Do you love the ocean or scuba diving as much as I do? Well, do I have treat for you! I’m on the Executive Board of the largest & most active scuba diving club in the US & we kicked off an online Divers Book Club. So I thought I’d share the list of fiction & nonfiction related to diving & the ocean that we’ve read and/or considered here as well.
And hey, if you’re interested in the online Divers Book Club or if you’re a diver in the area we often dive (New York, New Jersey, & Pennsylvania), you’re welcome to join us. It’s just $20/year to join the NYC Sea Gypsies. Feel free to contact me with questions.
Julian “Tusker” Tusk, an American archaeologist, is excavating a shipwreck half a world from home when a research boat catches fire and sinks, killing an old friend. The tragedy sets in motion a dangerous quest for truth that pulls Tusker into a sinister plot spanning 75 years, from World War II Ceylon to modern day Sri Lanka. Along the way, he matches wits with a psychopathic mercenary, discovers a long lost ship with an explosive secret, and falls for a beautiful marine biologist who is at least as strong as he is. In the end, Tusker finds that the truth may lie at the bottom of the sea, with only one way back to the surface.
Depth Charge is an old school thriller in the tradition of Fleming, Maclean, and Cussler, with an eye for detail, cunning villains, and narrow escapes. The story is full of wartime secrets, the intersection of religion and politics, and the arcane world of deep technical diving. It takes readers from the smoky halls of 1940s London to the volatile, seductive heat of Sri Lanka and sixty fathoms under the Indian Ocean. Try not to hold your breath.
Written by Jason Heaton, a tech diver The New York Times once called, “a test pilot for the world’s most illustrious undersea timepieces.” Heaton is a member of the prestigious Explorers Club and has a decade-long history of adventure, travel, wristwatch, and gear writing. His work has appeared in Outside magazine, Gear Patrol, Men’s Journal, Wired, Australian Geographic, and Hodinkee. He is also the co-host of the popular podcast, The Grey NATO.
(A special thank you to Ron Watkins for the book suggestion.)
On December 7, 1941, as the great battleships Arizona, Oklahoma, and Utah lie paralyzed and burning in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a crack team of U.S. Navy salvage divers headed by Edward C. Raymer are hurriedly flown to Oahu from the mainland. The divers have been given a Herculean task: rescue the sailors and Marines trapped below, and resurrect the pride of the Pacific fleet.
Now for the first time, the chief diver of the Pearl Harbor salvage operations, Cmdr. Edward C. Raymer, USN (Ret.), tells the whole story of the desperate attempts to save crewmembers caught inside their sinking ships. Descent into Darkness is the only book available that describes the raising and salvage operations of sunken battleships following the December 7th attack.
Once Raymer and his crew of divers entered the interiors of the sunken shipwrecks—attempting untested and potentially deadly diving techniques—they experienced a world of total blackness, unable to see even the faceplates of their helmets. By memorizing the ships’ blueprints and using their sense of touch, the divers groped their way hundreds of feet inside the sunken vessels to make repairs and salvage vital war material. The divers learned how to cope with such unseen dangers as falling objects, sharks, the eerie presence of floating human bodies, and the constant threat of Japanese attacks from above.
Though many of these divers were killed or seriously injured during the wartime salvage operations, on the whole they had great success performing what seemed to be impossible jobs. Among their credits, Raymer’s crew raised the sunken battleships West Virginia, Nevada, and California. After Pearl Harbor, they moved on to other crucial salvage work off Guadalcanal and the sites of other great sea battles.
“The book sucks you into the nightmare conditions of diving on battleships so large that even the crew got lost when the ships were upright, never mind when they sank upside down. Vast quantities of leaking fuel and oil in the water rendered lights useless, so salvagers dove in total darkness. With visibility of two inches or less, they worked by touch alone. The ingenuity and courage of these Navy men, groping their way through an ink-black maze of war-wrecked ships and floating bodies will leave readers astounded.” —Beth McCrea, Scuba Diver Life
A national bestseller
Whale researcher Nathan Quinn has a problem. It’s not a new problem; in fact, it’s been around for nearly 20 million years. And Nate’s spent most of his adult life working to solve it. You see, although everybody (well, almost everybody) knows that humpback whales sing (outside of human composition, the most complex songs on the planet) no one knows why. Nate, a Ph.D. in behavior biology, intends to discover the answer to this burning question—and soon.
