Chris Lemons: Inspirational Speaker

Highlights:
  • Chris’s extraordinary brush with death gave him an opportunity to contemplate his own, seemingly imminent, mortality. 
  • He is able to share how in accepting the inevitability of his own death in those final conscious minutes on the seabed, he was able to find a state of calm and reflect on what was most important in his life. 
  • The miracle of his subsequent survival has given him an acute sense of what death really means, and he is able reflect with audiences on how these insights are as important in life, as they were in death.

Formats:
Audience:
Outcomes:
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: London, UK
  • **Fee range: $10,001 - $20,000

Keynote Topics

Chris can discuss how strong leadership plays a vital role in all spheres of the work he does. 

From a robust chain of command, right through to individual leadership whilst working on the ocean floors, Chris is able to share how clear-cut but objective governance is key to the safe and efficient running of complicated and inherently dangerous offshore subsea operations. 

He can also describe how this same clear minded and well-rehearsed structure of leadership played a pivotal role in saving his life, and how you can use these same methods to enhance the day to day running and crisis management within your own domain.

Chris’s extraordinary brush with death gave him an opportunity to contemplate his own, seemingly imminent, mortality. 

He is able to share how in accepting the inevitability of his own death in those final conscious minutes on the seabed, he was able to find a state of calm and reflect on what was most important in his life. 

The miracle of his subsequent survival has given him an acute sense of what death really means, and he is able reflect with audiences on how these insights are as important in life, as they were in death.

Chris Lemons has been a commercial diver for over 14 years, and currently specialises in deep sea Saturation diving, operating almost exclusively in the Oil and Gas Industry.

This highly specialised form of diving involves living in the claustrophobic confines of a decompression chamber for up to 28 days at a time, commuting daily to the sea-bed in a diving bell, and working at depths of up to 900 feet for 6 hours at a time.

In September of 2012, a freak failure of the dynamic positioning system of the vessel he was working under, resulted in the umbilical which provides him with breathing gas, light and heat being severed completely. He was left on the sea-bed, in complete darkness 300 feet below the surface, with only the 5 minutes of breathing gas he carried in the emergency tanks on his back, and no way to protect himself from the freezing temperatures.

It took his heroic rescuers over 40 minutes to come back and fetch him, and his miraculous survival story has baffled experts ever since.

Chris Lemons extraordinary story was subsequently immortalised in the hit Netflix/BBC documentary ‘Last Breath,’ whilst Chris continues to dive to this day.

He was born in Edinburgh, raised in Cambridge, and now lives in the Scottish Highlands with his wife and daughter.

Chris Lemons | Inspiration

Motivational Public Speaking

Chris Lemons is happy to tailor his address to align with your specific theme or requirements, which may include focusing on the safety aspect and lessons learned from the accident, the human and emotional elements involved, or a more generic oversight of the offshore and saturation diving world.

Chris Lemons can offer you an insight into the relatively unknown world of Saturation Diving, where those involved spend weeks on end confined to a compression chamber, whilst being lowered each day in a diving bell to the murky depths of the ocean floor to do their work.

He will also talk you through the lead up to that fateful day in 2012 and give you a very personal account of his thoughts and actions when he was left stranded 300 feet down in the icy darkness with no heat, no light and only 5 minutes of gas left to breathe, with his rescuers over 40 minutes away from being able to get to him.

Chris Lemons offers an acute, honest and emotional testimony of what goes through ones mind when seemingly counting down the minutes to death, and how surprising and revealing ones response to such a situation can be.

He also tentatively explores how staring death in the face can focus ones mind on life, as well as force you to contemplate the very finite nature of our time here on earth. Chris also discusses the practical and physiological reasons which may have contributed to his miraculous survival.

He moves beyond the miracle and communicates how teamwork, preparation, training, procedures, drills and practice played a huge role in his recovery and survival, and how the nature of how these are implemented can benefit your sphere of work or life.

Chris is also delighted to engage in question and answer sessions on any of the subjects related above.

Previous clients have included the Titan Summit in Toronto, HSBC, Shell UK, Exon Mobil, BP, the Royal Society of Medicine in London, BioMarin, Tracerco, Deep Ocean and many others.

Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Twitter

Videos

Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry

Speaker Contact Form

Enquiry Form

Talent Resources

Talent resources available for download

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links
  • Music List
  • Podcast Shows
  • Courses
  • + more

Talent FAQ

View further speakers

  • (48)
Marcus Allen

Marcus Allen stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of American football, a luminary whose legacy transcends mere statistics to embody the essence of athleticism, perseverance, and leadership. As a former NFL legend, his name is etched in the annals of sporting history, celebrated for his remarkable achievements both on and off the […]

  • Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
  • Sporting Speakers
  • (18)
Julissa Arce

Julissa Arce is a trailblazing immigration advocate, keynote speaker, and the bestselling author of My (Underground) American Dream, her powerful memoir recounting her journey as an undocumented immigrant who rose to become a Wall Street executive. Her incredible life story highlights her perseverance and dedication to creating a more equitable and just society for immigrants. […]

  • Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
  • Hispanic Speakers
  • (78)
Holly Robinson Peete

Actress, author, talk show host, activist and philanthropist, Holly Robinson Peete has been touched by the entertainment industry all of her life.  Her career as an actress dates back more than two decades and has led her to becoming a voice for her father, her son and her community. Robinson Peete can currently be seen […]

  • Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
  • Diversity Speakers
  • (18)
Melanie Lawson

In the realm of professional emcees, there are few who embody the essence of warmth, authenticity, and charisma quite like Melanie Lawson. With a career spanning over two decades in the television industry, Melanie has not only garnered acclaim as an Emmy Award-winning journalist but has also established herself as a sought-after professional emcee, moderator, […]

  • Travels from: Jacksonville, FL
  • Event Emcee
  • (14)
Wendee Lee Curtis Emcee

Wendee Lee Curtis is a seasoned Broadway performer turned motivational keynote speaker, emcee, and moderator. With over a decade of experience captivating audiences, Curtis has brought her powerful stage presence, magnetic charisma, and expertise in corporate communications to Fortune 500 companies worldwide. A favorite among industry giants such as Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Roche, and CrowdStrike, […]

  • Travels from: Chicago, IL
  • Communication Speakers
  • (7)
Jason O. Harris 2

Lt. Col Jason O Harris is a highly decorated officer and seasoned pilot in the United States Air Force, recognized for his leadership, strategic vision, and commitment to excellence. With over two decades of military service, Lt. Col Harris has accumulated a wealth of experience that transcends the boundaries of conventional leadership. His dynamic approach […]

  • Travels from: Denver, CO
  • Military Speakers
  • (46)
Silvina Moschini

Silvina Moschini, widely known in technology circles as @Miss_Internet, is a dynamic figure at the forefront of digital innovation and entrepreneurship. With a rich history spanning corporate leadership and groundbreaking startups, Silvina brings a wealth of expertise to the table. With a career steeped in technology and innovation, Silvina’s journey began in the corporate world, […]

  • Travels from: New York, NY
  • Digital Speakers
  • (22)
Brett Williams

Brett Williams is an esteemed keynote speaker, cybersecurity expert, and former military leader whose distinguished career spans over three decades. With a wealth of experience in both national security and corporate cybersecurity, Brett has established himself as one of the foremost authorities in the realm of digital protection and risk management. His captivating presentations are […]

  • Travels from: Durham, NC
  • Security Speakers
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel

Speakers Inc Logo 2024
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.