Question How old are you and how long certified? Poll- please take part!

[Eric Sedletzky]

Well, so far the poll looks like a graduating scale going up and peaking at the 60-69 age group.
I wonder how close this cross section mimics the outside world of active divers (divers not on scubaboard). I’m assuming that most people on scubaboard are active even if it means a few dives a year.

This poses another question, one that would be difficult to obtain an accurate poll for, and that would be to find out how many active divers there are out of the entire population of certified divers.

For this poll so far, if the numbers are a general idea of how things actually are then diving will suffer an even worse participant crisis in the next 10 years, provided nothing changes.

 

[arew+4]

56, certified 1990, roughly 500 dives, local dives require 4 hrs of driving, 2-4 hours of boat rides and have per dive cost north of $100 and 20-25% chance of getting blown out. So I am a vacation diver. Also, we took about a 15 year occasionally interrupted break while we raised our kids before getting them certified.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

This poses another question, one that would be difficult to obtain an accurate poll for, and that would be to find out how many active divers there are out of the entire population of certified divers.

Given the number of people I know who are "certified" and either rarely dive, if ever, or dive very infrequently, I would say the percentage of active divers out of the entire population of certified divers is quite small. I would guess perhaps 10-20% at most. But that is literally purely a guess on my part. It could be 5% or 45% and it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Ghost95]

I've got to be honest, I'm a little surprised by the results so far. I expected a younger trend more in the 30 to 40 year range.

There's a lot of knowledge, experience, and life lessons floating around on this forum. Cool.

 

[sea_ledford]

49, 4000-ish dives

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Given the number of people I know who are "certified" and either rarely dive, if ever, or dive very infrequently, I would say the percentage of active divers out of the entire population of certified divers is quite small. I would guess perhaps 10-20% at most. But that is literally purely a guess on my part. It could be 5% or 45% and it wouldn't surprise me.

I know a lot people who used to dive regularly (locals) and were certified years ago but quit. I also know several people who got certified with family for vacations then quit or perhaps it was a been done that thing?. I know way more people who claim they used to dive then ones who actively dive now.
It just seems to be an activity that requires a lot of work and expense for little payoff in many peoples’ minds.
Your numbers might be right.

 

[Scott G. Bonser]

There’s another thread about old fart divers over 50, which spurred the question about the possibility of most of the divers on SB being over 50.
So I’m just curious to see what the age makeup of divers is here.
You can elaborate if you wish about age, how long you’ve been certified, how many dives, what type of diving, any other details you have to make it interesting and a good read.

Yes, my soggy Friends. I am 63, PADI DM and have been a certified SCUBA diver since I was age 17. Hard times and health issues have caused me to limit my diving, however I am now please to let you know, I have dropped close to 50# ( 47.5 t b e) and have been working out,at the gym every other day. The itch to get wet has returned, albeit with some limitations. Please welcome back this ol’ geezer…he is heading for tropical climes and clear waters.

giantfroginthepool
Scott G. Bonser

 

[rmorgan]

66, SSI 1980, ~850 dives -- 200 since 4/21

 

[RyanT]

50, certified in 1985. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 900-1,000 dives.

 

[Chavodel8en]

over 50, but under 55 ( I refuse to divulge the actual age).

Diving since 2003. Recreational. 196 dives

I shore dive locally (Monterey/Carmel). I try to get out about once a month (although life & work often get in the way), but since I dive wet, I generally take late Jan. thru Feb off to dry my gills.

Now that Im more settled, my goal is to get into some strange [waters] annually, preferably warmer waters. Dove in Catalonia (not warm) Sept 2019, La Paz Dec. 2021 & Oahu Dec. 2022.

I think I will shore dive locally until Im about 70. I hope I can continue less strenuous diving into the future, but I'll see how I feel about it.

Recently I tried to dive Monastery (a local high surf challenging site) on a day that was borderline. I got through the surf, although it was hard work, but my buddy, about my age but a relative newbie, although he also got past the surf zone, was so exhausted - and maybe flustered, that he abandoned a fin (he couldnt put it on) and called the dive.

Biggest lesson is probably "dont agree to dive w/ a newbie at Monastery (he chose the site) on a borderline day. But also put a germ of concern about my age & fitness for diving, esp. certain sites.