Way to go, C/D.

Congratz, CD.... but do remember to take it slow!

*wild, sustained applause*

That seriously rocks, mate. Good on yer.

Boru

Way to go, bud. The hardships in life can be daunting, but that only makes the victories sweeter.

Thank you for all the kind words - it means a great deal to me.

(March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm)SnakeOilWarrior Wrote: Congrats CD. I'm no diver, but I do love to hike the back country in the Rockies. I can only imagine what it would be like to not be able to due to health reasons.

Back country hiking and backpacking is my second great love. That's another pinnacle to reach for.

(March 12, 2015 at 6:22 pm)pocaracas Wrote: Congratz, CD.... but do remember to take it slow!

I am - I stayed above 40 feet on my first, and 60 on my second and was very conservative with my gas management and dive plans.

I felt like a rank amateur when I first submerged - it was very reminiscent of my very first open water dive. I almost quit before submerging - the thought "I can't do this" kept intruding, but I overcame it.

(March 13, 2015 at 12:35 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote:

(March 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm)SnakeOilWarrior Wrote: Congrats CD. I'm no diver, but I do love to hike the back country in the Rockies. I can only imagine what it would be like to not be able to due to health reasons.

Back country hiking and backpacking is my second great love. That's another pinnacle to reach for.

Mine as well. One of the really depressing things about my bone disorder is that it took away that, and trail-biking ... or at least I thought. I still cannot ride a bike easily anymore, but not only have I resumed hiking, I've got a job where patrol hiking is one of my main duties. I tell everyone "I get paid to be twelve all over again", and it's true, I feel younger for it. And -- to the point of your thread here -- it's my way of telling osteonecrosis, "Fuck you, I will do as I wish." Next up is biking, though that may have to wait for the hip replacement.

Carpe diem, brotha.

I'm so very happy for you.

(March 12, 2015 at 4:37 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: At the time I joined AF nearly four years ago, I was a very active and accomplished recreational scuba diver. In that year, I reached the pinnacle of recreational scuba certification, earning my Master rating. A few short months after that, I suffered a serious health issue - a bilateral pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis (not scuba related) that left me moderately disabled.

I struggled with the prospect of never being able to dive again due to my disability and ongoing health issues.

Today, thanks to the encouragement of an old friend and scuba instructor here in Puerto Vallarta, I got back in the water and did two very successful dives. Those few of you whom I have spoken with privately about my desire to go back in the water know how big of an accomplishment this is.

I still have a long ways to go to be back to my old self, and I may never get there, but today was a good day.

So that is what you've been up to in Mexico

Congrats CD.

(March 13, 2015 at 12:57 pm)Parkers Tan Wrote:

(March 13, 2015 at 12:35 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: Back country hiking and backpacking is my second great love. That's another pinnacle to reach for.

Mine as well. One of the really depressing things about my bone disorder is that it took away that, and trail-biking ... or at least I thought. I still cannot ride a bike easily anymore, but not only have I resumed hiking, I've got a job where patrol hiking is one of my main duties. I tell everyone "I get paid to be twelve all over again", and it's true, I feel younger for it. And -- to the point of your thread here -- it's my way of telling osteonecrosis, "Fuck you, I will do as I wish." Next up is biking, though that may have to wait for the hip replacement.

Carpe diem, brotha.

Wow, that's great. I can imagine how simultaneously difficult and rewarding your work could be.

In my case, walking is quite painful. I was pretty severely depressed over my condition, and for quite some time and simply accepted that life as I knew it was over. Lack of sufficient activity led to atrophy and weight gain, and that of course created a vicious circle. I was a strong, active person that felt like I was cut down at middle age.

I'm finally feeling like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.