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

[thesaltyfins]

48 .. SSI AOW Certified in 2014. Started diving regularly since 2016. Till date 202 dives. All tropical water dives.

 

[Tortola]

68 - first certification in 1972, over 500 dives. Took a break between 2011 and 2021, diving regularly again for the last four years.

 

[Subcooled]

54 and got certified at 40.

I wanted to become a diver in my teens, after watching Cousteaus films, but my parents could no afford it. And then I had studies, work etc. Diving had to wait for a quarter of a century.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

My only regret is that I didn't get involved with diving a lot younger. I had opportunities growing up close to the ocean, but I also had a helicopter mom and she would have had no part of it.

 

[Pressurehead]

I wanted that "Diver" rate when I was in the Navy Cadets ( 3 years before I joined) ,told I was too young, took me 18 months to earn it after I joined and another 16 years to acquire my first civilian qualification, NAUI Aow while I was still in the Navy, the Navy paid for me to become a civilian diving instructor as part of my "resettlement training for civilian life " . What's that? 57 years diving 40 years a civilian instructor, PADI for 6 and NAUI since.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I wanted that "Diver" rate when I was in the Navy Cadets ( 3 years before I joined) ,told I was too young, took me 18 months to earn it after I joined and another 16 years to acquire my first civilian qualification, NAUI Aow while I was still in the Navy, the Navy paid for me to become a civilian diving instructor as part of my "resettlement training for civilian life " . What's that? 57 years diving 40 years a civilian instructor, PADI for 6 and NAUI since.

I'm impressed!

 

[WillieJustice]

Oh shiit, you don't know what SXXT is?

Nope. I am a noob.

 

[WillieJustice]

Excrement.

Ah. Now I know.

 

[WillieJustice]

My only regret is that I didn't get involved with diving a lot younger. I had opportunities growing up close to the ocean, but I also had a helicopter mom and she would have had no part of it.

I grew up in central Ohio. Diving just wasn't anything any of us thought about. It took forever for me to think of doing it. Like you, it would have been great to start sooner, but better late than never.

 

[elgringoperdido]

I notice that the instructors are keen on deciding whether teens want to dive or are pressured to dive. My son was certified at 16. We went on many family vacations when he was growing up where I went diving and they met me at the dock when my boat returned. My wife is not into diving. Or kayaking. Or sailing. Or anything that puts her on a boat. (Even a ferry ride makes her reach for the barf bag.)

When my son was growing up he always wanted to dive with me. We started snorkeling together when he was around 8. And we rented kayaks, paddleboards, sunfish sailboats, etc. She finally let me get him certified at 16. During that time I remember that the first question his instructor asked him was "Do you want to do this or are you doing this because your Daddy wants you to dive with him?" Also, at my local dive shop, one day when I took my son in to try on some BCDs the owner asked him the same question. At first it surprised me, but now I think it is probably a good idea.