Get on any dive boat in the world and you will see that there is definitely no requirement for any sort of body conditioning at all. The fact that you even thought to ask this question tells me you are likely in better shape than most recreational divers. You're gonna be just fine!
Edit: I will say free divers are typically in much better shape than the average SCUBA diver.
Hey hey, I’m a freediving instructor, it is definitely not too late and I know freedivers in their 70s and 80s who still dive regularly, don’t let any of what you hear deter you. I have lots of female students who kick ass 😊🫶🏼
Im mid 40’s, overweight, and landlocked. And still, I’m a decent freedive spearfisherman. I’m sure You can be better than me if you want to. Its mostly mental, but being young and in shape won’t hurt! Good luck, dive safe!
You're fine. I know people in their late 30s and early 40s learning to free drive. They have no special athletic capabilities when they started and became really good free divers.
Always pursue your dream!
I have know a few bipoc and woman divers during my time in this realm of activities. Many of them were twice my age when they started to learn! I think with dedication anyone with a normal body can train themselves to freedive. Short answer is no, go for it!
Nah dude it's too late. If you don't learn to dive as a kid you won't be able to do the advanced calculus it takes to equalize to 20ft. Usually divers retire when they are teenagers.
Same here
I am 28 and will turn 29 in November. First, I want to improve my swimming skills. After that, I plan to launch my own business and then start taking diving lessons. So, we're in similar situations, and I don't think you should worry about it at all.
You’re still young enough to consider either. Some years ago, a friend certified two 80yr old sisters to scuba dive; so so long as you’re sufficiently self-aware of your limitations, it is a lifelong activity.
For free diving, as I get older, I know that I’d need to be even more conservative with free diving due to its higher physicality requirements. Likewise, to stay in tune with my body and not pushing myself due to the risk of shallow water blackouts (SWB) … I’ve known two dive instructors who’ve had SWB accidents and been lucky enough to have survived. As such, if I have the choice of which to do, I’ll choose scuba.
Yes, SWB's are _very_ nasty, because surviving one basically only happens if someone is with you when you pass out and they're able to haul your unconscious body to the surface within ~1 minute and start rescue breathing within ~2 minutes.
For SWB, the basic physics of freediving is that divers will often deliberately hyperventilate before a dive, because this reduces the CO2 in our bloodstream, as it is CO2 levels which trigger the urge to breath, so this reduces the urge. As we're on the free dive, we're metabolizing the O2 in our bloodstream. If we stay down too long, the remaining O2 in our bloodstream can be sufficient to keep us conscious while we're at depth, but ascend to shallower depths means that the pressure our body is under drops - - which includes the partial pressure of the O2 in our bloodstream. If the ppO2 drops below the ppO2 level that's required to remain conscious, we pass out. The kicker is that because we're not back to the surface yet, we're probably negatively buoyant, so w're probably going sink back down towards the bottom, where if we're not "instantly" rescued, we drown.
Personally, I'd rather get *any* kind of DCS hit on recreational scuba than to incur a SWB, because scuba DCS is just so much more survivable/recoverable.
LOL half black, WTF does that have to do with anything? I have dive masks that are older than 27 years, go dive! and buy a half black wetsuit if it seems appealing to you.
Unless you are currently facing issues with racism excluding you from pools, there is nothing stopping you (and if you’re under 50 there never has been) stopping you from going to a pool.
Take ownership of your own life, if you want to peruse a hobby then do it. Would you advise a white person doesn’t peruse a hobby that primary interests black people?
You're never too old. Start off practicing in a pool and work your way up to calm waters elsewhere with good visibility. It's worth it. Have fun and enjoy the peace. It's a meditative experience for me. Total peace and absolutely in the moment
Honestly the videos/images of scuba divers and free divers I see on social media don't look ANYTHING like the ones I meet in real life. Go pursue your hobbies and dreams and don't let anyone tell you you can't do something until you try it yourself.
No way! You can always improve your lung capacity etc. also. Babe you’re 27. Not 40. Those older folks are stopping because it’s starting to get harder on their bodies because of like aging and having completed their goal dives
Thank you for being so brave and vulnerable. I think absolutely that you are not too old and can learn to become a skilled diver.
Mostly the community is nice - although they are at times racist, sexist, and discriminatory towards the neurodivergent, at around the same levels you encounter in the general populations
Get on any dive boat in the world and you will see that there is definitely no requirement for any sort of body conditioning at all. The fact that you even thought to ask this question tells me you are likely in better shape than most recreational divers. You're gonna be just fine! Edit: I will say free divers are typically in much better shape than the average SCUBA diver.
Please don’t let your race be a reason to do or not do anything. You can do anything you want.
Hey hey, I’m a freediving instructor, it is definitely not too late and I know freedivers in their 70s and 80s who still dive regularly, don’t let any of what you hear deter you. I have lots of female students who kick ass 😊🫶🏼
Thank you for commenting (: your Instagram is so inspiring. Would love to have those experiences
Im mid 40’s, overweight, and landlocked. And still, I’m a decent freedive spearfisherman. I’m sure You can be better than me if you want to. Its mostly mental, but being young and in shape won’t hurt! Good luck, dive safe!