Every winter he and Clay Demolocus, his partner in the Maui Whale Research Foundation, ply the warm waters between the islands of Maui and Lanai, recording the eerily beautiful songs of the humpbacks and returning to their lab for electronic analysis. The trouble is, Nate’s beginning to wonder if he hasn’t spent just a little too much time in the sun. Either that, or he’s losing his mind. Because today, as he was shooting an I.D. photo of a humpback tail fluke, Nate could’ve sworn he saw the words “bite me” scrawled across the whale’s tail. . .
By turns witty, irreverent, fascinating, puzzling, and surprising, Fluke is Moore at his outrageous best.
“Moore is endlessly inventive...This cetacean picaresque is no fluke—it is a sure winner.” —Publishers Weekly
“Where has this guy been hiding? (Answer: In plain sight, since he has a cult following.)…He writes laid back fables straight out of Margaritaville.” —The New York Times
“Wonderfully strange and fall-down funny as always, Moore delivers, with moxie and wit, a satisfying collage of science, magic, comedy, fantasy and Save-the-Whale propaganda. . . . Tempered with Seussian logic, the pure and innocent wonder of a child’s anything-is-possible imagination and the devilishly funny voice.” —San Diego Union-Tribune
“Moore's career has plainly been one of scaling new peaks; with [Fluke] he might just have outdone himself...If the ghost of Jules Verne had conspired with Rudy Rucker and Tom Robbins to produce a novel, Fluke might very well make them hang their heads in defeat...This novel is all ambergris, no blubber.” —Washington Post Book World
“A great time for the reader. A great idea, and a funny story… Go out and buy this book.” —USA Today
“An enchanting, audacious eco-fantasy . . . Jacques Cousteau by way of Douglas Adams, liberally spiced with dialogue that would make Elmore Leonard proud, and a whimsical sense of the absurd not seen since Tom Robbins’ early heyday.” —Toronto Globe and Mail
From one of the world’s most renowned cave divers, a firsthand account of exploring the earth’s final frontier: the hidden depths of our oceans and the sunken caves inside our planet
More people have died exploring underwater caves than climbing Mount Everest, and we know more about deep space than we do about the depths of our oceans. From one of the top cave divers working today—and one of the very few women in her field—Into the Planet blends science, adventure, and memoir to bring readers face-to-face with the terror and beauty of earth’s remaining unknowns and the extremes of human capability.
Jill Heinerth—the first person in history to dive deep into an Antarctic iceberg and leader of a team that discovered the ancient watery remains of Mayan civilizations—has descended farther into the inner depths of our planet than any other woman. She takes us into the harrowing split-second decisions that determine whether a diver makes it back to safety, the prejudices that prevent women from pursuing careers underwater, and her endeavor to recover a fallen friend’s body from the confines of a cave. But there’s beauty beyond the danger of diving, and while Heinerth swims beneath our feet in the lifeblood of our planet, she works with biologists discovering new species, physicists tracking climate change, and hydrogeologists examining our finite freshwater reserves.
Written with hair-raising intensity, Into the Planet is the first book to deliver an intimate account of cave diving, transporting readers deep into inner space, where fear must be reconciled and a mission’s success balances between knowing one’s limits and pushing the envelope of human endurance.
“Breathtaking . . . Written in cinematic detail, Into the Planet is a thrilling portrait of bravery, innovation, and the extreme limits of human capability. . . . one of the most hair-raising accounts of extreme exploration I’ve read in recent memory.” —Gizmodo
Spurred on by a fatal combination of obsession and ambition, Chris and Chrisy Rouse, an experienced father-son scuba diving team, hoped to achieve wide-spread recognition for their outstanding and controversial diving skills by solving the secrets of a mysterious, undocumented, WWII German U-boat that lay only a half day’s mission from New York Harbor.
