Scuba Diving at 50

Scuba Diving the Similan Islands

Did you ever wonder how nice it would be to scuba dive, but then thought, no that is for my kids to do during their gap year, I can’t Scuba Dive at 50! Well, it’s not and you can, I qualified as an Open Water Scuba Diver at 50, I now have nearly 100 dives and have never looked back.

The Journey

My partner, who was an Advanced Open Water diver, wanted to go on a liveaboard during our first holiday together in Thailand.  We were told Khao Lak was the best place to book from and the Surin and Similan Islands were the place to go.  I got on the boat as a sunbather, with no intentions or want, to scuba dive and five days later got off as a qualified Open Water Diver!  The following year I took my Advanced Open Water course, allowing me to dive to 30 meters.

Discover Scuba Diving

You can test the water by having a Discover Scuba Diving, see if you like it, which is what I did. The feeling was amazing, weightlessness, silent, peaceful and at one with the sea! I have always hated snorkeling, choppy waves on the surface, water in your snorkel and ‘the Jaws’ feeling too, but under the water a whole new world opens up in front of you and instead of looking down into the sea you are suddenly part of it, looking at nature as it was meant to be seen!

Majestic Manta

My very best memory was my first sighting of a Manta Ray, flying through the water only a few metres from our group.  We remained still and then there were two, six metres across, swimming in a figure of eight and each turn they came closer, as if they were curious to watch us and not the other way around. It was one of the best experiences in my life and Scuba Diving at 50, gave me that opportunity!  These majestic creatures are one of the reasons I dive. The Surin and Similan Islands are part of a national park, which makes these sightings all the more special and a privilege to witness.

Join the Club!

If you can swim, reasonable level of fitness and in good health there is nothing stopping you.  Don’t leave it to the youngsters to tell you of the wonderful experience they have had, live it and you tell them…..join the Scuba Diver at 50 club!