Water sports are an endless ocean of transformation
The ocean and my surfboard brought me back to life
Carole Franco, Maripocean Founder, has been an ocean soul since she was conceived. Her DNA comes from Caribbean Providence Island waters. She has chased the ocean her entire life. While travelling to around 4 continents to connect with ocean healing, Caro has found her place of peace, balance and transformation in salted water.
Caro is a digital marketing executive, she has had the chance to lead very challenging roles as Marketing Vice President and as well to launch four ventures as an entrepreneur. From big corporations like IBM to amazing talent platforms as Toptal and Terminal, Caro has grown a very remarkable career. This time of her professional career was amazing and looked like success but silently Caro was struggling with life speed, lack of work life balance which turned into long periods of stress and anxiety with high levels of cortisol. Ultimately Caro was burned out from 10 years of very demanding roles in technology. She had to face different immune depressive episodes for 3 years in a row from respiratory, stomach and spine issues.
The way Caro connected with water sports was through surfing. As Caro, says in words “surf saved my life”. Caro initially explored a new connection with the ocean by diving in San Andrés where unlucky she got injured because of water pressure, leaving her with motion sickness disease. Inspite that, she didn’t stop her quest. “If is not below the water, it will be above it” she said.
That was where she tried surfing for the first time in Isla Fuerte, Colombia, actually not being a great experience for her. Her body wasn’t ready and diving issues were there . Then she had a second try, in Costa Rica where she clicked instantly and was sure that was the sport she was waiting for. She chased surfing for a third time in Pacific Mexican waters, where her true passion was revealed. In Sayulita, Mexico.
She absolutely loved it. Not only because of her positive response to the skills the sport needed but because of the balance and lifestyle change this sport brought her. She extended a month trip to two with her family to keep her surf journey that since July 2021, hasn’t stopped.
From Mexico she found her way to Puerto Colombia, Atlántico, in the north of Barranquilla, Colombia, that she didn’t know about, travelling non stop for two consecutive years in the waves season from Bogotá. She has fallen in love with this surf town. She connected with top schools and instructors that have propelled her skills at this sport and expanded her curiosity for wind water sports, as well.
Caro has documented all her mental, physical and emotional transformation since surf and wind sports came to her life. Not only her physical health and lifestyle changed dramatically, but her relation with stress and anxiety. It was that transformation and positive outcomes that inspired Caro to share with others what the ocean has given to her. So she created Maripocean, an ecosystem of transformation of mental and physical health through new sportive and wellbeing connections with the ocean.
What makes us different?
Sports, tourism and wellbeing in community
It’s not just a sports trip. We balance it with wellbeing. We take you to meet and connect with the places, restaurants and people that add a local and magical touch to our trips.
Experiences All-inclusive
We provide you with everything so that you only have to worry about bringing your good energy and enjoying connecting with the sea in an active way. The rest leave it to us.
Certified schools
We only work with schools and instructors certified by the ISA and IKO, providing you with safe environments and quality classes to practice these sports.
Looking for camps, courses, daytrips or just a lesson in surf, kitesurf and wingfoil in Colombia?
Maripocean is the meeting point for all experiences that will get you started in nautic sports. From a private lesson in surf, a basic course in kitesurf to all-inclusive camps we’ve got you.
Despertar Oceánico, The Camp Experience
Lessons and courses with certified schools
Maripocean daytrips
Contact
If you’ve got any questions before booking we’re happy to help. Reach us out at our office hours, Monday to Friday 9:00 am COL to 6:00 pm COL, through email or whatsapp