and they are responsible for the child. If the parent isn't a proficient diver then we'll train the parent but won't train the child. At the moment we're going through getting CRB checks done.

 

[onthetrain]

Until now, we have never really had a policy on minors diving with our club. Recently, we have had enquiries about what we can do to get children & young people (i.e. under 18's) diving in the UK.

We are a non-training club, with mostly PADI qualified divers, but several members hold qualifications from other agencies.

We wondered what policies were around in other clubs, or how other clubs deal with the issue, particularly if the minor has non-diving parents.

We know the rules in terms of Junior OW, depth limits and so-on, but it is more about protection of the child, how are other members encouraged to assist, should there be any CRB checks, what if we are considered to be almost creche facilities, should other club members be expected to restrain themselves in typical diver conversation etc.

What do other clubs do?
Have any of you got a policy that i could have a look at?

Cheers

Hi Morag,

I had this situation a few years ago with a PADI school I used to dive with. It had a club attached. There was one young man (who was a superb little diver) that I used to get buddied with regularly. This was in some degree because of my day job, but also because I talked to the lads parents and reassured them I would look after him.

This was fine for a while but I did start to feel upset when all my dives were being curtailed because the l;ad was frozen stiff after 20 mins. After a while it seemed this lad turned up every time I was diving and I was always buddied with him. It suddenly dawned on me that I was little more than an unpaid baby sitter.

In light of my experience I would say ensure the lad is welcomed (as I'm sure you will) but insist that a parent is always present, if not on the dive then at least on the baot or at the dive site. this way you don't get abused and it gives you extra security as they remain responsible forthe childs welfare except when they are under formal instruction.

Alan

 

[BSH]

To take Alan's post a bit further, I remember at the club I used to belong to there was a young lad probably around 16 then but he went away with the club on a trip to St Abbs, as usual divers go for meals out often using pubs.

It gave the other members a bit of a problem and some felt uncomfortable with the situation.

I also remember they were self catering in caravans and when asked what he was doing for breakfast he replied his mum always made it

 

[19696]

That is exactly the sort of thing we want to look into. There are so many issues around this we need to get it right, so that we are getting the future generation of divers in the water, but not acting as a creche.

 

[cosmo]

Having been CRBd now I feel able to help young people now in whatever sphere - beit on DofE hikes or helping young people in the pool on club nights or in any other domain.

Its better to be careful either as a club organiser or as a parent.

Cosmo

 

[PW1664]

Hi Morag,

I had this situation a few years ago with a PADI school I used to dive with. It had a club attached. There was one young man (who was a superb little diver) that I used to get buddied with regularly. This was in some degree because of my day job, but also because I talked to the lads parents and reassured them I would look after him.

This was fine for a while but I did start to feel upset when all my dives were being curtailed because the l;ad was frozen stiff after 20 mins. After a while it seemed this lad turned up every time I was diving and I was always buddied with him. It suddenly dawned on me that I was little more than an unpaid baby sitter.

In light of my experience I would say ensure the lad is welcomed (as I'm sure you will) but insist that a parent is always present, if not on the dive then at least on the baot or at the dive site. this way you don't get abused and it gives you extra security as they remain responsible forthe childs welfare except when they are under formal instruction.

Alan

For this reason we have a strict over 18's policy with one exception, 16-18 if a parent or guardian signs up and learns to dive too... Under 16's only if our training officer and/or diving officer feel they are mature enouigh and will get the support from their parent/guardian... Very subjective but stops the baby sitting that we experienced many times over the years...

 

[Frankie Price]

All of our club pro's, be it instructor or DM, have CRB checks before they can participate in any form of training on our pool nights. It makes good sense and is accepted by everyone concerned.
We have an age limit of 12 - 14 for juniors and 15 - 18 for intermediates.
I'm sure that there are lots of youngsters out there who would love the opportunity to do try dives and snorkel but the potential problems regarding minors in what is an adult diving environment make the situation far too complexed.
I take my 11 year old nephew for snorkling and swimming to one of our two club pool sessions but I only do it as his guardian (with full consent from his parents and not for profit) until he is 12 at which point he wants to do a bubblemaker and then eventually his junior open water. His parents have agreed to his doing this and will sign the consent forms etc letting him continue to do a formal course after his 12th birthday. We have several other youngsters doing the same but only because their diving parents are members of the club.
It seems like a missed opportunity for the under 15's but I think the over-riding concern is safety at all times.