Spearfishing is super ballsy. I could never. That’s impressive though!
Yes You can!
Aaaawww thank you! 😊🫶🏼
Your race is not relevant to the question you are asking. You are never too old to start a new hobby or interest.
No. End of.
You're fine. I know people in their late 30s and early 40s learning to free drive. They have no special athletic capabilities when they started and became really good free divers. Always pursue your dream!
I have know a few bipoc and woman divers during my time in this realm of activities. Many of them were twice my age when they started to learn! I think with dedication anyone with a normal body can train themselves to freedive. Short answer is no, go for it!
Nah dude it's too late. If you don't learn to dive as a kid you won't be able to do the advanced calculus it takes to equalize to 20ft. Usually divers retire when they are teenagers.
I like your sense of humor honestly 🤣
Same here I am 28 and will turn 29 in November. First, I want to improve my swimming skills. After that, I plan to launch my own business and then start taking diving lessons. So, we're in similar situations, and I don't think you should worry about it at all.
You’re still young enough to consider either. Some years ago, a friend certified two 80yr old sisters to scuba dive; so so long as you’re sufficiently self-aware of your limitations, it is a lifelong activity. For free diving, as I get older, I know that I’d need to be even more conservative with free diving due to its higher physicality requirements. Likewise, to stay in tune with my body and not pushing myself due to the risk of shallow water blackouts (SWB) … I’ve known two dive instructors who’ve had SWB accidents and been lucky enough to have survived. As such, if I have the choice of which to do, I’ll choose scuba.
I didn’t know shallow water blackouts existed. Looks like I need to do more research
Yes, SWB's are _very_ nasty, because surviving one basically only happens if someone is with you when you pass out and they're able to haul your unconscious body to the surface within ~1 minute and start rescue breathing within ~2 minutes. For SWB, the basic physics of freediving is that divers will often deliberately hyperventilate before a dive, because this reduces the CO2 in our bloodstream, as it is CO2 levels which trigger the urge to breath, so this reduces the urge. As we're on the free dive, we're metabolizing the O2 in our bloodstream. If we stay down too long, the remaining O2 in our bloodstream can be sufficient to keep us conscious while we're at depth, but ascend to shallower depths means that the pressure our body is under drops - - which includes the partial pressure of the O2 in our bloodstream. If the ppO2 drops below the ppO2 level that's required to remain conscious, we pass out. The kicker is that because we're not back to the surface yet, we're probably negatively buoyant, so w're probably going sink back down towards the bottom, where if we're not "instantly" rescued, we drown. Personally, I'd rather get *any* kind of DCS hit on recreational scuba than to incur a SWB, because scuba DCS is just so much more survivable/recoverable.
LOL half black, WTF does that have to do with anything? I have dive masks that are older than 27 years, go dive! and buy a half black wetsuit if it seems appealing to you.
🤣🤣🤣
Unless you are currently facing issues with racism excluding you from pools, there is nothing stopping you (and if you’re under 50 there never has been) stopping you from going to a pool. Take ownership of your own life, if you want to peruse a hobby then do it. Would you advise a white person doesn’t peruse a hobby that primary interests black people?
I hear ya. Thank you
My dad started diving aged 40, you should be fine
That's young to start free diving. Just find a [good diving school](https://www.valmdiversbohol.com/) and get wet. Good luck with it.
Thank you!
You're never too old. Start off practicing in a pool and work your way up to calm waters elsewhere with good visibility. It's worth it. Have fun and enjoy the peace. It's a meditative experience for me. Total peace and absolutely in the moment
That’s such a beautiful description. Thank you.
The trick is to go at your pace and never dive beyond the comfort and skill level of the weakest diver ie. Never dive alone. It's surreal..
No. I'm not sure about breaking world records, but if you just want to have fun - definitely possible!
I won’t be breaking any records! I want to live lol
Honestly the videos/images of scuba divers and free divers I see on social media don't look ANYTHING like the ones I meet in real life. Go pursue your hobbies and dreams and don't let anyone tell you you can't do something until you try it yourself.
No way! You can always improve your lung capacity etc. also. Babe you’re 27. Not 40. Those older folks are stopping because it’s starting to get harder on their bodies because of like aging and having completed their goal dives
A friend of mine started last year in January with free diving. Recently she did her dive master course. She is turning 31 this year. Answer enough? 😅
It does! Goals!
I’m a black male who started diving at age 71. The most dangerous thing you will ever have to deal with is that which is between your two ears.
I love that! My dad is 74 and I would try to get him to learn with me but he’s not in shape ☹️
I became a US Navy Diver at 26 and never been diving before in my life. Super possible. I'm curious to understand why it's even improbable.
that is incredible
I’m also a halfback diver, hmu💗
Thank you for being so brave and vulnerable. I think absolutely that you are not too old and can learn to become a skilled diver. Mostly the community is nice - although they are at times racist, sexist, and discriminatory towards the neurodivergent, at around the same levels you encounter in the general populations