Reprint of the original 1940 edition. "The story you are about to read is a recital of my work for thirty-five years as a diver, on many types of assignments and in many kinds of circumstances and conditions. You will learn what I did; why, how, and for whom I did it. You will lean about others, associated with me in this fascinating profession, and some of their experiences. In giving you this account, in this way, I sincerely hope that I shall have painted a picture which will not only prove entertaining and instructive in itself, but will serve to offset the all too many inaccuracies and false impressions created by some whose experience is insufficient, or whose imaginations exceed their knowledge of the subject."- Preface to 1940 edition.

If you're a beginning snorkeler, The Ultimate Snorkeling Book will allay your fears, insure your safety, and help you snorkel like an expert. If you're already an expert, you'll learn practical new tips and gear upgrades that you will use as soon as you push off into the water. The Ultimate Snorkeling Book explains each piece of snorkeling gear and what to buy at every price range. You'll learn how to upgrade and maintain your equipment so it performs like expensive professional gear. The Ultimate Snorkeling Book focuses on safety. It explains how to protect against storms, lightening, currents, burning sun, fatigue, exposure, leaky masks, tiny jellyfish, and big scary fish. You'll learn how to care for children in the water so that everybody has a fun trip. The Ultimate Snorkeling Book is like a personal mentorship with an experienced snorkeler and zoologist who will help you identify reef creatures, understand their appearance and behavior, and learn to protect our fragile shoreline ecosystem. Pre-trip checklists make sure you arrive with everything you need. This book will help insure that your snorkeling trip will be a success. YOU can have a great time snorkeling Let's start right now

2009 Reprint of the original 1940 edition. Hardbound. 287pp."The story you are about to read is a recital of my work for thirty-five years as a diver, on many types of assign--ments and in many kinds of circumstances and conditions. You will learn what I did; why, how, and for whom I did it. You will lean about others, associated with me in this fascinating profession, and some of their experiences. In giving you this account, in this way, I sincerely hope that I shall have painted a picture which will not only prove entertaining and instructive in itself, but will serve to offset the all too many inaccuracies and false impressions created by some whose experience is insufficient, or whose imaginations exceed their knowledge of the subject."- Preface to 1940 edition.

In The Fragile Edge, the documentary filmmaker and deep-sea diver Julia Whitty paints a mesmerizing, scientifically rich portrait of teeming coral reefs and sea life in the South Pacific. She takes us literally beneath the surface of the usual travel narrative, in an underwater equivalent of an African big-game safari. Hammerhead sharks rule a cascading chain of extraordinary creatures, from eagle rays to reef sharks, as the sound of courting humpback whales reverberates through the deep.
Inspiring for both armchair and expert divers, The Fragile Edge reveals how science can extend our understanding of unfathomable waters, opening our eyes to the threats facing coral reefs and explaining why these fragile oases are vital to human survival. In this passionate, spiritual narrative of her adventures in the big blue, Julia Whitty emerges as one of our finest writers on the mystery, beauty, and fragility of the undersea world.

Considered the Mt. Everest of diving, the Andrea Doria is the ultimate deepwater wreck challenge. Over the years, a small but fanatical group of extreme scuba divers have investigated the Andrea Doria, pushing themselves to the very limits of human endurance to explore her -- and not all have returned. Diver Kevin McMurray takes you inside this elite club with a hard, honest look at those who go deeper, farther, and closer to the edge than others would ever dream.

Deep Descent is the riveting true story of the human spirit overcoming human frailty and of fearsome, mortal risks traded for a hard-core adrenaline rush. Chronicling these adventures in his page-turning narrative and in dozens of dramatic photos, McMurray draws us deeper into the cold heart of the unforgiving sea, giving us a powerful vision of a place to which few will ever have the skills -- or the courage -- to go.

As long-time water sport enthusiasts, author Lee E. Pate and his sister Deb decide to get certified as scuba divers. During the training, Lee asks the instructor about sharks and is told, "You're privileged to see a dangerous shark-it's very rare to see one. You do see small, docile sharks often, but the biggest ones you'll usually see are only about three or four feet, if you're lucky."

Discounting the possibility that they'll ever see a shark, Lee and Deb start diving on their own along with their brother David, who was already a certified diver. They were diving in the daytime at first, then started night diving, deep diving and finally night deep diving. Lee and David started diving deep, at night at Redondo Beach, a popular Los Angeles County Beach, often. One particular night that happened to be Friday the 13th, after having car trouble, they were late. They hurried up, drove to the beach, got in the water, went down and out along the bottom as fast as they could, ending up a few feet from a large, dangerous shark. With fear rising in his throat at a depth of ninety-one feet, Lee has only one thought-I'm dead

In his memoir "91 FEET: "You're Privileged to See a Dangerous Shark,"" Lee recounts his thrilling scuba diving experiences.

This is a translation of a scuba diving manual originally published by the publishing house of the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Defense. The manual contains information, practical recommendations and informative data on underwater exploration and repair of various types of scuba diving equipment; the technique of water safety and the execution of underwater work; medical precautions and specific illnesses of scuba divers; the method of instruction, including the technique of underwater swimming and the execution of light diving work, underwater hunting, photo- and cinematography. The manual was designated for divers of the Soviet Army and Navy and the transportation and commercial fleets. It is also of interest to a wide circle of readers interested in problems of the underwater sport.

