A review by bee_vee
Aquanaut: A Life Beneath The Surface – The Inside Story of the Thai Cave Rescue by Rick Stanton

5.0

If I didn't already know from the title and just from knowing about the story that all thirteen boys live, I don't know if I would have been able to cope. It is an intense read, there's no getting away from it. The intensity is balanced though as we flip between the situation on the ground in Thailand in 2018, and Rick's life leading up to 2018, learning about cave diving and growing his skillset to become arguably the best in the world in his field - his very niche, dangerous, seemingly totally pointless field. The parts of his life and stories from his cave diving past have been chosen purposefully to illustrate a point that circles back into relevance in the following section when we're back in Thailand at the rescue site. It was incredible to read and the last couple of chapters in particular were tense, and the stories of other cave rescues and body recoveries that Rick has been involved in put a lump in my throat. I am so grateful that there are people who can be called to go in and attempt to bring people home to their families, one way or another.
I would thoroughly recommend this book, and I think other key members of the team also wrote books so I'm really tempted to find and buy those as well.
I appreciate Rick and every other member of the team who made what seemed impossible, possible. (And it's just really cool that he lives in the same area I do! Madness!)