The Rouses found the ultimate cost of chasing their personal challenge: death from what divers dread the most—decompression sickness, or “the bends.” In this gripping recounting of their tragedy, author Bernie Chowdhury, himself an expert diver, explores the thrill-seeking, high-risk world of deep sea diving, its legendary figures, most celebrated triumphs, and notorious tragedies.
Written by Sea Gypsy Bernie Chowdhury, a technical diver who was also a close friend of the Rouses. This is a heart-stopping read about local diving that’s not to be missed.
“Superbly written and action-packed, The Last Dive ranks with such adventure classics as The Perfect Storm and Into Thin Air.” —Tampa Tribune
“A suspenseful tale [that] amounts to one long nail-biter...will leave even surface-dwellers gasping for air.” — Philadelphia Enquirer
(A special thank you to Lisa McIntyre for the book suggestion.)
Psychologist Kris Kelvin arrives on a research station orbiting Solaris to study an extraterrestrial intelligence, which takes the form of a vast ocean. But his fellow scientists appear to be losing their grip on reality, plagued by physical manifestations of their repressed memories. When Kelvin’s long-dead girlfriend suddenly reappears, he is forced to confront the pain of his past while living a future that never was.
Is this sentient ocean a massive neural center seeing into the deepest recesses of human minds and then bringing their dreams to life? If so, why?
Long considered a classic, Solaris serves as a canvas for discussion of our mind’s limitations and the nature of cognition.
“A virtuoso storyteller… Stanisław Lem’s imagination is so powerful and pure that no matter what world he creates it is immediately convincing because of its concreteness and plentitude, the intimacy and authority with which it is occupied... read Lem for yourself. He is a major writer, and one of the deep spirits of our age.” —The NY Times
“A fantastic book.” —Steven Soderbergh, filmmaker
“[Lem’s] writing [has] a unique place on a Venn diagram in which the natural sciences, philosophy, and literature shade into one another with mutually intensifying vividness and fascination.” —The New Yorker
“A novel that makes you reevaluate the nature of intelligence itself.” —Anne McCaffrey, noted author
Note: The direct Polish-to-English translation by Bill Johnston is the one that is recommended. The Kilmartin-Cox translation which was translated into English from a French translation is generally considered second-rate. Even the author himself, who read English fluently, repeatedly voiced his disappointment about the Kilmartin-Cox translation.
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Published in 1888, this 24-page “little book” written by Captain Louis Sorcho of the Great Deep Sea Diving Company provides a peek into the life and adventures of the “Only Woman Deep Sea Diver in the World.”
Excerpt: ”To the average individual unacquainted with the art of deep sea diving and the mysteries of the ocean away down beneath its surface, divers are sort of superhuman creatures often read about but seldom seen. How they exist in the ocean's depths, the queer costume they are compelled to wear, the strange sensations they experience, the wonderful sights they see, the desperate risks they take, and the manner in which they work beneath the water, have, heretofore, all been a sealed volume to the general public.
In presenting this little book to our patrons, it is our object to enlighten them on these subjects, and give them some idea, at least, of the life of a diver.
See here a woman, who has braved the thousand deaths that await the diver; who has calmly, yet courageously, ventured in the ocean's depth, with only the fishes and the thousands awaiting the day when the sea shall give up its dead for companions; kept herself in perfect control and invaded the mystic depths as a conqueror, mistress alike of element and herself.
Mrs. Sorcho is the only woman deep sea diver in the world, and is the only woman alive today who has ever donned a submarine armor and descended into the ocean's depths to work.”
(A special thank you to Neal Klemens for the book suggestion.)
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A riveting, adrenaline-fueled tour of a vast, lawless, and rampantly criminal world that few have ever seen: the high seas.
