By Ted Halkyard (BonaireTalker - Post #46) on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 10:59 pm: |
OK, time to get serious! My wife and I have been married for 52 years and have been diving together for 35 of those years (we got a late start!) We have been lucky enough to dive in many of the world's best sites - from the Red Sea to the Coral Sea - Palau, Truk, Yap, The Solomons, Fiji, Caymans, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Cozumel, etc. etc. and since 1978 have come to Bonaire almost every year. We'll be there in April-May for a couple of weeks - an objective is to decide, as we approach age 75, whether it's time to hang up the fins and reg and make our last dive.
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By Lloyd Haskell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #360) on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 11:09 pm: |
Hey Ted , you are an inspiration , it is time to quit when : You no longer enjoy the sport
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By Liz .... back to Bon 3/29-4/4. (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #256) on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 11:41 pm: |
Wow Ted....first, congratulations on the longevity of your marriage. 52 years is a wonderful accomplishment! I hope my husband and I get to enjoy that many years together.
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By Mel Briscoe (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #394) on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 11:45 pm: |
I'm 68 this year...and if I weren't diving I'm not sure how I would stay motivated to stay relatively healthy, I'm not sure I would be pleasant to be around, and I'm not sure what I would look forward to. I see no reason to stop diving until I can't dive anymore. I may back off (some day) on caves, deco dives, doubles, teaching, solo, high currents, cold temps, all those things that can be stressing, but spending a little gentle time watching critters on a 40-foot reef is better than any book I've ever read or movie I've ever seen.
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By Leo Irakliotis (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #249) on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 11:58 pm: |
Ted, I was thinking about the future as well. I am 42, by wife is 41. She was certified 3 years ago and I started diving again, because of her. My first dive was at age 11. I dove through high school and college, then came grad school and life took a turn away from the water for a while.
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By Bas Noij (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #360) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 12:12 am: |
I dive with a regular senior citizen visitor who was ready to call it quits but with a little help can still have a great and safe dive experience. If it is stuff like carrying tanks, entries and exits etc that you are worried about I'd say don't quit and find someone to help. Or switch to doing more boat dives maybe?
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2035) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 6:52 am: |
Quitting diving IMHO is NOT a function of age..As long as you possess the mental & physical attributes required, I say "dive on".
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By Scottie Smith (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 9:39 am: |
I say...Dive On!
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By B. Maxim (BonaireTalker - Post #38) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 9:42 am: |
I also think about that issue as I enter my 6th decade. If I'm mentally and physically fit to dive I want to continue as long as I can.
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By Natalie S (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #192) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 10:44 am: |
Wow, Ted, you and your wife have been to so many places and seen so much of our world underwater. That's wonderful!
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By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #721) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 11:07 am: |
Ted - an inspirational story and the others here echo that. I started early as a diver in high school, let if for awhile with school, family, money and time then jumped back in with both fins some years later. I made it to DM finally in my 5th decade of life, instructor in my 6th decade and am nearing my 7th decade now. Diving more than ever.
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By Cecil* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7309) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 11:08 am: |
Ted, this question sounds very much like the classic question, when can you start drinking after diving? The answer, of course, is the second you take the regulator out of your mouth. IMHO the answer to your question is it's time to quit when you can not hold the regulator in your mouth and not a second before.
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By Paul from Normal (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 11:09 am: |
Hey Ted, I say dive on also. I took my first high sodium breaths in Bon in 1983. I will be returning to Bon this summer for the first time since 1994. In July I'll be watching my daughter make her first under(salt)water breaths. With just under 50 trips around the sun myself, I can't think of a better place to strap on a tank and slip into fins. You have earned your stripes in diving, let those young Dive Masters help with the heavy lifting. Congrats to you and your bride, bubbles forever.
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By Mickey McCarthy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #694) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 11:11 am: |
Ted
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By Ron Gould*** (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1849) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 11:19 am: |
Ted, we are in the same boat! Been married 40 years, been diving 45 years, the last ten as buddies. Two trips ago, to Bonaire, on our check out dive, my wife hyperventalated on the surface, and had to go to the hospital. We were shorediving on the housereef of Bonaire Oceanfront Apartments. Easy dive, good dive, but she just tired out that day. To say the least, it scared the he!! out of me. We didn't dive the rest of the 2wks holiday. I had opertunities to dive with other people, but Diane(my wife) is my buddy, and if she is beached so am I.
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By Richard Fletcher (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 11:29 am: |
You are in inspiration! I am 52 and have been diving for 20 years and I have been wondering how long my wife and I will be diving. Other vacations have been put on hold until we quit diving, but we love diving too much. I guess that I agree with the theory that we dive until we can't.
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By Tom Schamp (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #192) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 11:42 am: |
Practically speaking, I'd say quitting diving is a good idea when certain problems exist:
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By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #724) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 11:55 am: |
Here is the link to DAN about aging:
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By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #725) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 11:58 am: |
And I should add that as an instructor for PADI, SDI, DAN, MFA and most particularly HSA (Handicapped Scuba Association) there are programs for training divers to be safe with major disabilities such as paraplegia, quadriplegia and many other conditions. There are ways to keep diving for as long as you want.
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By Barton Spitz (BonaireTalker - Post #24) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 1:12 pm: |
Ted, I will be celebrating my 76th birthday in Bonaire next month. I understand your problem. I can no longer carry the weight to allow me to shore dive but, by sitting in the seat nearest the dive platform, I can get up, sometimes with help, shuffle to the platform and, with a giant step, enjoy an hour of freedom from gravity. As long as you enjoy it and can get up the ladder, even with help, keep on diving. The end is approaching faster than you thought it would at age 20. Bart.
