Book Review: Confessions of a Divemaster

“Confessions of a Divemaster” by Kris Mears is an unfiltered, honest account of a life spent in diving. Kris has spent many years living and working in some of the best dive locations in the world. He has been fortunate to have a myriad of incredible encounters to make most divers green with envy and inspire non-divers to get in the water.

Kris writes in a no-nonsense way about his experiences and his descriptions ring true to me as a dive professional. The joy discovering the underwater world and pursuing a dive career; working with interesting customers and bosses; adapting to different cultures and falling totally in love with the underwater world are all very familiar to me. Having worked in Utila myself, I found those chapters held many familiar place-names that took me back to that small island life; I could almost taste the baleadas again.

As his first book, Kris Mears’ self published memoir, has an unpolished style and reads as a series of anecdotes told to friends over a beer. I’m sure those who know and have worked with Kris over the years will enjoy reminiscing over those times when reading it.

A word of warning for those who do not like coarse language or drink and drug references – this may not be the book for you. If you do give it a go, I’m sure many divers, travelers and Cardiff City fans will find plenty to relate to and entertainment within the pages of “Confessions of a Divemaster”.