Just turned 73 and.....

[OLDCOOT]

Just turned 73 and took the dry suit certification course yesterday. I guess I must be getting old since I bught a dry suit to try to stay warmer in the northern quarries. Up till this time I was comfortable in a wet suit, but when the H2O temp. dropped below 50 I didn't dive. Yesterday it was in the mid 40's and I was comfortable. Has to be age making me change. This will extend my diving season.

 

[drbill]

Congrats. We aren't getting any younger so we have to do anything we can to extend our diving opportunities! Of course for me, cold water means a trip to the tropics!

 

[Sam Miller III]

OLDCOOT

The older one becames the more thermal protection one requires and the longer to replace thermal loss after exposure.
Your body will be toasty warm wearing your new dry suit, but any exposed area will suffer...Insure that you have a good well fitting hood, boots and gloves.

I was regularly visiting the warm waters of Baja California hunting stalking and free diving for game fish until I turned 75 ( almost a decade ago.) My wife and two children who also have the title of "Doctor" strongly urged me to stop free diving/spearfishing and only SCUBA..which is considerably less strain on the ole body..I suspect some day after almost 70 years of water activity I will be forced to hang up my equipment.

I would suggest that you go for it as long as possible

Dr.Sam
LACo UW instructor # 11
NAUI UW instructor # 27
PADI UW instructor # 241
and most of the rest of the UW instructor alphabet

 

[nimoh]

I hope to still be diving when I am 73, thanks for your post, it is very inspirational.

 

[Jax]

Just turned 73 . . .

 

[OLDCOOT]

Thank you all for the birthday wishes. Dr. Sam, I would think that diving in Baja CA is just a slight bit better than the stone quarries of PA. I'm envious. I do get to spend winters in FL where I do get some better dives in. Ahh, if only I were born rich, so many dive spots, so little money.