Leo Morales - legless diver who broke two world records

For many people who find themselves in a life situation like our protagonist today, this could be the end, the moment when everything loses its meaning and when it is difficult to get up and move on. But Leo Morales, after cancer took his leg, found something that allowed him to move forward with renewed vigour. That something is, of course, our beloved sport – diving!

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In Mexico, on the beautiful beach of Playa del Carmen, 43-year-old Leo Morales is doing what he does for a living – sharing the passion he gets from diving. However, the training at Leo’s place is very specifically geared towards…

“We are trying to make diving accessible to everyone. We are geared towards training people with disabilities, people in wheelchairs every day, but not only. We are trying to break the stereotype from years ago that diving is only for the real tough guys.” – Leo Morales explains and adds, “It’s a great feeling to see that sparkle in their eyes when they become free of their wheelchair, their crutches and their disabilities. You show people that they can fly and that’s great.”

When Leo was 28 years old he had a career in banking, as a promising manager. One day at work he felt a strange pain in his back, so he went to the doctor. There he heard a diagnosis that for many sounds like a verdict – cancer. As a result of the disease, his whole leg had to be amputated. It was the only chance for a temporary salvation, because despite the treatment, the doctors said that Leo would only live another five years at the most.

After a twelve-hour operation, Leo woke up and looked for the first time at the empty space where his right leg had been until recently. After leaving hospital, he had to adapt to his new situation and learn to walk, use the toilet and get in and out of bed all over again. Each of these things took a lot of effort and hard work. Due to his disability, Leo Morales lost his job and shortly afterwards fell into depression. This was the moment when he began to think that his life was over.

Fortunately, a friend invited him to go diving. The first approach turned out to be a real nightmare. Leo went down like a stone and struggled all the time against the water around him. During the second dive, his friend caught him underwater and they swam together until Leo found his way and a way to move underwater.

“That moment completely changed my life. Since then I became addicted to the ocean and diving,” Morales recalls.

Today Leo is a divemaster, instructor and technical diver. In addition to developing his diving passion, he has become the holder of two world records. The first one is the deepest dive by a disabled person – 125 metres, and the longest dive by a disabled person – 16 km in 8 h16 min. But this is not the end. Leo Morales is preparing to set another record – the deepest cave dive by a disabled person.

“My main aim is to send a powerful message saying that people with disabilities are no different to anyone else. We can achieve amazing goals and accomplish great things. All we need is the right training and properly adapted equipment” – she explains her motivation.

Source: suunto.com