At what age do you call it quits?

[wildbill9]

58 years young, very good physical shape, no medical problems (cholesterol or blood pressure), on no meds, walk about 6 miles a day at work (yes every day), 6'3" and 200 pds so good body mass ratio. But I know my diving career is limited, less ahead than behind (especially since I was certified at 19 years old). So how old are you or at what point in life did you give up diving? I can't imagine not being able to dive but keep know that someday I will have to call it and say I am done. Sad but realistic...bill

 

[mdb]

I do not think you have to give it up at almost any age.

If you are fit you can dive.

I'm 70, I will be diving this week.

I have been diving with 80 year old divers as well as my 30-40 year old sons.

Diving is gentle on old bones and relaxing and peaceful.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I know of a few divers who sill dive into their late 80s. I plan to dive until I am physically unable to inhale on my own.

 

[GreggS]

Geez, I didn't get certified until I was almost 58. And I'm probably not in as good of shape as you, although I'm in very good health. I'll be 61 in July and I don"t have any plans to stop anytime soon. I consider myself as just getting started.

The only reason I can see for you to stop is if you've just gotten tired of or bored with it.

 

[Kharon]

I will dive till I am unable (I'm now 70). I don't dive boats (mostly) and I dive from shore solo. Once I feel I can no longer dive I will go back to snorkeling. If there comes a time when I have to give up snorkeling I will do one final scuba descent and breathe the tank dry.

 

[rongoodman]

I'm 70 and going to Cocos Island in May. I might not be doing any more cave diving, simply because I'm not getting enough practice keep my skills sharp, but I can't see any reason to think about quitting entirely.

 

[TMHeimer]

Interesting question. I notice no one who has already quit has responded yet. I got cert. age 51 and gradually increased my yearly total until 2012-- my present number of dives of 75-80/yr.-- almost 63 years old now. I DMd for 4 years from ages 58 through 61. I'm still going basically once weekly, except spaced out a little more in the cold months here in NS when we aren't snowbirding in FL. My plans are to keep the pace up. Have noticed things tend to get minutely harder each year. At some point I will likely figure all the work to dive with the farmer john suit in cold Canadian waters will be trimmed down. In favour of more Southern diving (money permitting). Then again, everything gets a little harder with age--not just donning a wetsuit. Everyone's different--I'll play it by ear. Hope to reach 1,000 dives before I'm "too old" and I'm almost 2/3 the way there. If I make it, I'll certainly post about it. As a clarinettist I'm good at blowing my own horn.

 

[JamesBon92007]

When I'm dead. Then I want to be buried at sea. If I die while scuba diving then I'll save on the burial.

 

[Greg Doyle]

I'm coming up quickly on 62 and I just got certified in January. I'll be diving as long as my aching knees can get my sorry arse up off of the bench with all of the gear on.
I keep in good shape, but it's the knees I worry about.
G

 

[Laurie S.]

I got certified right after my 57th birthday and am now 64 and have 401 dives. I'm aiming for 1,000 dives and we'll see. Probably will just a new goal.