Chris Sears
Founder, Trainer & Lead Inspector, Aquatrace Swimming Pool Leak Detection
Most people who end up in pool leak detection came up through the pool industry. Chris Sears didn’t. His background was built in commercial construction, technical systems, and methodical troubleshooting — and that’s exactly what makes his approach different.
Today, Chris brings that same methodical mindset to swimming pool leak detection, combining field experience, technical reasoning, and underwater inspection capability to help pool owners find answers and stop ongoing water loss.
At Aquatrace, the goal is simple: identify the source of water loss, eliminate the guesswork, and help clients move toward the right repair with confidence.
A Different Kind of Background
Chris spent nearly 15 years in the low voltage trade as a manager and trainer, working with technicians and clients on IT infrastructure, security systems, access control, and fire alarm systems. Before that, he worked as a superintendent in commercial and industrial construction.
Both industries are built on the same foundation: methodical troubleshooting, understanding what’s behind the wall and below the surface, and the technical discipline to work through a problem until it’s solved.
That’s the background he brings to every pool leak inspection. When Chris arrives at a job, he already has a mental model of what’s underground, how the plumbing is likely routed, and where the failure points typically live — before he picks up a single piece of equipment.
How Aquatrace Started
Aquatrace began over Memorial Day weekend in 2016. Chris was at his father-in-law’s pool — a longtime pool builder with decades of experience in the industry — when he was asked a simple question: “Want to help me find a leak?”
That afternoon introduced him to a specialized field that brought together everything he had spent years developing: technical troubleshooting, construction knowledge, and a lifelong passion for scuba diving.
For the next several years, Chris ran leak detection as a side business while continuing his career in the low voltage trade. In March 2020, after praying it through with his wife Catherine, he stepped away from that nearly 15-year career to pursue Aquatrace full time.
The growth that followed was immediate. What began as a small side operation quickly became a full-time business serving hundreds of pool owners each year with a focused, methodical approach to swimming pool leak detection.
The SCUBA Advantage
Chris began his NAUI dive training in 2019 and has been a NAUI dive professional since 2021. He is a certified scuba diving instructor and founder of Dive Factor.
That training is more than a credential. It allows Aquatrace to perform underwater shell inspections that many leak detection companies in its markets simply are not equipped to handle. When a leak is located in the floor, walls, or other submerged areas of a pool, the inspection has to go underwater — and Chris goes in.
That capability gives Aquatrace an important advantage when inspecting gunite and other structurally complex pools, where surface-level testing alone may not reveal the full source of water loss.
Pool leak detection at Aquatrace is built around real-world field experience, technical inspection skill, and the ability to work both above and below the waterline when the job requires it.
What the Work Actually Means
After years of inspections and hundreds of projects, Chris describes the moment a leak is found the same way almost every time: the pool owner gets two things at once — relief and clarity.
The relief comes from finally knowing where the water is going. The clarity comes from understanding what needs to happen next. The guessing is over, the uncertainty starts to fade, and the repair process can finally move forward with direction.
That is what Aquatrace aims to provide on every job: not just a diagnosis, but real answers that help pool owners stop ongoing water loss and make informed repair decisions with confidence.
At its core, the work is about giving people peace of mind and helping them get back to enjoying their pool without the stress of unexplained water loss.
Service Areas
Chris and the Aquatrace team serve pool owners from their home base in Fair Play, South Carolina, while also operating in Gainesville, Florida and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Primary service regions include Upstate South Carolina, Alachua County, Florida, and the Grand Strand, along with surrounding communities where Aquatrace provides professional swimming pool leak detection services.
Core Markets
Fair Play, SC
Gainesville, FL
Myrtle Beach, SC
Upstate South Carolina
Alachua County, Florida
Grand Strand
Credentials & Background at a Glance
- NAUI-certified scuba diving instructor
- Founder, Dive Factor
- 30+ years of combined construction and technical trade experience
- Former superintendent in commercial and industrial construction
- Pool leak detection since 2016
- Full time since March 2020
- Serving Fair Play, South Carolina, Gainesville, Florida, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and surrounding service areas
