Hi Amphibious,
I have had my ACL repaired, and have suffered significant cartilage damage. I'm pretty much back to normal, but I still get swelling. That's a fact of life when you lose both lubrication and shock-absorbtion from cartilage damage. Go and get a truck-load of ice-trays, for your recovery and beyond. Stay positive and pay attention to what your knee tells you. If you do stuff it doesn't like, it will let you know. Loudly.
As regards your ACL:
After surgery, you need to do three things. Good advice, flexibility and strength.
Just about the most important thing is a good physiotherapist. Your surgeon should be able to recommend a good one, but make sure that you find a good one, and that you understand what he/she is doing for you and why. It can be easy to turn up two or three times a week, hand over your hard-earned, and get no-where fast. This happened to me. I was most concerned about surfing again, particularly because the knees are bent inwards a little when standing on a board. I made sure that my (second) physio had this in mind, and understood where I needed to be, as in maximising the strength of the muscles controlling/limiting lateral movement. But not only that, I made sure he knew what an important part of my life it is.
Flexibility is the first thing to work on, then work on regaining strength, slowly. Don't do anything because you read it on the internet, or because a famous sportsperson did it in their recovery. Each injury is a little different. Bear in mind that if you do not recover your flexibility within a few months (say two or three - but check with the professionals), your range of movement is likely to be limited for life, and can only really be treated with more surgery to remove scar tissue.
Never exceed what is recommended by your physio/surgeon, just make sure that when you achieve a certain goal, or find an exercise too easy, let the professionals know before you increase your resistance or your range of movement.
The strength will come back almost on it's own, but that's not to say you shouldn't exercise as much as possible within the guidelines that your physiotherapist gives you.
I dive mostly in cold water, and I wear my surfing booties inside my fins. I have a little bit of trouble getting them on, and pretty much need to do it while out of the water. Sometimes this results in a littel pain as I get myself over the sand/rocks, and into the water.
The point being, I reckon that your biggest danger when you do get back into it will be from either an awkward step on the rocks or tripping over with fins on, or the shorebreak itself getting a hold of your fin and moving your lower leg sideways or twisting it on an axis about the ankle.
Your cartilage won't recover, I think about all you can do is take supplements to promote the health of the entire joint. Eat lots of fish!!!
Remember, don't take my, or any-one's, word for it. Only take word of the health professionals.
One more thing. Are you looking for a promotion? Do you have any other comittments that could interfere with your treatment/recovery?
I'd say that unless it's your family, it's not as important as your health and well-being. Don't compromise your recovery, and always keep in mind that you can't get another knee. Well, you actually can, but it still won't be anywhere near as good, or last as long, even as the buggered one you have now.
Whether it's spearing, skiing, or whatever, you want to get back to it as soon as possible, but you also want to be able to do it for a long time, and you want to be able to enjoy stuff like that with your kids.
Good Luck.
Hodad.
