I have read the information on hiking after diving, but in Southern California, there really is not much choice. Most of our dive sites are at the base of a 50-160 foot cliff. Sometimes there are stairs or a paved ramp (Laguna) but usually just a goat trail, or worse. I too am not young anymore, as I will be 51 in just 3 months.
I dont push the NDL limits. I do dive a AL80 tank, so how far could I push it? On dives below 60 feet, I start my ascent when I hit 8 or 9 minutes of bottom time remaining. As I slowly work my way up, the balance between using up bottom time and the decreased depth increasing my bottom time usually work out to me only loosing a minute of bottom time, and then getting it back. I do try to surface a bit off shore, and just relax as I slowly fin my way in the last 100 yards or so. So I should have about 20 to 30 minutes after I came up from depth (and at least 3 minutes at 15 feet), before I hit the beach. If the hill is a particularly bad climb (flat rock or Christmas tree), I will grab a rock for a bit and rest before tackling the hill. But, it is an increased risk, no way around it.
Now back to the original point. IMHO, going diving for a tank or two, would make a nice substitute for the day he spends on the stair climber in terms of exercise, while observing the good doctors advice to limit your pre and post dive exercise.
I dont push the NDL limits. I do dive a AL80 tank, so how far could I push it? On dives below 60 feet, I start my ascent when I hit 8 or 9 minutes of bottom time remaining. As I slowly work my way up, the balance between using up bottom time and the decreased depth increasing my bottom time usually work out to me only loosing a minute of bottom time, and then getting it back. I do try to surface a bit off shore, and just relax as I slowly fin my way in the last 100 yards or so. So I should have about 20 to 30 minutes after I came up from depth (and at least 3 minutes at 15 feet), before I hit the beach. If the hill is a particularly bad climb (flat rock or Christmas tree), I will grab a rock for a bit and rest before tackling the hill. But, it is an increased risk, no way around it.
Now back to the original point. IMHO, going diving for a tank or two, would make a nice substitute for the day he spends on the stair climber in terms of exercise, while observing the good doctors advice to limit your pre and post dive exercise.