There are few remaining frontiers on our planet. But perhaps the wildest, and least understood, are the world’s oceans: too big to police, and under no clear international authority, these immense regions of treacherous water play host to rampant criminality and exploitation.
Traffickers and smugglers, pirates and mercenaries, wreck thieves and repo men, vigilante conservationists and elusive poachers, seabound abortion providers, clandestine oil-dumpers, shackled slaves and cast-adrift stowaways–drawing on five years of perilous and intrepid reporting, often hundreds of miles from shore, Ian Urbina introduces us to the inhabitants of this hidden world. Through their stories of astonishing courage and brutality, survival and tragedy, he uncovers a globe-spanning network of crime and exploitation that emanates from the fishing, oil, and shipping industries, and on which the world’s economies rely.
Both a gripping adventure story and a stunning exposé, this unique work of reportage brings fully into view for the first time the disturbing reality of a floating world that connects us all, a place where anyone can do anything because no one is watching.
“The Outlaw Ocean is enriched by Urbina’s gifted storytelling about the destruction of marine life and the murder, crime, and piracy that make the seas so dangerous for those who make their living on them.” —The National Book Review
“This body of work is a devastating look at the corruption, exploitation, and trafficking that thrive on the open ocean… The writing is straightforward but clever… Eerie and beautiful.” —Outside
“The Outlaw Ocean is an outstanding example of investigative journalism, illuminating some of the darkest corners of a world we often don’t think about… what he found ranges from horrible to shocking and from unfair to unbelievable… a magnificent read… proof that outstanding writing is still one of the best tools we have to get to know the world we live in.” —NPR
Finalist for the National Book Award for Nonfiction and “Book of the Year” from Huffington Post, American Library Association, and Library Journal
A New York Times bestseller, this “fascinating…touching…informative…entertaining” (Daily Beast) book explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus—a surprisingly complex, intelligent, and spirited creature—and the remarkable connections it makes with humans.
In pursuit of the wild, solitary, predatory octopus, popular naturalist Sy Montgomery has practiced true immersion journalism. From New England aquarium tanks to the reefs of French Polynesia and the Gulf of Mexico, she has befriended octopuses with strikingly different personalities—gentle Athena, assertive Octavia, curious Kali, and joyful Karma. Each creature shows her cleverness in myriad ways: escaping enclosures like an orangutan; jetting water to bounce balls; and endlessly tricking companions with multiple “sleights of hand” to get food.
Scientists have only recently accepted the intelligence of dogs, birds, and chimpanzees but now are watching octopuses solve problems and are trying to decipher the meaning of the animal’s color-changing techniques. With her “joyful passion for these intelligent and fascinating creatures” (Library Journal Editors’ Spring Pick), Montgomery chronicles the growing appreciation of this mollusk as she tells a unique love story. By turns funny, entertaining, touching, and profound, The Soul of an Octopus reveals what octopuses can teach us about the meeting of two very different minds.
“Journalistic immersion... allows Montgomery to deliver a deeper understanding of the 'other,' thereby adding to our understanding of ourselves. A good book might illuminate something you knew little about, transform your world view, or move you in ways you didn't think possible. The Soul of an Octopus delivers on all three.” —New Scientist
“Charming and moving...with extraordinary scientific research.” —The Guardian
“The Soul of an Octopus is an astoundingly beautiful read in its entirety, at once scientifically illuminating and deeply poetic, and is indeed a worthy addition to the best science books of the year.” —NPR
Murder runs deep in this thrilling underwater investigation series featuring CSI Diver Hannah Sampson…
Hannah Sampson knows terror. Unseeable, unknowable predators that lurk in the deep. She’s a cop, an expert diver, and leader of the Denver Underwater CSI team. For Hannah, diving is nasty business in polluted lakes and frigid reservoirs where no one is ever found alive.
When her police commissioner's son is found dead pinned under the submerged wreck of a cargo ship, Sampson is summoned to the sun-drenched beaches of the British Virgin Islands to investigate. She is fully prepared to face unknowable dangers beneath the crystal-clear waters of an idyllic paradise. But the possibility of murder runs deeper and darker than the sea itself.
