We're all different, certainly after getting restructured at age 65.
After a life of extreme skiing, I always went to an Ortho who was a skier. The first few told me to just give it up, walk away while I still could walk. I wasn't shopping for an opinion, I was looking for the right Doctor who knew the specific stressors versus what I needed.
Same thing for diving. My ENT guy and GP are both divers. So when it came time to face the knife for 60 years of skiing indiscretion, I found a guy who was a skier and a diver. Win!
I have been diving in every imaginable condition, and in reference to spinal and ortho issues, I specifically refer to entry and exits, after all- the diving part is the best part of my otherwise pain-laden days. It's the getting in and out that is the challenge.
Depending upon where your spinal issue is, I would think that a giant stride could easily exacerbate any mid-lower spinal issue due to the hard flexion of the legs at water contact.
My entry has always raised eyebrows, but it is what I've done since early days of carrying lots of gear in/on my chest/abdomen.
This is crazy looking, but all impact of the water is cleaved by the tank, allowing my body to slip into the water in the hole made by the tank. What you're seeing here is a full 6' backflop...
Shore dive exits...
I swim in to chest depth, un-clip my Crocs from the bak of my gear, switch out from the flippers. Remember that Crocs are +1#.
Dive with young strapping lads. They have good shoulders to steady your hand on. You can float your gear in behind you until it's shallow, then if your buddy is really young and strapping, he can take over or toss it on his shoulder. Sometimes just dropping out my tank and leaving me with the rest will suffice. You learn to adjust, with the help of your friends.
Here's the big one- boat recoveries.
There are a very few live aboards that have ladders that I trust myself on (the defunct Nekton was basically an escalator), but even those- when I'm on the dive deck, I'm wanting to be benched as soon as I can. I speak with the DM/Boatsman in advance to make sure that happens. Many liveaboards have limited dive decks and require a climb up sometimes difficult steps. Consider your limitations and ask for gear-carrying assistance if you need it. Better that than an incident at sea.
With lesser ladders, that is- the majority of them, from your standard Pro Dive to a wooden Panga and dead-vertical 2x4 wooden ladder, I always hand my gear up to my well-tipped new best friend.
The simplest way to do this is to attach 6' of nylon strap (1") to the handle on the back plate or daisy loop of the BC. Swim up, blow it up, slip it off, hand the strap up, back the hell away.
When you're on any boat, maintain 3 Point Contact until you are seated. Most people will not do that, but as long as they don't fall on me, do what you will.
Make adjustments, it's still a blessing to be weightless for 60+ minutes at a crack.
(BTW- for any skiers who noticed my medical history reference, I now use a Monoski exclusively. It ain't for pussies, but if you're skiing at 65, you are not that.)
)
