About
About
Dora Carolo
CEO
About
Where the sea became home
Dora Carolo was born and raised in the small coastal village of Lourinhã, Portugal, where daily life is shaped by tides, winds, and the rhythms of the Atlantic. The beach and the sea were not just her childhood playground—they were formative spaces of learning, freedom, and belonging that deeply influenced her identity and path.
With over 24 years of experience in bodyboarding and longboarding and a lifelong passion for open-water swimming, Dora’s relationship with the ocean has always gone beyond sport. As a child, she felt at ease simply being at sea, with or without a board, drawn by the sensory, emotional, and physical connection that water offers. These early experiences nurtured a profound respect for the ocean and laid the foundations for a life devoted to movement, exploration, and embodied knowledge in aquatic environments.
Today, the sea remains both her anchor and her inspiration—informing her professional work, personal philosophy, and ongoing commitment to cultivating meaningful human–water relationships.
About
Education, Professional Training, and Certifications
Dora holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science and a Master’s degree in Physical Education Teaching for Lower and Upper Secondary Schools, awarded by the Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon. Her academic background provides a strong scientific and pedagogical foundation for her work in movement, sport, and education.
In parallel with her academic path, Dora has made a sustained investment in professional certifications since 2013, ensuring high standards of technical competence, safety, and educational quality across aquatic and sport settings. Her qualifications reflect extensive training in emergency response, water rescue, coaching, and professional leadership, allowing her to work confidently across both educational and high-risk environments.
Selected certifications include:
Emergency Teams Training Course – Portuguese Red Cross
Emergency Pre-Hospital Technician Certification – Portuguese Red Cross
BLS–AED Trainers Certification
Lifeguards’ Technical–Professional Training Course – Portuguese Maritime Authority
Rescue Watercraft Operator
Water Rescue and Tow-in Surf / Jet Ski Operator
Yachtsman’s Licence
Sports Technical Director (No. 103767)
Professional Training in Coordination and Management of Training
Sports Coach – Surfing (No. 120678)
Sports Coach – Swimming (No. 87220)
About
Professional Path and Philosophy
Professionally, Dora has built a multidisciplinary career grounded in responsibility, service, and education within aquatic contexts. Her experience includes professional lifeguarding and emergency medical first response as a member of the Portuguese Red Cross, where she developed strong competencies in risk assessment, decision-making, and care in high-stakes environments. She has also been actively involved in professional training in water rescue and long-term athlete development in sport, contributing both as a practitioner and an educator.
Today, she continues to work in water safety and education/coaching, seeking to meaningfully integrate her three core passions: human movement, aquatic environments, and education. Her approach is holistic and learner-centred, valuing embodied experience, environmental awareness, and the development of safe, confident, and sustainable relationships with water across the lifespan.
About
Academic Work and Research
At an academic level, Dora has been actively involved in international research and higher education. She has participated as an Assistant Researcher in three international projects—the European Physical Education Observatory (EuPEO), Physical Literacy for Life, and, more recently, GoPE! – Global Observatory of Physical Education—contributing to research that advances policy, practice, and global understanding in physical education and physical literacy.
Since 2017, Dora has served as an Invited Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, where she has trained Physical Education teachers, sports coaches, and dance teacher candidates. In this role, she integrates scientific knowledge with pedagogical practice, supporting future professionals in developing reflective, embodied, and context-sensitive approaches to movement and education.
Currently, Dora is a PhD candidate supported by an FCT Scholarship (2021.06516.BD). Her ongoing research explores how the development of aquatic physical literacy can contribute to drowning prevention and promote lifelong engagement in physical activity by fostering meaningful and sustainable Blue Physical Activity behaviours. Through this work, she aims to strengthen the link between research, education, and real-world impact in aquatic environments.
