Don’t Let Age Get in the Way
Scuba Diving is a unique activity that has low impact and minimal skill requirement allowing it to be enjoyed by most age levels and sporting prowess. Here we explore what is the oldest you can scuba dive.
However, at both ends of the age level spectrum, some precautions need to be addressed before diving. With children, emotional and behavioural maturity are the major concerns. With the older generation, it is medical fitness to dive that is a major worry.
If a diver passes all of the medical requirements there is no reason why they cannot safely dive. This of course requires a common sense approach to the dive as well.
Aussie Divers Phuket has successfully run a number of scuba diving activities with divers with divers in their 60’s and even 70’s. Once underwater scuba diving provides a feeling of weightlessness and can be ideal for those looking for an activity that provides less stress on the body.
Divers Alert Network
DAN (Divers Alert Network) is considered the world authority on scuba diving safety and scuba diving medical concerns. They are the “go-to” for most scuba diving agencies in relation to scuba diving health concerns.
DAN has two great articles concerning scuba diving for the older generation. Both express similar thoughts. Age alone is not an issue however as with all ages, medical fitness to dive is. Physical fitness is a key element for diving, basics like being able to swim to a boat or shore, climbing back on the boat, or exiting the water after a dive would all be a minimum fitness requirement.
In the article ‘The Aging Diver’, DAN expresses the following thoughts.
“The cornerstone of health maintenance and disease prevention is an annual medical examination by your physician. Physical fitness and good health are necessary to participate in scuba; a lack of physical fitness or any type of acute illness usually restricts some normal activities — including diving.”
Physical fitness is a key element for diving. Generally, you should have the ability to perform activities like surface swimming plus entering and exiting the water after a dive.
The most important medical considerations in a healthy individual include the soundness of the cardiovascular system and the lungs. Before you dive, you should be free of symptoms such as coughing, congestion, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing after exertion. To some degree, cardiovascular disease affects the vessels of the heart in all older individuals. Your physician can order a procedure called a treadmill “stress” test to evaluate your cardiovascular response to exertion.
They recommend a good fitness program to promote a good cardiovascular system.
Divers Alert Network (DAN) – Health Concerns For Divers Over 50
Another DAN Report
Francis Smith also writes a great article for DAN in relation to the topic.
“The responsibility for the decision of whether or not to dive is generally that of the individual and his or her physician. This decision, however, should be based on the most current diving medical information available.”
Many people in their 70s and 80s continue to dive. The key to safe diving is physical fitness, not age.
A thorough cardiac workup and stress test are prudent and should be one of the first priorities. Many cardiologists familiar with dive medicine recommend a cardiac stress test targeting a score of 13 metabolic equivalents (METs), while others recommend a minimum of 10 METs. Either level is rigorous exercise. While most diving is relaxing, a strong current, a long surface swim or rescuing a buddy (or oneself) all require a high level of exercise tolerance.
Awareness of underlying medical issues is of practical use. The basic aches of arthritis could be confused with decompression sickness, so conservative profiles are recommended for anyone who deals with this issue. Also, diving in locations with reasonable access to medical care is prudent.
Summary
In short diving into your 60’s – 70’s should not be an issue as long as the right precautions are taken.
Prior to diving seek the right medical advice, ideally from a diving medical doctor. Your local medical physician knows you best and they should be your first port of call. However often General Practitioners, if not scuba divers themselves are a little reluctant to approve someone to dive based on their lack of scuba diving knowledge so they may refer you to a specific scuba diving doctor. Here in Phuket, both the major international hospitals have very good scuba diving doctors who provide a thorough analysis of your health to dive.
It is recommended if you are trying diving for the first time (PADI Discover Scuba Diving) that you try a pool session prior. This in a small way will give you some idea of the requirements to dive, both mentally and physically.
