Age - Open discussion

[Coconutrhumb]

I'd like some frank feed back on thoughts about older divers. I know some of you are out there, but I don't actually know what to expect from some of the younger divers on this subject.

I will not go into my details in this opening thread but now that I have invested into some tech training and considerable investment in gear I find that as I had anticipated I wish to continue. My goal is to increase my safety margin by use of procedures and gear that comes from going the tech route. I also want to expirence more of the caves than I have up to this point, I want to extend my range in both depth and time underwater. This includes cave as well as wreck diving.

I live between wreck territory and cave country so I split myself between the two. I recently called a tech wreck charter in south Florida to set up a dive with them, they asked me only ONE question.... "what is your age?" I answered truthfully... I am 64. I was told they would never consider allowing me, because of my age, on their boat, and that was final. The gentleman continued to suggest that I quit diving. To say the least I was surprised. Is this the general consensus that I will find in the tech diving field? I am aware of some of the factors of my age that may or may not enter in a decision to continue to pursue a tech diving course of endevor. I'll be glad to discuss them if this thread goes that route. I guess if no one will let me dive I could save a lot of time and money, though I am not saying I am willing to quit diving on someone else's recommendation, I think that choice should remain mine, till the day I die.

I would like to hear anyone's opinion on this subject, and keep in mind that I did not get this old being foolhardy or thin skinned either for that matter. If you feel strongly either way... let me have it.

(couldn't find an diver emoticon with a gray beard to place here.)

[Sludge]

My mother's 78, and while she only open-water dives, she isn't ready to give that up yet.

[Coconutrhumb]

encouraging, how do you feel about deco at my age? I hedge my bets where I can and always go conservative. I intend to eventually use trimix. I feel safe, as long as I don't go pushing any envelopes.

[Squirrel Girl]

Clearly, you've got one foot in the grave and shouldn't even consider diving!


Just kidding. That's pretty incredible.

Forrest, you must have a toenail in the grave. Tom Mount must have died and been reincarnated by now. Me? I'm just lookin' at the grave getting a lot closer than I'd like.

Seriously, I think you might have to develop relationships with folks who will realize that you're competent. It seems crazy, but that might be what it takes. Oh, yeah, and probably find a different charter to befriend.

[MichaelAngelo]

lol post the charters name so I know not to use them.
MA

[Squirrel Girl]

(couldn't find an diver emoticon with a gray beard to place here.)

Would this do?

[Me]

My dive buddy is 65 and he's a cave diver. He took it up when he was in his early 50s. The man is in far better shape than I am as I have some knee and hip issues. That being said, he is VERY conservative. He thought about the trimix route and was actively pursuing the training leading up to it. It's funny really, when he was ready for trimix 3 different instructors he had planned to train with either stopped teaching or passed away, one in a cave. He didn't bother to pursue a 4th and figured there was a lot to see that was still within his range of training and decided to just continue as he had been and enjoy his dives.

He's conservative with deco; doesn't drink alcohol when cave diving; and doesn't push limits...etc. As he says, "I'm in excellent shape for my age, and I plan to do this for a long time, so why push it?"

I'm not saying you should do as he has, but I have to ask..... have you seen everything there is to see within your current level of training?

And secondly, I agree with Michael Angelo, we need to know the name of the op so we don't use them! How dare they?

[Coconutrhumb]

I'm not saying you should do as he has, but I have to ask..... have you seen everything there is to see within your current level of training?

thanks for the emoticon guys... nicely done.

No alcohol at all, not that I am down on it... just worked out that way. Active, yes, in such a big way if I spelled it out you would think me a liar... I hike and do a sort of jog in my doubles when not diving, so I am covered in those areas. I started diving lakes and quarries in upstate NY in 1963... progressed to NJ wrecks. I schooled in Ft. Pierce Florida in 1973 got my SCUBA instructor and Commercial Deep Sea qualifications to 190'. I hold several National open water certifications, Advanced, Rescue, Equipment Repair, Nitrox and have been recreational diving with my son and wife for the last 15 years, diving south Florida wrecks from Ft. Pierce to the Keys. In 50 odd dives on the Duane I am sure I've seen nearly every inch, not as many on the Speigle but working on it. Started my Cave training this past October with my wife and now going for some tech training.

I think I am ready for new horizons, can't really say I've seen it ALL within my current level but I am certain I've earned the right to continue in this direction.

I'd rather not mention the charter operator as I am not certain he was the owner or just an employee.

I can clearly see he was wrong to treat me that way and perhaps I'll start looking for some other ways to get out to the more technical sites.

Thanks for the input and I am betting there's more to come.

Charlie

[bletso]

There are more of old farts around than you'd think. I am 64 and seem to be able to out do most younger whipper snappers most of the time. Sure, you need to be reasonably fit, but technical diving also requires a large dose of common sense which the young in general seem to have misplaced until they seem to find it post 45.

Seriously, a lot of technical diving success in the long term hinges on mental attitude and the ability to access risk. That seems to be an acquired skill set built on years of real life problem solving and not just in diving.

Us old ones may not be the fastest hombres to the gate, but we are more often than not the ones still standing at the end of the run. It is not how fast you can get there, it's that you do indeed get there. Good luck in your endeavors, oh, and don't pick on poor Forrest as he has been to the grave and returned. They wouldn't take him, as he wasn't youg enough

Dale

[FW]

"Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty four?"

I am 64, my father is 87, and he is still diving. FWIW, I still can carry gear for 2-3 hours to get to a sump