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How did Tom Daly learn to dive?

(14 Posts)
PamelaJ1 Tue 20-Mar-18 16:36:16

We take our GS swimming , he also goes to lessons and is doing quite well.
We are going on holiday to visit our daughter in Australia next month so, because my husband isn’t a natural in the water I bought him and GS a pair of goggles and a snorkel so they could practice before going into the sea .
That’s not allowed at any of our public swimming pools. We have asked about lessons in snorkelling at these pools but that’s a no go area too.
Diving isn’t allowed either. I do understand that serious swimmers don’t want to be dived on but surely an area could be roped off occasionally. Children learning to dive are usually supervised by an adult.
The reason is that if the lifeguards have to give mouth to mouth it could hinder them. By what ? Half a second!
Oh well they’ll have to learn in the sea then. How health and safety is that?

Jalima1108 Tue 20-Mar-18 16:39:23

Tom Daly learned to dive in Plymouth

plymouthdiving.com/about/

I would think that there must be diving centres in other towns and cities - or is Plymouth the only one?

Anniebach Tue 20-Mar-18 16:41:52

It takes longer than half a second to give mouth to mouth

Jalima1108 Tue 20-Mar-18 16:43:56

Snorkelling is quite easy - if I can do it anyone can smile

Scuba diving in the sea off the Australian coast is taught - I didn't attempt that although the DC did. How old is your DGS as there could be a minimum age where they can dive?

That's quite different from diving into a swimming pool; perhaps you could google your area to see if there are diving sessions at a pool near you.

Jalima1108 Tue 20-Mar-18 16:46:52

sorry, just re-read my post -
'is taught by PADI qualified dive instructors'
travel.padi.com/d/great-barrier-reef/

PamelaJ1 Tue 20-Mar-18 17:51:39

Jalima, I have contacted quite a few diving places but they don’t do snorkelling. I know it’s easy but DH isn’t quite as relaxed about it so I just thought it may help to get used to breathing before we get there.
I take your point about diving schools but GS doesn’t need to be Tom Daly just be able to dive in a casual way. Like we learnt when we were young.
Annie of course it does. It only takes half a second to remove the goggles though.
My point about the thread was simply to express my irritation that so many things are prohibited by the health and safety excuse.

Jalima1108 Tue 20-Mar-18 18:03:18

The sea around the UK is a bit chilly at the moment - although I know there are all the year round swimmers who do swim in this icy weather!

Jalima1108 Tue 20-Mar-18 18:06:42

www.swimming.org/learntoswim/asa-diving-awards/

I expect Tom Daly had to start somewhere.
My DC used to go to the same pool.

PamelaJ1 Tue 20-Mar-18 18:07:21

No way would I get him on the sea Jalima?. I did ,very briefly, think about the bath but the image was too hard to cope with!

Jalima1108 Tue 20-Mar-18 18:07:51

Just follow the links to find your nearest diving pool.

petra Tue 20-Mar-18 18:18:27

I was taught to dive by an ex army PT instructor. I still remember exactly how he taught me so I taught my grandchildren the same way.

Jalima1108 Tue 20-Mar-18 18:28:45

Snorkelling: you wear flippers and you can wear a flotation vest so he can just concentrate on the breathing and not the swimming if he's nervous.
If you can swim you can snorkel - and even if you're not a good swimmer you can snorkel.

PamelaJ1 Tue 20-Mar-18 18:30:50

Where Petra? In a special pool?

PamelaJ1 Tue 20-Mar-18 18:36:36

Just clicked the link Jalima. Our nearest pool with diving facilities is 30 miles away.
Not very practical for something that should be so simple.
I’m sure his swimming teacher would teach him but the private pool that she uses isn’t deep enough.