training progress

[M&P+4]

Little Lyle started his open water dives June 23-24 weekend. He is so skinny he was froze stiff in 72 degree water after the first two dives in a 7 mil farmer john. I figured it would be plenty considering the water temp without a hood but the suit fit wasn't great. Live and learn for another day. Sunday he did better with the hood on but had ear trouble beginning his second dive and had to call it. I was proud that he was smart enough to call it instead of forcing it and hurting himself....maybe all the preaching I've done sunk in????

Anyway, he is quite disappointed to not get his cert yet. I told him it was actually a good thing because now we can skip out of weekend chores to go dive again!

Does anyone know of a good youth wetsuit manufacturer?

[cummings66]

I've got a Harvey's farmer john for my 4 year old. It's pretty thick and without a doubt keeps her warm when she's floating around in the water.

I'd look into it. I like the looks of it, good construction and zippers on the legs and sleeves to make it easier putting on.

[juls64]

Does anyone know of a good youth wetsuit manufacturer?


Henderson and Bare both have lines of Youth suits. I would imagine most of the larger manufacturers do.

Sometimes smaller women's suits fit the younger males better then men's suits do. They are not so large in the shoulders and under arms. We just don't tell them they are wearing a women's suit and hope no one else mentions it either. They usually don't really realize it.

[M&P+4]

Sometimes smaller women's suits fit the younger males better then men's suits do. They are not so large in the shoulders and under arms. We just don't tell them they are wearing a women's suit and hope no one else mentions it either. They usually don't really realize it.

We tried it again this morning with the smallest womens suit at the shop but he still froze. He had ear trouble again also - I have to think that being cold isn't helping matters any. He never had trouble in the pool except for the time he ended up with an ear infection. Today he was out with a large class and was buddied up with another kid that wasn't on the ball at all so they were the last ones in the line-up to go thru their skills. By then he was shivering and wasn't able to clear his ears.

I bought him a shorty tonight at Scheels made for kids water skiing. Hopefully that under the wetsuit will make the difference tomorrow. We're also going to keep him out of the water until it's time to do his skills and then have him at the top of the line-up. Sunday classes are usually smaller anyway so it shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully we have good luck because he's starting to get discouraged.

[juls64]

Yes, it is supposed to be fun. Good luck, Hope the shorty in tandem with the suit will do the trick.

Keep us posted.

[M&P+4]

We had quite a bout of forgetfulness this morning - we left 1/2 of his farmer john at home this morning that we were 15 miles away before we remembered - the other half was left at the dive shop along with the hoods this morning. We made a quick rendezvous with his Mom 1/2 way back and still managed to make it to the lake on time (good thing there weren't any friendly peace keepers on patrol!).

The shorty with his bibs and a pair of gloves worked better for him this morning than the FJ without the shorty the day before. He had a little trouble with equalizing at first but the DM worked with him and had him at the bottom in a minute. He finished up his 4th training dive and got a personal tour of the fish cribs with the DM for his first official certified dive. Now to get him to sleep tonight!

[DeepDiverBob]

AWESOME!!!! Congrats to him for sticking with it. Now the fun really starts.

[MgicTwnger]

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:d