To old to dive?

[ReefHugger]

This could take a while as I have to keep re-reading to remember what I am about! Now, where was....what.....see what I mean? Then there is not been able to see the keyboard and screen.And the business of straightening out the fingers.

Went diving 3-4 yrs ago. As the boat was heading out, I had a look at my friends/buddies and had to ask "is this the geriatric group?". There were 5 of us and all over 60. Three of us are still very much active. I believe that I am still instructing (this short term memory thingy).

Old divers don't die, we only smell that way.

 

[Dyno Bill]

I started diving when I was 14, it was legal then. Sorts, I'm a piss pot older than 50 now and I still dive so I feel it depends on how you feel. I say if the shoe fits then tie it on and have a run.

 

[kaerius]

Back when I was a lowly divemaster candidate we had a 71 year old rescue diver student. I know one guy in the area where I work now who became an instructor at 60 and opened his own dive shop at 65, and is still running it now several years later.

As long as you're in reasonably good health, age shouldn't stop you.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

One day last year I dropped by my local dive store to get my tanks filled. It turned out I could not get in due to the party that was going on. The owner Bob Meistrell was celebrating his 81st birthday. Part of his celebration earlier in the day was to dive 162 feet. Bob had a twin brother Bill and they would have both been 81 that day but Bill passed away in the previous year. Anyway the goal was to dive to 162 feet to celebrate the twins 81st birthday. It turns out Bob did not stop at a depth of 162 feet and ended up making it past 200 feet. Now it is pure speculation on my part but knowing Bob it seems more than likely that he went past 200 feet on a single tank and air. Apparently not everyone stops diving, or gets more risk adverse with age. This really is not a dive I would recommend to the inexperienced crowd in their seventies or younger.

 

[Dyno Bill]

Bob once advised me not to get too attached to my weight belt as they sometimes get left behind in an attempt to get back home in good health. That was at one of the infamous garage sales in the parking lot. I lived maybe 4 block from the shop at the time south down the bluffs. I likely still have 5 wetsuits from those sales. As for the dive described, been there and done that.