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Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda - True Stories of a Sharm El Sheikh Scuba Diving Instructor
 
 

Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda - True Stories of a Sharm El Sheikh Scuba Diving Instructor [Kindle Edition]

John Kean
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Product Description

Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda – True Stories of a Sharm El Sheikh Scuba Diving Instructor - By John Kean

Ever thought about jacking it all in, moving abroad and starting a new life in Sharm El Sheikh? Sharm has been one of the world’s best kept secrets. It only hits the news in times of mishap but behind the scenes of this hugely popular and vibrant city are hundreds of ex-pats living the dream of a life in the sun.

John Kean’s hilarious new book, ‘Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda – True Stories of a Sharm El Sheikh Scuba Diving Instructor’ is the first and only, inside fly-on-the-wall look at the ups and downs of swapping the rat race for an alternative lifestyle in Sharm. This extremely rare diving book can be enjoyed by divers and non-divers alike. It is frank, honest and gripping in sometimes epic proportions, but the humour and magnetic appeal of Sharm El Sheikh shines through every time in this beautifully written story.

Over a decade, this mild-mannered, ex-stockbroker has been chased by aggressive sharks, had a 737 airliner drop from the sky into his dive site, broken four bones, been arrested three times, been caught in an earthquake and finally, blown up by terrorists. On the plus side, Sharm’s outstanding natural appeal, year round sun and amazingly talented and friendly community of Egyptian and ex-pat residents has made this place a home from home, free of the stresses of everyday life in Europe.

Unlike other fly on the wall or ‘inside’ books, John actually takes you along with him for the ride. His accounts are genuine, highly informative and very funny. Turning tragedy and mishap into comedy is the book’s strength and you’ll find a laugh on nearly every page. Pleasingly, he avoids hype, bravado and the typical scaremongering of an ignorant readership in what is often perceived as a potentially dangerous pastime. Alternatively he shatters media-inflated diving misconceptions such as ‘shark infested waters’ and in doing so loses no dramatic effect. The story is a highly entertaining and gripping read in its own right. John tells us exactly how dive instructors become dive instructors.

The one constant running through the book is a five chapters, come and go intrusion of student divers in training. It features Victoria, who’s an attractive but air-headed New Age hippy girl requiring, ‘much encouragement if not the odd light kick up the arse’. Highlighting the ups and downs of learning to dive this progressive section is almost a dive course in disguise, but heavily upstaged by the comical antics of five highly entertaining characters coming to terms with neutral buoyancy, hangovers and Egyptian taxi drivers. The legendary exploits of the latter are awarded an entire chapter where we’re introduced to, Airbag, Sharm’s worst driver and in contrast, Joseph, who takes up the offer of a job swap, gives John his taxi and becomes a scuba diver for the day!

The most dramatic chapter of Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda is the vivid, minute-by-minute account of dive staff and ex-pat involvement during the Sharm bombings in July 2005. This rare civilian insight of a grand scale terrorist attack shows the human cost of those caught up and the tremendous resolve of unlikely rescuers in preventing further loss of life. John had the unenviable distinction of being the first to arrive at the scene of the main explosion spending several hours among the dead and injured giving first aid, transporting victims to hospital by Jeep and assisting the police.

Despite occasional tragedy, Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda is a positive book that will thrill and entertain, portray diving as an engaging and enjoyable sport and show readers the brighter side of the extremely popular and fun-loving city of Sharm El Sheikh. Anyone can read and enjoy this wonderfully funny story. It’s a must read if you’ve ever been even remotely near water!

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 370 KB
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B004WKUEIM
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #24,333 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious, moving at times, but above all a very entertaining read., 16 Jan 2011
By 
I have been a diver since 1998 and have read many dive books over the years - however, its not often you come across a book like this one. Told by a Sharm El Sheikh diving instructor, it gives a very candid view into the trials and tribulations of working in one of the industries busiest dive resorts. Without giving too much away, the book grips you from the start with a preview to the tragic events of July 2005, when the resort fell victim to a terrorist attack, claiming the lives of nearly 100 people and wounding many more.....

However, don't be fooled - this book has many facets, some of which will have you rolling in laughter, so much so I spilt a cup of hot tea over myself! I'm still smiling now thinking about the passage in question. The book is based on true events, which makes it all the more readable and spans the authors career from the very start to the present day.

I started reading it in the evening and had it finished by the next afternoon, as I was unable to put it down. Regulars of Sharm may know the author, as he has also written a very informative guide to one of the worlds top wreck dives, the S.S. Thistlegorm, which gets a mention in this book. John Kean's writing style is very relaxed and its like hearing stories from a mate over a pint in the pub.

Its all in here, 'warts an all', with something for everyone - so if you are a diver and certainly if you have ever dived the waters around Sharm El Sheikh, then you will enjoy this book and it comes highly recommended. In fact if you are thinking of trying a dive, then this may well seal the deal for you and have you running for your credit card in search of some sea, sun and fun beneath the waves. A true insight into life behind the mask of a diving instructor.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Why only on Kindle?, 2 Dec 2011
By 
P. Wadsworth - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda - True Stories of a Sharm El Sheikh Scuba Diving Instructor (Kindle Edition)
Why is this only available on Kindle format? There are other just as good eBook readers on the market. I would like this in ePub format for my Sony.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda - True stories of a Sharm El Sheikh Scuba Diving Instructor, 8 July 2011
By 
D. J. Paget (Scotland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda - True Stories of a Sharm El Sheikh Scuba Diving Instructor (Kindle Edition)
Having visited and dived Sharm many times during the past 7 years I found John's book to be a delightful reminder of all that's good and funny about the region. In addition it brought back so many good memories of my diving there and all the characters that has been my good fortune to meet.
I love the way the story line skillfully revolves around an "Open Water" diving course and its students but splinters off into other story lines which have you laughing out loud, wishing you had been there, glad that you were not there and others that are just down right sad.
John's skill in portaying particular events makes it difficult to stop reading and I don't think I've enjoyed a book as much since I read many years ago The Moons a Balloon by the Late Great David Niven.
Whether or not you dive I would highly reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good laugh (especially if you can laugh at yourself).
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