How Long?

[Bob Cree]

27 years. There was a big family break in the middle, then back to it...what's up with these certifications anyway?

And the internet came after the 60/70/80's...so maybe the REAL old timers (except of course Forrest) never got wind of it and are too senile to figure it out now (Forrest - I know...or at least I think I do, that you aren't senile)? So the >10 number is likely much larger...Hell, I'm 51 and finally managed to turn on one of these darn electronic, two finger, Jeano Beano talky thingies...even with post-senile syndrome at play!

[amphipod06]

No offense to anyone who stopped for a while and then resumed cave diving, but how about cave diving without taking any sabbaticals?

I am not a spring chicken but not in Forrest's league either, and I have been cave diving on a continuous basis since 1998 when we first earned our full cave certification (it would be 1997 except we were only Apprentice Cave Divers for a year....)

Dive safe,

Celia

[netmage]

I started cave diving in 1973, just after finishing high school.

I was born in 1973.... hoping to never stop... I wish I got to cave country more often, and I really enjoy some of the same repetitive dives.... so I don't see myself getting bored of it anytime soon. Lots of opportunities in places like Peacock and Ginnie to mix it up.

If anything, I'm finding the cold weather and unpredictable seas driving me away from ocean diving more.

-Tim 'whippersnapper'....

[BobK]

I started to cave dive as something fun to do when I wasn't spearfishing in the ocean. I find myself losing interest - in spearfishing. I find I'd much rather look at rocks then shoot another big, tasty, melt in your mouth grouper. There's always the barbeque place in Mayo

[K Mejean]

I'm still a newbie but I see no end in sight. I did cavern to prep for wreck and got hooked. I still haven't made it to a wreck class but I have done Basic Cave. Suffering through the waiting for the flood to be over so I can go do some more. Its a long trek to Mariana although I am considering it.

[farmerted]

I would agree with the 5 year thing. It seems it is not isolated to cave diving, but to diving in general. I've been diving nonstop for 26 years and in caves for 16. Have been teaching for 20 with a break between 99 and 2004. In recent years, i've noticed quite a few people get involved in diving and within 2-3 years have a rebreather and all the other goodies only to move on to other things soon after.

[cmalinowski]

Well not that Forrest isn't old, but this is a picture of my first dry suit! (June 1973)

Is that George Irvine in the plum smugglers helping you out?

[Cindy]

It isn't true, I have been cavediving for over 40 years

You took a time out...I know a couple of others who have done that, waiting to retire, get a divorce, the kids grow up.

[Cindy]

I started cave diving in 1973, just after finishing high school.

Oh my god, that means we are the same age!

[scububa]

2.5 years
2.5 to go, wooohooo

4.5 if I back to cavern