12 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

So how old it too old for diving? I noticed one of our members turning 71 today and while at one time in my life I thought that was "old"...it doesn't seem that old anymore.

So what do you think? How old is too old to scubadive? And can you really enjoy diving for the rest of your life???

[ScubaSis]

No such thing as too old!! If your mind and health permit it....get it!! LOL

[Mermaid Lady]

No such thing as too old!! If your mind and health permit it....get it!! LOL

Preserving my health is one of the most important things in my life these days. I hope to keep diving the rest of my life. If not SCUBA, then free-diving for sure!

[WreckWench]

The health benefits of garlic are WELL proven...heck the eating habits of the French and the lack of obesity (think processed foods here) is also well documented.

And while we can't all become French...we can certainly eat like one and up the garlic intake and perhaps we'll last into our 90's after all!

[Sharklover]

As with anything, diving, or driving, we all should consider our health readiness and which dive environments are suitable for us at different times. Age is irrelevant in my opinion.

There are many people diving out there who are not healthy enough to be doing so, but I can't see that there is much relationship to their age.

I have a dive buddy who is 74. She avoids dives with strong current or rough seas. She takes her equipment off in the water. She's an awesome diver.

[Itsa]

I dove with an 80 year old Marine Corps veteran on my first dives. He was in good health and had great advice as well as some funny stories about older equipment. I think you should dive as long as you feel good!

[grim reefer]

Poor health may prevent diving, but age by itself will not. I will stop diving when I can no longer get out of my wheelchair.

[lv2dive70]

• Diving is what finally got me to quit smoking after 25 years. (an agency required it, to take classes)
• Diving helped motivate and enable me to lose and keep off about 30 lbs over the past couple of years
• Diving is what finally got my lazy behind to the gym (specifically, the need to build muscles to support double steel 130's)
• Diving is what is motivating me now to try and take it (eating and physical fitness) to the next level

All that to say, too old? No way am I ever going to say I am too old for anything. If I did, I'd probably say I'm too old for some of what I'm doing right now. Heck, I've taken some classes with people who are younger than my favorite college sweatshirt. So no, I'm not going to limit myself; I am healthier at the age I'm at now, than I've been since I was in my teens. I plan to keep getting healthier. I wish I had the joints I had in my teens and twenties, but I can work around aches and pains.

Although, to your point, Kamala... once one reaches a certain age, it's more likely that health-related issues could occur under underwater. Meaning, IMHO, there *is* an obligation after one hits a certain point, to do everything one can to ensure they are physically capable of the dives they are doing. That obligation goes up exponentially with complexity of dives. I feel I not only have an obligation to myself, but also to my teammate/s and to my family, to do everything I can to support my ability to pursue the types of diving I am doing (or I want to do). Which makes it easier to go to Subway than to McDonald's when I want fast food, at least some of the time.

[Parrotman]

I am 56 years old and I am probably in the best shape that I have ever been. I eat well, work out regularly and have no health issues that would prevent me from diving. I plan on diving until I can't get out of the water any more. I was on a trip a few years ago where there was an older gentleman on the boat. He was 87 and could out swim anyone on the boat. Never could figure out how he carried that tank, I think it weighed more than he did :-) As the others have said, as long as you dive with in your capabilities, age should not be a factor.

J

[shadragon]

How old is too old? Well, take the date of my death and subtract a day.

Unless I die while diving then add twenty-five years.

[TCdamsel]

Agree with everyone here. Just got back from diving in Palau with my friends who are 73 and 72. They take their gear off in the water before getting back on the boat. Went to a seminar that Stan Waterman did in Chicago OWU show. He is almost 90 and is not only still diving but doing charters on the Aggressor this year, to Belize and Cocos. I plan to be diving as long as I'm safe in the water!

[Capn Jack]

My first dive on the Spiegel Grove (before she flipped upright in the hurricane) I buddied with a man & his grandson. He was 75, told me he didn't get his instructor card until he was 61. We did the obligatory bottom touch at 130+, then did a good bit of exploring - Grandson (15) came up with 500#, I had 600#, the 75 YO had 1300#....

I intend to dive until I can't take the giant stride...then I'll switch to dump & jump.