Health is certainly an issue in scuba diving. As a scuba instructor, I’ve heard people claim they’re too old for the sport. I say you’re never too old. Yes you need to be healthy, but isn’t that important for life in general?
So what to do? First, assess your general overall health. Not strength but fitness and health. This has to do with the mental and physical aspects of the sport. Any scuba training requires the completion of a medical statement. This is a good opportuntity to evaluate yourself. Should you have a “Yes” answer to any question on the questionnaire, you need your physician to sign off on that issue. This is a good time to discuss your physical condition with your doctor. Let him any questions you have and help you understand the requirements of scuba diving.
In order to be successful in your training, you want to have a high level of comfort with your instructor or the dive center you’re using. Take your concerns to them, to better understand the sport and why certain physical or medical conditions are important and how to address them.
To give you some sense of diving and age, check out this article. It’s about Ray Wooley. He recently completed his personal challenge to complete 29 dives. Why 29? The number is the reverse of his age. Yes, Ray completed his challenge at 92 years of age. Now you really have to read the article don’t you!