Whatever the victim was looking for, he found. Whatever he found was the death of him. Now, Hannah must discover for herself what lies beneath—a secret that could literally take Hannah's breath away.
Written by an avid scuba diver based in Colorado.
“Hannah Sampson is a cop, but with a twist. She’s in charge of the Denver Police Department’s dive and recovery team—retrieving evidence and investigating underwater crime scenes. For her, diving is a job, not recreation. Swimming with the Dead reminded me of the early Kay Scarpetta mysteries by Patricia Cornwell. I remember thinking when I read the first Scarpetta that it was going to make a great, long-lived series . . . the writing smooth, the heroine strong and yet vulnerable, the whole concept intriguing. . . . Ditto for Swimming with the Dead. I think it may be an even better series.” —Mystery News
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Most incidents and accidents are down to “human error.” Unfortunately, “human error” is normal and we can't get rid of it. However, we can reduce the likelihood of one of those, “Oh s***t moments” if we have an understanding of human factors and develop our non-technical skills.
This is a globally-unique book containing decades of research and practice from high-risk domains translated into the world of recreational and technical diving.
“Utilizing case studies of actual diving incidents, alongside examinations compiled by other high-risk industries, Under Pressure seeks to remove the stigma surrounding the mistakes divers make, illuminate that errors are a critical part of our collective learning process, and that despite the level of one's experience, not a single one of us is infallible. Regardless of your current experience as a diver, the use of non-technical skills and understanding of the human factors affecting both your choices and those made by others around you will positively impact your own underwater performance, and hopefully make your own diving safer.” —Richie Kohler, shipwreck explorer, author, and filmmaker
“Under Pressure is a must read for every diver and every instructor, to become more aware than you thought you could be so that your learning, processing and instinct come together to contribute to the best outcome when you’re faced with critical decisions which need to be made quickly and while under pressure. Even more important though, the knowledge contained within this book will help you avoid being in a situation where you need those skills!” —Ellen Cuylaerts, award winning underwater photographer and conservationist
“Gareth's work is a breath of fresh air in an industry that seems hell bent on taking the fast lane to mediocrity… Skill requirements are designed to breed complacency and promote the normalization of deviance that leads to accidents. Throughout the book are examples of scenarios that did not have to happen in the first place. As well as others that initially were not the fault of the diver, but their response was less than optimal... Gareth analyzes these events and the reactions to them in detail… Applying these lessons to the readers own dive... this work has the potential to save lives.” —Jim Lapenta, recreational and technical instructor, and author
Winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award: “Horwitz’s dogged reporting…combined with crisp, cinematic writing, produces a powerful narrative.
Six years in the making, War of the Whales is the “gripping detective tale” (Publishers Weekly) of crusading attorney, Joel Reynolds, who stumbles on one of the US Navy’s best-kept secrets: a submarine detection system that floods entire ocean basins with high-intensity sound—and drives whales onto beaches. As Reynolds launches a legal fight to expose and challenge the Navy program, marine biologist Ken Balcomb witnesses a mysterious mass stranding of whales near his research station in the Bahamas. Investigating this calamity, Balcomb is forced to choose between his conscience and an oath of secrecy he swore to the Navy in his youth.
“War of the Whales reads like the best investigative journalism, with cinematic scenes of strandings and dramatic David-and-Goliath courtroom dramas as activists diligently hold the Navy accountable” (The Huffington Post). When Balcomb and Reynolds team up to expose the truth behind an epidemic of mass strandings, the stage is set for an epic battle that pits admirals against activists, rogue submarines against weaponized dolphins, and national security against the need to safeguard the ocean environment. “Strong and valuable” (The Washington Post), “brilliantly told” (Bob Woodward), author Joshua Horwitz combines the best of legal drama, natural history, and military intrigue to “raise serious questions about the unchecked use of secrecy by the military to advance its institutional power” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).