John Volanthen
John Volanthen is a British cave diver and rescue specialist who supports organisations with insights into decision-making, risk, teamwork and performance under extreme conditions.
- British cave diver involved in complex underground rescue operations
- Member of the international team that located the trapped boys and coach during the Tham Luang cave rescue
- Recipient of the George Medal for his role in the Thai cave rescue
- Awarded Royal Humane Society Bronze, Silver and Stanhope Gold recognition for rescue work
- Author of Thirteen Lessons that Saved Thirteen Lives: The Thai Cave Rescue
- Works professionally in information technology
Full Profile
Key speaking topics
- Crisis leadership in extreme environments
- High-stakes decision-making
- Teamwork under pressure
- Risk assessment and management
- Planning and execution in complex operations
- Resilience and mental endurance
- Lessons from the Thai cave rescue
Ideal for
- Senior leadership teams
- Risk, safety and operations professionals
- Engineering and technical organisations
- Corporate conferences focused on resilience and performance
Audience outcomes
- Clear insight into structured decision-making under pressure
- Practical perspectives on risk management in uncertain environments
- Understanding of disciplined teamwork in high-consequence situations
- Lessons on preparation, planning and execution in complex operations
- Greater awareness of resilience and endurance in demanding contexts
Why organisations work with John Volanthen
- First-hand experience of a globally recognised rescue operation
- Proven credibility in high-risk, high-complexity environments
- Practical insights transferable to corporate risk and leadership challenges
- Authoritative perspective grounded in real operational experience
Biography
John Volanthen is recognised internationally for his role in one of the most complex cave rescue operations in modern history. As a member of the specialist diving team involved in the Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand, he was one of the first to locate and make contact with the trapped boys and their coach deep within the flooded cave system.
His actions during that operation were recognised with the George Medal, alongside multiple awards from the Royal Humane Society, including Bronze, Silver and Stanhope Gold recognition. These honours reflect sustained commitment to high-risk rescue work carried out in extreme, confined and life-critical environments.
Beyond a single operation, John has extensive experience in advanced cave exploration and complex underground expeditions. He has participated in record-setting cave dives, including a British cave depth record at Wookey Hole and a world-record cave penetration achievement in Spain’s Pozo Azul system, completed with long-time dive partner Rick Stanton.
Alongside his exploration and rescue work, John has built a professional career in information technology, bringing analytical thinking and technical discipline to high-pressure environments. This combination of operational risk experience and technical expertise underpins the structured approach he applies to planning, decision-making and execution.
He is the author of Thirteen Lessons that Saved Thirteen Lives: The Thai Cave Rescue, in which he distils the practical lessons from the rescue operation into principles relevant to leadership, teamwork and performance under pressure.
Talks
An immersive account of the Tham Luang cave rescue, following the search, discovery and extraction of the trapped football team, and exploring the principles required to operate effectively under extreme pressure and uncertainty.
Key takeaways:
- Practical lessons for maintaining calm and clarity in high-pressure situations
- Insight into structured risk management in complex and uncertain environments
- Principles for leading with focus and certainty when outcomes are unclear
Drawing parallels between cave exploration, rescue operations and business environments, this talk explores how skills developed underground translate directly into high-performing workplaces and effective decision-making.
Key takeaways:
- Approaches to staying calm and composed under business pressure
- Methods for making sound decisions in challenging and ambiguous situations
- Practical lessons for progressing steadily towards goals in difficult circumstances
Using stories from decades of cave diving and the Thai cave rescue, this talk examines how diverse individuals unite around a common objective, building trust and collaboration to achieve results that may initially seem impossible.
Key takeaways:
- Insights into building trust within high-stakes teams
- Lessons on collaboration across cultural and national boundaries
- Practical understanding of leadership, negotiation, influencing and team welfare
Videos
Testimonials
Books
Fees
| EUR | GBP | USD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Country | Under €12000 | Under £10,000 | Under $15000 |
| Asia Pacific | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| Europe | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| Middle East & Africa | Please enquire | Please enquire | Please enquire |
| South America | Please enquire | Please enquire | Please enquire |
| United Kingdom | Under €12000 | Under £10,000 | Under $15000 |
| US East Coast | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| US West Coast | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| Virtual | Please enquire | Please enquire | Please enquire |