Each diver’s journey is unique. For California-based Dr. Jonathan Jaivin, the call to learn to dive came in his mid-sixties. With retirement looming, his quest to find a new purpose began. After cycling hundreds of miles all over the world with friends, Jonathan looked for a new hobby as his fellow riders were aging out of strenuous activities. Jonathan shares that he grew up watching “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.” He says, “It became obvious what I needed to do. Most importantly, my wife felt the same way!”

Diving checked the box. The skill sets required for surgery and scuba diving were relatable to Jonathan—physiology, gear mastery, the ability to monitor multiple parameters, situational awareness and proper decision-making. Jonathan admits diving for he and his wife didn’t come naturally, but with practice, they made progress. He credits his physician’s training and the patience and expertise of his dive instructors from In2Deep Dive Shop in Santa Monica, California for his ability to stay the course and learn the essential skills required to achieve his PADI Open Water Diver certification.

A trip to Kona, Hawaii with his wife as newly certified divers set the stage for adventure. He recalls, “The manta ray night dive in Kona was magical; interacting with these amazing and intelligent creatures was life-changing. Their obvious intelligence and gentle nature could make any diver an ardent advocate for the oceans!”

Related Reading: An Unforgettable Dive: More Mantas Please

From Student to Teacher

But that was only the beginning. Jonathan earned his PADI Divemaster certification, assisting the same dive instructors with whom he had trained, and ultimately became a PADI Dive Instructor. “The other students in the class became our surrogate children and as of this writing, two of them are living with us,” says Jonathan. “Dinner time is scuba talk time and they wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Enter the blue mind. Ask any diver what they enjoy about diving, and you’ll likely hear about the benefits of disconnecting from outside noise and a prevailing feeling of peace and calm in the world underneath the waves. There’s also a sense of community, developing friendships with other ocean enthusiasts, new adventures, and fostering ocean stewardship.

For the first time since starting his surgical career, Jonathan says, “I found something that I could lose myself in. In surgery and in diving, the mind is in the ‘zone’, all else gets pushed to the side. My wife, Melissa, played three sports in college and had the same feeling of being completely in the moment diving as she did tearing up the athletic fields at Brown University where we met.”

When Jonathan isn’t in the operating room or underwater, he’s immersed in reading Scuba Diving magazine, his favorite PADI Club member benefit. He and his wife also support Max Bracey's Diver-Sea-Fy program, making the ocean more inclusive for youth of color.

Related Reading: PADI Club Member Spotlight: Susan and Dan Dolezal

What’s Next

Jonathan is enthusiastic about continuing his dive training. “I am interested in starting the PADI Tec 40 class and participating in more equipment classes,” he says. The beauty of Mexico’s cenotes has also inspired him to become a Cavern Diver.

PADI Tec 40 is a transitional course from recreational diving to technical diving. With this certification, you qualify to make limited decompression dives to 130 feet (40 meters) and use up to 50 percent oxygen as a decompression gas.

“Our circle of friends is now expansive, from every walk of life and ethnicity and they keep us young. Knowing that you may depend on your buddy and vice versa tends to make for a great relationship. Scuba has been a unique blessing in our life, and I would not discourage anyone from starting based on age–indeed, it may challenge you to get back in shape to see the most beautiful part of our planet," says Jonathan.