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Diving without the walker: How "old" is "too old" for spearfishing?

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Ricksafer

Ricksafer
Feb 2, 2010
55
12
0
Diving without the "walker" How old is "too old" for spearfishing?

In my view there's no such a thing as "too old" for enjoying the sport we
have embraced for all our, in my case, quite long lives. It's a matter of
physical, mental and emotional state.

Given a reasonably healthy physical condition, no medical "no-nos", as heart
conditions,or any other really limiting condition it's perfectly possible to
continue spearfishing and free-diving "till death do us part" from our
beloved sea.:inlove

Of course, our exploits will be adapted to be compatible with our particular
situation. No more "testosterone induced" pushing the limits, no more "show
off", nobody to impress any more.
Just a simple, safe and wonderful diving experience within our own comfort zone
having taken all safety measures and precautions more to the letter than
when, not so long ago (in our minds...) we were both immortal and invincible.

The baby boomer generation is still going strong after 65, myself a glorious
67, my lawyer a whooping 85 and he still goes spearfishing. I consider him
the most impressive case of "geronto-diver" I've known.

Depths will be shallower but not less attractive, apnea times will be
shorter but no less fulfilling, catches may not be as numerous but they
certainly will be as exciting!

I'd love to get statistics on how many spear- freedivers over 65 are still
active. I wouldn't be surprised to learn more about what I already know. We
"oldies" might not do IT deeper, or Longer, but we still do it and enjoy it!

Like I like to say: Today's 60's are yesterday's 40', on steroids!"
 
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I have no idea how many hexagenarians are engaged in snorkelling, freediving or spearfishing, but I'm very happy, at the age of 65, with my own gentle snorkelling in the North Sea off the coast of North East England. Don't associate advancing years with decrepitude, but with wisdom, experience and liberation. Younger people often seem obsessed with appearances, fearing that they will invite derision unless they don the latest expensive gear, climb on the latest technological bandwagon, follow the latest training philosophies and put on a display for the opposite sex. I enjoy snorkelling with 1960s-style all-rubber full-foot fins, rubber-skirted oval mask and two-piece drysuit, the kind of equipment I used when I began snorkelling in the late 1950s, the pioneer era of underwater swimming. After all, if it ain't broke, why fix it? Back then, "free diving" (from the French plongée libre) was any kind of underwater swimming, whether breath-hold or scuba, and the emphasis was on fun, not competition:

And that's the way I like it, nothing to prove, sheer enjoyment. After my early-morning dip in the sea, nothing can spoil my day.
 
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