Getting back to swimming and enjoy the sea was definitely one of my top goals. As someone who adores the ocean, this was really important to create a positive mindset to keep me motivated.

At my last rehabilitation center, I was able to try swimming with my therapist. My supreme leader, as I call her, was also an aquatic rehabilitation therapist, so I managed to convince my doctor to prescribe a few sessions with her in the pool. These sessions made me feel very good, it was a very shalow pool butI I still feel very comfortable in the water.

Back home, I visited an old colleague from my first summer job at a local pool and signed up for a series of hydrotherapy sessions. On my first session , I realized that one of my former colleagues is now a swimming teacher and head of adaptive swimming. He challenged me to move from the small therapy pool to a the larger pool to test how I could progress in the water.

It was funny when we worked together; I showed him the art of spearfishing, and now, nearly three decades later, he’s ready to instruct me on swimming with just one functional arm.With his help and encouragement, I was able to swim An olympic sized swimming pool. I felt gtreat, but I wanted to make sure I could feel the same way in the ocean.

This confirmation came a year later.

I always have a separate room in my house to receive friends. That summer I hosted Prazir, a fellow adventure rider from Thailand who also had a stroke. Luckily for him, it was a mild ischemic stroke, not as severe hemorrhagic one as mine. He challenged me to visit him in Thailand for a journey through the Northern mountains and try some Thai therapies. This was a great opportunity, not only to try different therapies but also test myself on an adventurous journey. I had him as a local safety net and some biker friends agreed to travel with me to Thailand for another motorcycle trip. Everything went well, the long flight went smoothly, the trip through the northern mountains was great. Of course, I didn't drive my motorbike. Prazit arranged an automatic truck for me and I followed the bikes. Back in Bangkok, I stayed for a full month and did daily treatments with Prazit Therapists and made good use of my hotel pool.

To end my Thai journey, I decided to spend my last days on Koh Kood, an off-the-beaten path and quiet island in the Gulf of Thailand near Khao Laem Ya National Marine Park which has excellent diving opportunities, where maybe I could try diving. After a full day traveling by train, taxi and ferry, I arrived at my small secluded resort in Koh Kood. . On the second day, after a successful snorkeling in the calm sea, I asked the reception if they had contacts in any dive center on the Island. That same evening, I shared a beer with one of the dive instructors of Koh Kood Divers a Padi Dive center nearby.

I carefully explained my situation, my difficulties, my limitations, and finally asked if I could dive with them. I also showed him my Padi Dive Master certificate. Previously, in preparation for this trip, I asked my doctor if I was medically fit to dive after the stroke. He said yes, but advised me not to go too deep.

Early the next morning, as agreed, a diver master was picking me up at my resort for my dive. On the way to the peer, I explained to him again that I was also a divemaster, but I had a stroke bla bla bla, but I could swim, and I'm very comfortable in the water. My major difficulty might be climbing aboard the boat after the dive and carrying the diving equipment. No worries Carlos. We will take care of you... And they did. I have to confess that on my return to the boat I was a bit emotional after two consecutive dives surrounded by vibrant marine life. I'm a diver again!! Thank you guys. Drinks on me tonight!! I can not describe how happy I was on that night. I celebrated with all the dive center team in a restaurant near my resort with a delicious Pad Thai and some very cold Singha Beer.

Return to Water

Return to work

Return to my boat