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By Ted Halkyard (BonaireTalker - Post #47) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 4:53 pm: |
Wow! I am overwhelmed by the number of thoughtful and sensitive responses. Each gave me more to think about and sharpened some of my perceptions. I always knew that Bonaire aficionados are great folks!
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By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #733) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 5:41 pm: |
Ted:
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By Bill LaBarge (BonaireTalker - Post #91) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 6:41 pm: |
Listen this is an easy one for me.... I don't know how old EBO was when he stopped, but there was no finer diver on Bonaire. He would make things happen by being quiet. Fish would come to him. I think we learn to be better divers each day, I hope that's true. I ref basketball and the mantra goes.."anyone not working on getting better is getting worse"... age can make us better, keep the tool sharp and you can dive til the big dirt nap...
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By Bonaireisgreat (BonaireTalker - Post #48) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 9:17 pm: |
Hi Ted,
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By Bas Noij (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #361) on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 11:23 pm: |
Ted. To me the secret of diving is enjoying whatever nature throws at you to the max. That is by the way exactly the same when driving through a National Park in Africa (which I have done for 18 months so I know what I am talking about ;). I fully enjoy diving in Holland where the viz is 5 feet, water is cold and it's a long haul from the car to the entry point of the dive. I think this may be the key to your decision. If you can convince yourself to enjoy whatever nature (in this case influenced by limitations that come with age) throws at you you may want to dive for many years to come. I am an instructor for HSA (Handicapped Scuba Association) and from time to time I dive with handicapped divers. It keeps amazing me how fantastic the dive experience is for people with a disability. I also helps me to keep enjoying the small things that make diving so fantastic.
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By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #739) on Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 9:52 am: |
Like Bas - as an HSA instructor you realize the potential for people from all facets of life to enjoy diving. As a dentist and 30 year dental educator in major academic centers my specialty is people with disabilities and other medical / physical / mental limitations. Not accepting arbitrary limitations is a key concept I have learned and practiced in both of my professional endeavors.
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By Dennis OKeefe (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 12:01 pm: |
Ted, my wife and I are facing the same problem. We are in our 70's,and have been diving for 35 years. We wondered if it's time to hang up our regulators and just snorkel. The replies you received gave me hope that we can still continue to enjoy what we love so much. Thanks for all the positive reinforcements.
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By Bill Thorpe, (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #438) on Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 8:21 pm: |
one of my most memorable moments of my first visit to Bonaire was a man in his 80's boat diving with his 3 sons who were all in their mid to late 50'S.
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By Glen Reem (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2946) on Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 9:16 pm: |
Ted,
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By Fid Chinoy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #141) on Sunday, February 22, 2009 - 8:53 pm: |
On a recent trip to Cozumel a lady from back here ran into a situation, panicked, held her breath up to the surface and died before the boat reached the dock. I do not know any more of the details except that she was 54 and both she and her husband were experienced divers.
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By Deborah McArthur (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Monday, February 23, 2009 - 2:25 pm: |
Ted, Congratulations on your 52 years of marriage. Diving is a wonderful activity you have enjoyed together for so many years and sounds like you could enjoy for many more. My Dad just got certified last year in Bonaire at 80 years old, so his diving experiences are just beginning. So as long as you feel up to it, age is just a number. We will be coming to Bonaire in April and he intends to take the nitrox course, which, I understand is beneficial to senior divers.
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By Dan Jolly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #773) on Monday, February 23, 2009 - 3:18 pm: |
Definitely go for Nitrox. Any added margin of safety is good.
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By Deborah Bennett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #189) on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - 12:05 am: |
Let someone else do all the work: carry stuff, drag it out of the water, etc,and give them a big tip! Being under water is a good equalizer.
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By brenda boates (BonaireTalker - Post #19) on Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 3:31 pm: |
When I reach this point,as long as I have a guide, back-up I'll be diving forever, and if thats the way I'm gonna go...happy ending.......smile for me.....
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By Bas Noij (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #364) on Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 7:57 pm: |
Way to go Brenda
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By Cecil* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7330) on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 1:19 pm: |
Ditto Brenda, I said that earlier, as long as the regulator does not fall out my mouth and I can afford a guide, I'm there.
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By Kevin Crowe (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 5:48 pm: |
Kudos Ted! I'm only 39, but have all ready wondered how I will deal with the time I can no longer dive. I don't have that answer, but I would think as long as you felt physically and mentally capable, why not?
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By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1115) on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 4:16 am: |
Hey Ted, I am 63 this month and love to dive. David and I have been married for 21 years, he has been an instructor for 15 years but would not do my classes when I finally decided at 49 to become certified. (He said he wanted to stay married, HAHA) David is only 52 so I have a built in sherpa for the time being.
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By Rebecca (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 5:09 pm: |
My Grandfather is the 80 year old new diver Deborah talked about. If you have concerns about the safety of continuing to dive, find a dive doctor in your area. They will put you through a bunch of tests and ensure that there is no medical reason you cannot continue. My Grandfather didn't start diving until 80 because his family doctor would not give him permission because he had a collapsed lung when he was younger. It took someone who really knew about Diving and the strain it puts on your body to say that he's in great shape and there is no reason for him not to Dive. Needless to say he is now a very happy diver and trying to make up for lost time.
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