Diver to complete 39 dives in his 93rd year

 

RAY Woolley is aiming to complete his 39th dive during his 93rd year “39@93” on Sunday in Latchi in Paphos.

The hugely likeable nonagenarian, who is one of the world’s oldest divers, has previously completed 29 dives in his 92nd year. The ex-serviceman is an active diver with the BSAC – British sub aqua club-at RAF Akrotiri.

“I am looking forward to completing this dive as it will signify the 39th dive this year and I already have something else planned involving diving for later in the summer, but it’s a secret at the moment,” he told the Sunday Mail.

His 90th birthday in September 2013, was celebrated by diving 90ft -“90 @ 90”- on the sunken Zenobia roll-on-roll off ferry in Larnaca.

Originally from Port Sunlight in Wirral, Ray now lives in Ayios Tychonas close to Limassol. He was born in 1923 and first started diving with the Portland and Weymouth British Sub Aqua Club in 1960.

The World War II veteran, has completed a number of his dives this year with Latchi Watersports, covering depths between 10.3 and 37.4 metres. He has also chosen them to help him complete his 39th dive.

“I love water and I feel very privileged to be so active and able to dive, and it’s so surprising but very

Ray served in the Royal Navy Radio Branch during WWII. He worked on shipping convoys in 1943-44 before a secondment to ‘SBS Special Force 281’ in the Dodecanese. He was among the first Allied forces to land on Rhodes as the Germans retreated in May 1945.

After taking up diving in 1960, Ray was posted to Cyprus in 1964 and was a regular diver with BSAC during and attained further qualifications during three tours. In 1999 he retired and returned to Cyprus to live permanently after diving in locations all around the world.

One of his daughters will be with him when he completes his dive 39th dive in Latchi.

“I’m really looking forward to it as she has seen me go off to dive before, but this is the first time that she will come and with me in the boat and see me actually dive,” he said.