Sponsored by
Diving in to Middle Age
Aged in his mid-50's, David Watson thought the chance of having a scuba diving career had passed him by. But on a holiday in Egypt, three-and-a-half years ago he took up the opportunity of a deep sea dive in the Red Sea.
Since that initial experience David, 59, said he has become 'addicted' to scuba diving and it is now a large part of his life.
He said: "You would be surprised how many people from older age groups who have taken up scuba diving recently.
"It is the closest you can get to being in outer space as you are completely weightless when you are under the water. It is something a bit different as when you feel weightless you can forget about any aches and pains."
David, from Leighton Buzzard, now makes a weekly trip to Stony Cove, Leicester and spends another two days at Scubanet in Aylesbury where they have a 2.5m diving pool.
He said: "There is so much of the sea that has not been discovered and each time I go scuba diving I see something different. Every one of us is looking for the shipwreck that no one has discovered."
As well as the variety scuba diving offers, David said he enjoys the camaraderie and team spirit he gets with the other divers who come from a mixture of different backgrounds.
"I would recommend diving to anyone over 50 as it keeps your mind active and you get to meet people of all ages, of both sexes and you get to meet other divers who are as mad as I am."
"Everyone is very laid back and supportive. When you are underwater it is very serious but once you are on the surface we all take the mickey out of each other."
There is no legal requirement to do a course before you go scuba diving but David said he strongly recommends doing an Open Water course.
He said that, unlike some other physical activities, diving instructors welcome the skills offered by people over 50.
He said: "Once you are qualified you are a 'diver'. That means whatever skills you have got you can learn off other divers or they can learn off you."
The Open Water course requires divers to pass a series of theory modules as well as certain safety standards when under the water.
One of the skills that David says keeps his brain ticking over is the 'mapping' of new sea areas that have not been dived before.
Through scuba diving David has also developed a passion for underwater photography and regularly takes pictures of the different types of fish that he sees during his dives.
In the four years since he first started, David has been scuba diving all over the world.
A memorable trip to Greece involved swimming round a wreck of an old German bomber as well as a deactivated sea-mine.
Ever since he first tried scuba diving in the Red Sea, David has been on hundreds of dives but he finds it impossible to pick a favourite.
He said: "Every dive for me is a marvellous dive. Once I lose that buzz I get from every dive I will give it up, but I hope I never do."
Scubanet in Aylesbury offers a 'Try Dive' for anyone who has never dived before. It gives an insight into the underwater world in a safe and controlled environment.
For any other information about scuba diving contact scubanet.net on 01296 425886.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Champions Red Bull set to unveil Mark Webber’s new RB8
- Aylesbury murder trial latest: ‘Family row night before killing’
- Slipping and a sliding in the Bourg Walk boogie
- Aylesbury murder trial latest: Police criticised over ‘unfair’ interviews with ‘loving’ husband
- Aylesbury murder trial latest: ‘Blood found on husband’s shoes’
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Aylesbury
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -4 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
