Again - Originally Posted by Scott L View Post
"Scuba diving is not a physically conditioning activity when performed correctly."

So this 59 year old and his 60 year old buddy got to Newport Oregon/Yaquina Bay South Jetty this last Friday. We saw the surfers on the North which meant surge on the South. We waited until a big surge (whole ocean/not a wave) came up and we jump in and are pulled through the "chute" as the level drops 10 feet. Do not do this if you don't know your area or you will be smashed up against rocks. Exit is the same, and sometimes you get washed back and forth trying to exit. It really is fun, but definitely it is a "physically conditioning activity when performed correctly". Swimming against and with and then against and then with the surge which is sweeping the 30 bottom at the end of the jetty is also a "physically conditioning activity when performed correctly". And during all this I speared a nice lingcod (ate him yesterday and he'll be a sandwich later this week).

I don't want to beat a dead horse, but we really do look forward to a workout when we dive. And it's not all the "macho thing" as we are not doing dangerous stuff, just stuff that is physically challenging and fun in an area we know well.

I hope to die in my sleep, certainly not while diving, but I hope I will be having pleasant dreams about the diving I continued up until the end.

My knee and hips hurt this morning! Any of you know what I am talking about? Oh well, better take another ibuprofen.

- I do want to add that there will be a day when we will have to climb out of our wheel chairs and be lowered into the water by the divemasters. But at that time it won't be to be thrown into the chute during a jetty ocean surge. It will be at some tropical beach with the little waves lapping at our wheels/fins. Obviously we do not want to be diving beyond our physical ability. And remember this when on a diveboat and some old grandpa or grandma needs a little assistance with their tanks. It just may be that they have thousands of dives and when in the water they will out preform most of the young punks. Someday, if you are fortunate enough - you'll get there as well.