With great enthusiasm, we would love to share Obadah’s story narrated with his words:
<< I lost my legs in an accident when I was 11 years old.
After the accident, I went to Germany to be treated: I had two surgeries in my backbones and I spent there 5 months: I was devastated!
When I came back to Jeddah I was so unmotivated; I spent two years doing literally nothing, without even leaving my house.
One day I felt I had enough and I decided to try scuba diving. I registered for a PADI Discover Scuba Diving: I remember I was so nervous and I was almost ready to give up once they geared me up.
I decided to face my fears and go through the experience … this was the best decision in my life: it was like a divine design …a design that changed my life, forever!
Underwater I was so excited, my mind was blowing away by looking at coral and fish but even more exhilarating was the feeling of freedom while moving underwater: at one stage I had to stop and just enjoy the peace and quietness …I didn’t even noticed I was actually breathing underwater.
I still remember the fear in my brother’s eyes when I surfaced after the dive, he was so worried. I really had to fight for this, as all my family and friend were against me diving.
It was a real life changing experience; after that I immediately enrolled in the PADI Open Water Course and later on continued my education up to Rescue Diver: I am proud to be the first Rescue disabled diver in Saudi Arabia.
The underwater world gives me so much that I am now planning to explore the freediving world as well!
As stated earlier, after I started diving my life changed …in several aspects; I re-discovered the joy of living and one of the things I did, was to join a gym: I started doing some bodybuilding and I felt in love with weightlifting.
I liked so much that I joined the Saudi National Team, I participated at the “World Para Power-lifting” and guess what: I won the Gold Medal! >>
On behalf of PADI thanks for sharing your story Obadah: we are proud and honored to have you as PADI Diver.
Congratulations for your achievements: you are an example of life!
