Look around dive boats these days and you’ll see more than a touch of gray against that vast sea of blue. The generation that popularized our sport in the sixties and seventies is now a few decades older and still going strong, as evidenced by the fact that the average of DAN members is now 45, the highest it’s ever been. That’s good news for today's older adults who would rather celebrate their newfound seniority on a shipwreck at 100 feet than on a cruise ship playing shuffleboard.
What’s less good news is half of all dive fatalities are in the 40 to 59 age group. Advancing years bring a natural physical decline, as well as a slew of age-related health issues such as hardening of the arteries and pulmonary disease that can spell high risk for divers. Generally speaking, however, experts agree that healthy divers of any age can enjoy the sport safely. They just have to be smart about their potential limitations. Here’s what you need to know.
1. No need to get bent about getting bent: The biggest worry many older divers have should actually be their smallest--namely, getting bent. Though Doppler studies have found that older divers have more venous gas emboli ("bubbles") over their hearts than younger divers, they haven’t found a connection between age and decompression illness. Likewise, advancing age doesn't increase your risk of carbon dioxide retention--a condition that can cause confusion and seizures, according to a Duke University study.
2. Pay attention to age-related ills: Bumper-sticker wisdom tells us that "no one gets out of this life alive!" Well, darn few get out without a few nagging health conditions along the way, either. Heart disease is the biggie. High cholesterol. Hypertension. Hardening of the arteries. All can increase your risk for heart attack down below. Get your doc's OK if you haven't been diving or are at high risk. If you take blood-pressure medications, tell your doctor you're a diver, so you get a prescription that fits your active lifestyle. If you were or are a smoker, get a pulmonary test.
3. Keep on moving! Regular exercise slows age-related declines in physical ability and helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, obesity and more. Ideally, your routine should include 30 to 45 minutes of cardio like walking or swimming most days a week; weight training twice a week to maintain your muscle and strength, and some yoga or stretching to retain and restore flexibility.
