To old to dive?

[KJackson60]

I would like to thank all of you for your words of encouragement! It is not my intention to quit diving. I was just wondering if there was a point when the bodies physiology made some types of diving more hazardous do to aging. I know that as we age our blood vessels become "rougher" on the inside, the "roughness" can catch nitrogen bubbles leading to a higher possibility of the bends. I thought there might be other conditions that might also have an effect on a persons ability to push there limits.

I have been thinking about this since the "50" mark but it was really brought home when I was at my local dive quarry to arrange an outing for the Boy Scout Troop I am associated with. After making the arrangements to bring the group out the following weekend I went down to the quarry to look around. Just as I got to the waters edge two divers pulled a man about my age from the water and began CPR on him. They worked diligently and from what I could tell were doing everything correctly. The Fire Dept arrived shortly and continued to work on this man. I do not think he made it. It really got me thinking! That could be me! What makes me different from him? Did he have a heart condition, high blood pressure. Did he do something wrong? A lot more questions and really no answers. Mostly because I don't have enough information. Hence the questions.

By the way. We went diving the next weekend at that quarry and had a great time. I have another group I am taking the 18th of this month to that quarry so we will be ready for our charter on Lake Michigan the following weekend. I am not quiting diving. Just thinking about risk management and my future in diving.

Thanks again.

 

[Zippsy]

Kids these days!

50 is too many to dive, not too old.

 

[peterbj7]

The oldest person I've taught to dive was 91. He delayed the class a couple of days as he was solo ocean-kayaking to the neighbouring island 15 miles away.

At 63 I'm still doing trimix CCR dives to 400+ft.

 

[TSandM]

I know what you mean . . . at some age, you start thinking, "It COULD happen to me."

I have heartburn sometimes, and one day, it was bad and I had no meds with me, so I stopped at Safeway to get some Maalox tablets. As I was walking across the store, I thought, "Oh, my God, I'm old enough to have a heart attack!" It's hard to realize that the odds of bad things happening have gone up on you -- but all you can do is keep your weight under control, stay active, eat well and keep diving. The odds are going to catch up with you someday, but . . . not today!

 

[bowlofpetunias]

"giggle" I dive with a group of 8 experienced divers on a regular basis.... one is about to turn 50 all the rest are well past it! not one of us has to use a cane either:lol:

 

[DanBMW]

Just for the record, I'm closer to 60 than 59 and dive several days a week as a volunteer safety diver, take numerous open water dive trips, ride more than 10,000 miles year on a motorcycle and regularly jump out of airplanes. I work out regularly to stay in shape and because of my volunteer diving job, must get and pass a very specific dive physical, that last showed my blood pressure 119/67 and a pulse 59.

My point is that if you are physically fit at 50, your age is irrelevant except that your still won't have the physiology of a fit 20 year old! If you put yourself at risk, it is highly likely that you also put your buddy and others diving with you at risk. On a live a board, it might mean a shortened vacation for the others if you suffer from heart disease, underwater, where it is generally fatal as opposed to land.

Key to your safety and others around you is to realistically know your body and it's limits, try to stay away from denial (the first sign) and don't simply try for records. Too many are awarded after death. I am in good shape, but I still don't have the endurance of a fit 20 year old. That's reality..... When to stop or not start, listen to those around you whom you trust.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

It's as much in your mind as in your body. A few years back, Cheng and I were entertaining some friends and were showing them some pictures from our most recent dive trip. The woman waid wistfully ... "I would love to dive, but I'm too old to start now ... I'm almost 40." ... :shocked2:

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Reef Tank]

Just for the record, I'm closer to 60 than 59

We started diving well into our sixth decade. Fortunately, we have few medical issues; except when drinking the water on Roatan.

 

[PfcAJ]

Age might increase your dcs risk a bit, but working out, eating right, and practicing good dive procedures will go a long way to lower that risk.

I imagine that if you do those three things, you'll be able to rock out at scuba for many years to come at whatever level you want to be at. A healthy lifestyle is numero uno to continue at anything, from what I've seen.

 

[Doc Harry]

Hello, I also got into diving late, and had some aggressive goals. He's my take.

You're not getting any younger, and you're already 50. It's not too late to get started, but I wouldn't delay any longer. If you do delay, you are going to have to scale back some of your goals.

Tech diving is primarily a younger man's sport because it is a lot of work. Get yourself dressed in a dry suit for 40-degree Great Lakes water, strap on a backplate, can light, two steel cylinders, a drysuit inflation cylinder, and a stage cylinder. Then try to stand up and walk. Or worse, try to climb up a ladder.

Or try climbing the 12-foot vertical ladder out of Temple of Doom cenote in cave gear with twin AL80s on your back. It's a totally different ball game for a 25-year old than it is for a 50-year old. I did my full cave certification last year, and it was more physically demanding for me than the two 25-year old men in the class. Walking in and out of the cenotes with full cave gear and swimming 10,000 feet a day was not easy.

I was a pretty strong athlete when I was 30, ran ultra-marathons and climbed mountains. And I can tell you that at 50 I am not as strong as I was when I was 30.

So can you still do tech diving at your age? Yes, but "A man has got to know his limitations." You will find your limitations as your progress through training.

If you really need to delay your training until age 60, my advice to you is get to age 60 as strong and as fit and you can be. Cardiovascular fitness is very important, but you've got to be strong, too. If you can't climb up a boat's ladder with twin cylinders on your back, then you're not going to able to visit the wrecks at 150 feet in the Great Lakes.

P.S. I stopped celebrating birthdays at 50