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Going back to the original point, it is not abnormal to see an advert specify age and gender requirements for a dive job. It is quite common for a dive centre to request a man or a woman in order to balance their existing numbers. I would not want to work in an environment that was all male or all female so someone advertising for one or the other is not an issue for me.

Age usually features because some people think that young sexy dive pros will get more business so will sacrifice experience for youth. That's no problem, they can do that and as an (over the hill for most dive centres) instructor working in the industry full time, I have no problem with being discriminated against in that way. If a dive centre manager prefers an employee who looks good in a swim suit over someone who can safely and efficiently train competent divers then there is no way I would want to work for them, such an advert saves me from wasting my time.

Sometimes dive centres need younger workers who are better suited to physical aspects of dive jobs like carrying tanks. When I get put on a tank shift, I may have to carry 70 tanks for hundreds of feet in the midday Caribbean sun then carry 70 empty tanks back the same distance. I am fit and no stranger to hard work but have no problem in admitting it was much easier doing that kinda stuff in my twenties than as the 37 year old man I am now. It is not suitable work for all and age does come in to it.
 
Sometimes dive centres need younger workers who are better suited to physical aspects of dive jobs like carrying tanks. When I get put on a tank shift, I may have to carry 70 tanks for hundreds of feet in the midday Caribbean sun then carry 70 empty tanks back the same distance.

Then they should advertise that they need someone capable of doing the job physically, regardless of their age. (Or gender.) Plenty of young weaklings around, and plenty of fit oldies.
 
Sometimes dive centres need younger workers who are better suited to physical aspects of dive jobs like carrying tanks. When I get put on a tank shift, I may have to carry 70 tanks for hundreds of feet in the midday Caribbean sun then carry 70 empty tanks back the same distance. I am fit and no stranger to hard work but have no problem in admitting it was much easier doing that kinda stuff in my twenties than as the 37 year old man I am now. It is not suitable work for all and age does come in to it.

As a grad student in my late 30s and early 40s I used to work out at the gym with much younger students. All I can say is that at the time I was in much better shape then many of the students I worked out with. Some of my students would ask to work out together and they could barely last 15 minutes on an elliptical machine or do a few sit ups. Age is really no indication of fitness anymore.
 
Then they should advertise that they need someone capable of doing the job physically, regardless of their age. (Or gender.) Plenty of young weaklings around, and plenty of fit oldies.

Agreed - I am not saying it is right for limitations to be put in, I am saying it is common and trying to offer potential reasons as to why someone would put out such an add.

As a grad student in my late 30s and early 40s I used to work out at the gym with much younger students. All I can say is that at the time I was in much better shape then many of the students I worked out with. Some of my students would ask to work out together and they could barely last 15 minutes on an elliptical machine or do a few sit ups. Age is really no indication of fitness anymore. [/QUOTE:
That is your experience, mine which is more directly related to the world of work that the add is intended for is different. It's the younger guys and girls who end up doing the heavy stuff day after day as they just don't get so run down.
 
That is your experience, mine which is more directly related to the world of work that the add is intended for is different. It's the younger guys and girls who end up doing the heavy stuff day after day as they just don't get so run down.


I still recall the time we hired a young fella on our construction crew. He went home and told his father "those old guys are kicking my butt..." It's about mental stamina as much as muscle.
 
It's about stamina period. I know many gym rats (I'm one of them) who can go and blast for 45 minutes of an hour. I have yet to find a divemaster who doesn't start at 6 AM and finish at 8:30 PM and while it isn't blasting all day, it's a steady grind.

I can go to the gym and deadlift 300# for an hour, but schlepping tanks for 14 hours? Not my gig.
 
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Originally Posted by DelrayDM Omission says

Exactly.

That's why the U.S. Federal government will not accept applications from anyone over age 35. Oh wait... the US Federal government IS my business, I pay for it.



I'm certain there must be an underlying political agenda or ax you're trying to grind here, but your statement is categorically false.


The United States of America OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT says:

Some positions, like those in law enforcement have a maximum entry age and the age may vary from agency to agency but generally falls within the range 34 yrs to 37 yrs.

And the United States of America Secret Service says:
To be CONSIDERED you must:

Be a U.S. Citizen
Be between the ages of 21 and less than 37 at the time of appointment
Possess a current valid driver's license

And the United States Department of Homeland Security says:

A. The day before an individual’s 37th birthday is the maximum age for original appointment to a position as a Customs and Border Protection Officer.
 
Federal Aviation Administration will not hire older than age 30.

If you are over the age of 31 and are retired from active duty, you may be eligible for the FAA's Retired Military Controller program. All other applicants must have been appointed to an Air Traffic Control Specialist position with the FAA before the age of 31.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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