Chris Sullivan
I’m a diver. I may be other things as well but on this blog I’m just a diver. I’m also 53 54 years old – so I’m an old diver. Some of the things I’m going to write about have to do with being an old diver, and some things just about being a diver, or about diving, or places where there’s diving, which is just about everywhere where there’s water. I might write a little about the people I dive with, and how I stay in shape so I can keep diving for a long time.
I’ve been a certified diver for 26 years. I’m a PADI divemasterAssistant Open Water Scuba InstructorMaster Scuba Diver Trainer, and have a DSAT Tec Rec card that says I can dive to 50m/165′ and deco with 100% O2. I have a bunch of other cards too, like dry suit, wreck, drift, night, nitrox and DSAT Gas Blender. Some don’t mean much, but the wreck course was pretty intense. I’m also certified to teach the Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care courses, Care for Children with AED, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project Aware, and the Aware Coral Reef Conservation Specialty. I’ve submitted and await my specialty now possess instructor ratings for Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Dry Suit Diver, Enriched Air Diver, Digital Underwater Photographer, Emergency Oxygen Provider, AWARE Fish ID, Boat Diver, Multilevel Diver,U/W Naturalist,U/W Navigator, Search & Recovery Diver, and U/W Photographer.
I don’t know where this will take us but you’re welcome to tag along or join in.
Chris
Hi Chris,
Keep up the great work! You’ve got a ton of great content here for the diving community.
Congrats,
Kevin
Thanks Kevin. Glad to see you in here! I hope some day we’ll see you in the water….
—Chris
Chris, you do an excellent job of providing very useful information! Thanks for all you do..
- Joe
Hey Chris: good stuff. As an old technical diving instructor-trainer, I appreciate the angle you’re taking on your blog… take care and dive safe. Oh, and drop by my blog sometime!
Looks like some interesting stuff on your blog. I’ll definitely read some more when I get home.
Great blog Chris, keep up the work and more importantly the diving!
I’m right behind you… turning 50 so your just a few steps ahead, blazing the trail.
I too learned 25+ years ago, getting both PADI and YMCI open water and AOW. Took a break for about twenty years and have resumed the last few years and am loving it… exploring different types of diving and exploring technical diving, mostly for the learning and additional experience/confidence/understanding. It’s all just good!
You ain’t old! I dive with people chronologically older than you and they all say the same thing – Diving keeps you young!
Whether it be the Nitrogen, out-gassing, the water pressure or the physical activity involved, divers stay young… until they become instructors.
as i mentioned on your ‘how does it look post’, i stop by here whenever you have a new post.
i enjoy reading your site and have learnt quite a bit from your physiology and gas posts.
and i dont think its instructing that makes you old! its how you instruct. i’m sure you will impart great stories and knowledge to your students.
tara
Hey, I don’t really feel old, just older. When I started diving it was a young man’s sport, now it’s for all ages and while still male-dominated, has more than a token number of women participating at both the recreational and professional levels. It’s a great motivator to stay in shape while my high school buddies battle their spreading waistlines and lifestyle related health problems.
I’m looking forward to many more years of diving and hope I can continue writing about it in this blog. When I started I had no idea whether I would be able to keep it up or not, but the 50 minute train ride to and from work has given me the time.
As for instructing. We’ll see how it plays out this summer. Maybe I’ll have grey hair and stoop by the fall.
Hey old guy, in 9 days I will be 59. Still diving. It does keep you young, at least at heart. First dive 65 minutes, 2nd 55 minutes. dive fatique? ZERO. http://lesliefieger.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/getting-wet/
That gives me hope – thanks!
Chris, I came across your image of the wheel on the sea bottom and wonder if you would let me use it in a blog post on the subject of Buddhism, dharma and Nagarjuna. It’s a non commercial thing. If this is ok, please email me at Brooklynometry@gmail.com and look at the blog if you’d like, brooklynometry.blogspot.com.
Thanks!
Amy
Hi Chris,
Wanted to wish you the best of luck in the IE this weekend, and given your professionalism I know its reciprocated.
Looking forward to doing this dive with you!
Stevo.
Thanks Steve – it certainly is reciprocated. I’m looking forward to seeing our entire group in the graduation picture on Sunday, wearing our new hats! I know I’m ready – I just have to not screw up!
Chris,
As a newly certified diver (young diver, older age lol), I really appreciate everything you had to say in your blog. You make those of us who are just getting into the sport, very excited about the various possibilities.
You’re an inspiration to look up to and strive toward.
Thanks! See you in the deep!
Susan
Hi Susan,
Congratulations on your certification! There are lots of great adventures ahead for both of us, I’m sure. The more you dive, the more you’ll get out of the sport. There’s no substitute for getting the water and trying new things.
Thank you for your kind words,
Chris