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Stalwart Brian dives into old age

Jessica CuthbertAlbany Advertiser

An Albany man is proving age is no barrier to doing what you love.

Scuba diving isn’t for everyone, but it is 80-year-old Brian Boreham’s passion.

After more than 40 years of scuba diving, Mr Boreham achieved his goal last month of diving at 80, completing two dives at False Island near Cape Vancouver with dive partner Brad Williamson.

Mr Williamson said to be diving at 80 was a great achievement.

Mr Boreham started free diving in the 1960s, and was active in the spear fishing scene in Perth before moving on to scuba diving in the 1970s.

In that time, he has seen his passion go from a small pastime with simple gear to a worldwide industry using high-tech equipment.

The keen diver still keeps it simple and uses his highly reliable homemade spear gun when he dives.

“I can’t put into words why I love diving, I just do,” he said.

“My favourite place to dive would have to be Christmas Island — it is just beautiful and pristine.

“You are far better off diving on the west coast.

“We have some amazing sights.”

Mr Boreham said it didn’t feel like a remarkable achievement to him still to be diving, only natural, and he hoped he would continue to do so far a while.

“I hope to be diving for as long as I can, as long as my body will allow me,” he said.

“You would have to be absolutely crazy to let age be a barrier between doing something you love.”

South Coast Diving owner Gary Wellstead said Brian was an absolute inspiration.

“His level of fitness, zest for life and love for diving has made him legendary around the Dive Shop and he is always good for a story or two about the ‘old days’, often entertaining his younger colleagues,” he said.

“He is well respected for his sheer determination of not letting age be a barrier to whatever and this is proven with the fact he is still diving as an octogenarian. Brian, my friend, you have indeed become a local legend and we can all only hope that we are still doing what you are doing at 80.”

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