At what age did this start happening to you?

[Harro10]

I am 66 now and still diving. About 5 years ago I was diving out of West End on Roatan on a solo dive trip. The owner of the shop pulled me aside one morning before the dive and asked me if I would mind buddying up with someone for this day. It seems that there was a Swedish model doing a Central American tour diving with them but she did not want any special treatment. I asked "why me" and was told that I was by far the oldest diver on the boat so he assumed I would not be "hitting" on her like most of the other divers would be. He may have been correct but I was still a bit taken aback thinking "Am I really that old?"

 

[Scuba Lawyer]

When I was a kid we had this lifeguard at our local beach here in Laguna who would always yell at us to keep a fin over our speartip as we entered and exited the water. He would freedive and scuba all the time and he taught me a lot about hunting. I had not seen him since then. Two weeks ago I was pulling out of my driveway and there he was talking to a neighbor. Recognized him immediately and called out his name. He knew my late father and late uncle and used to dive with them so I explained who I was. He was shocked this gray-haired old guy was the kid he used to know. The first thing he asked me was whether I was still diving. I looked at him (he's now 86) and said, "Aren't you?" He laughed and said he got a limit of lobster freediving yesterday.

 

[Bigbella]

I was probably in my forties when extended family asked when I was going to give up diving, who apparently thought it more a decades-long phase. Their concerns dealt more with the inflated dangers many perceived of scuba, especially from family who were not too capable of swimming.

I told them that I was far more concerned about getting snuffed on CA HWY-1 (after two serious accidents) with speeding sub-idiots on their phones, than any particular worry about being in the water . . .

 

[mcohen1021]

I was probably in my forties when extended family asked when I was going to give up diving, who apparently thought it more a decades-long phase.

And my mom has told me since 1989 that I was going to be eaten by a shark.

"Um, Mom, i've pet sharks and been 5 ft away from hammerheads and oceanic white tips..."

always goes over as well as a fart in church...

 

[CaptainChris]

I started diving in August 2016 two months before my 64th birthday. Two months after my 65th birthday I qualified as a PADI Open Water Instructor. I have now completed two summer season as an instructor and a month before my 67th birthday last year qualified as TDI Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures diver. My next foray will be TDI Advanced Wreck course in a month or two before the season really kicks off here in sunny Cyprus.

As I see things, age has no limits and I have a lot of fun teaching and escorting dives (a good way to get freebie dives too when on a pension), and keeps me fit and out of mischief.

I was back in the water teaching and leading dives last year six weeks after a total knee replacement as well. It is all in the mindset in my opinion.

The worlds oldest diver "Ray W" who lives in Cyprus is 98 and a legend. I've 30 years diving to go yet to catch him up!

Happy Diving.

 

[Frontpointer1000]

And my mom has told me since 1989 that I was going to be eaten by a shark.

"Um, Mom, i've pet sharks and been 5 ft away from hammerheads and oceanic white tips..."

always goes over as well as a fart in church...

Sounds like you’re going to the wrong church.