{"id":1480,"date":"2015-10-06T05:34:01","date_gmt":"2015-10-06T05:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isibindi.co.za\/\/blog\/?p=1480"},"modified":"2023-01-20T10:22:14","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T08:22:14","slug":"discovering-scuba-diving-with-the-elderly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isibindifoundation.org\/2015\/10\/06\/discovering-scuba-diving-with-the-elderly\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering scuba diving with the elderly"},"content":{"rendered":"
A blog by Thonga Beach Lodge dive instructor\u00a0Lee-Ann Cooper<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I grow old\u2026 I grow old\u2026<\/p>\n
I shall wear the bottom of my trousers rolled.
\nShall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
\nI shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
\nI have heard the mermaids singing each to each.
\nI do not think that they will sing for me.<\/p>\n
\u2026We have lingered in the chambers of the sea,<\/p>\n
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
\ntill human voices wake us, and we drown.<\/p>\n
T.S. Elliot<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This poem by a great man not willing to give in to his age is a perfect example of a gentleman who decided to join us at Thonga Beach Lodge for his Ruby Anniversary.<\/p>\n
Him and his wife decided to share their special time with us at Thonga Beach Lodge, and a choice that he made on in September 2015 gave me new hope and a different outlook on scuba diving instructing. As I have taught my courses I thought the older one gets there more set in your ways you become and your mind is not open to new adventures. How dreadfully wrong I have been.<\/p>\n
The guest joined me in the pool where we ran though the Discover Scuba Diving course like clockwork, without a moment of hesitation from him. Into the pool we went and partial mask clearance turned to mask removal and an ‘all clear’. Regulator recovery was a breeze and not once was a breath skipped. In awe I watched as this man went well beyond my expectations.<\/p>\n
The next day we ventured together into the ocean. With the waves breaking high we pushed the boat in with our skipper Jacques, undertaking the adventurous launch into the sea. The guest insisted on pushing the boat in with Nathi, Lucky, Jacques and I. Once past the back line, with nerves hitting high, our guest was excited to get into the water.<\/p>\n
After a perfect backwards roll we gathered on the surface. Our descent into the underwater world commenced.<\/p>\n
Drifting in the water we found many species that our guest had only seen in a book.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n