What things of joy did the author miss due to his fear of water?

Explanation

The author was fond of fishing, and of all sorts of water sports. Water always attracted him. He loved canoeing, boating, and swimming. But his childhood experience of drowning in a swimming pool haunted him everywhere. He had developed a fear of water. Whenever he waded or bathed in a river, his fear would come back. It would take possession of him completely. His legs would become paralysed. Wherever and whenever he went to enjoy a lovable activity on the water, the haunting fear of water followed him. It ruined his fishing trips, deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating, and swimming. The fear of water which was formed in his childhood didn’t leave him. He was very determined and worked very hard to get rid of this fear with the help of his instructor.