This book provides comprehensive coverage of dive sites along the entire South African coast, from Kosi Bay in the east to the West Coast, as well as the most popular inland dives. Colour photographs of the dive sites and magnificent underwater world enhance the informative text throughout the book. A variety of topics are discussed, with the introduction covering general diving conditions in South Africa, learning to dive, tips, techniques and equipment. More than 180 dive sites are described, providing practical information on bearings, access, depths and temperatures, as well as colour maps, interesting features and information boxes, and handy directories at the end of each region. Other topics include marine conservation, wreck diving, safety measures and first aid, and underwater photography and video.

"Claire Walter eloquently provides answers to hundreds of questions about what it takes to venture into the waters of the world. Half of all birds who fly are female, as are half of the fish, dolphins, and whales who swim. Why not half of the humans who dive? Both men and women will find Walter's book entertaining, instructive, provocative, and a sure source of inspiration to plunge into the lake, river, or ocean of their dreams."--Dr. Sylvia Earle, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society

"Claire Walter's "Scuba Diving: A Woman's Guide makes this wonderful sport accessible to anyone who has looked at the mounds of dive equipment and said, 'No way I can do that.' While preparing women to enjoy the basic scuba experience, this book will also stimulate its readers to explore the far-flung reaches of this planet's last great wilderness."--Maurine Shimlock, Secret Sea Visions

Discover a New World

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to glide effortlessly underwater, side by side with amazing sea creatures, then turn your dreams into reality and join the tens of thousands of women of all ages who have discovered the joys of scuba diving. Claire Walter demystifies scuba diving, while filling you in on everything you need to know to get started in this most magical of recreational activities. She provides insights and answers to common concerns women have regarding scuba diving, and walks you through the entire process, from learning the basics to becoming certified. You'll find out how to

Check the fit and condition of rental gear to ensure a successful first dive; Buy the right kind of gear and estimate how much you can expect to spend; Find a great instructorand learn to dive safely; Choose dream vacation diving locations, and find other women to dive with; Learn the safe and environmentally friendly ways to view corals, dolphins, and other sea life; Become certified to dive anywhere in the world; Extend your training and learn to teach others or make a career from your skills

Plus, you'll find personal accounts by women who share their fascinating underwater adventures, and tell you how they began to scuba, overcame their fears, met challenges, improved their skills, and made diving an irreplaceable part of their lives.

This guide offers information on the best places to witness the underwater wonders of the Virgin Islands, covering the region's dive sites. Each regional chapter also includes a directory which provides essential information on resorts and useful addresses and telephone numbers.

Dive instructor Greg Dombowsky introduces the first of a series in practical, well-illustrated, regional guides to the best dive sites on the B.C. coast and Puget Sound. In his debut book, Greg offers guidance to over 50 dives in surrounding Victoria, B.C. These dives offer high visibility waters, with outstanding sealife. This is the most functional guide available for these waters. Diver's Guide, Vancouver Island South is fully illustrated with Greg's own computer-generated maps, based on his personal exploration of these underwater environments. Includes excellent photos taken on these dives. To further appreciate the calibre of this book, visit Greg's website at www.dive.bc.ca.

The Definitive Guide to Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in The Grand Cayman Islands "The collection of Reef Smart Guides is a great resource for the touring diver. Incredible detailed 3D maps and up to date editorial content based on information from local dive experts, these cutting edge guidebooks are a must have for all scuba divers before they travel." Clearly Cayman Dive Resorts #1 New Release in Scuba Travel Guides, Caving & Spelunking, and Swimming For Lonely Planet fans comes a unique and essential scuba, snorkel, and surf travel guide. A great Caribbean travel book. The ultimate guide for beach and marine activities in the Grand Cayman Islands. The detailed descriptions and illustrations of beaches, coral reefs, shipwrecks, and other dive spots are ideal for divers, snorkelers and surfers. Make the most of your time on the Island and in the water. Detailed descriptions and map art. Reef Smart catalogues the beaches, surf spots, and dive and snorkel sites in the Cayman Islands. With the help of Reef Smart's unique 3D-mapping technology, learn all you need to know about the regions' top dive and snorkel sites. These maps provide useful information such as depths, currents, waves, suggested routes, potential hazards, unique structures, and species information. Don't go diving without it. This indispensable resource will help you plan and execute dives without a hitch. Pack this guidebook with the rest of your scuba gear. Guidebook provides: The best locations for diving, snorkeling, and surfing, and how to access them Detailed 3D maps, graphics, and information to help you plan your time in and out of the water Species guide to help you identify and understand the marine creatures in the Cayman Islands and its surrounding areas And much more! A unique and comprehensive SCUBA diving book. Also look for Reef Smart Guides Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Deerfield Beach; Reef Smart Guides Barbados; and the best-selling Reef Smart Guides Bonaire.

How do you invent an Olympic sport? For Katharine Whitney Curtis, it took the right idea, great talent, some good timing, and the determination to make it happen. The originator of synchronized swimming as we know it today, she even wrote the first book on the subject in 1936. But there was much more to her life and career. After the start of World War II, Curtis became a recreational director in the American Red Cross and followed the troops wherever the course of war took them, serving under Generals Patton and Eisenhower, before becoming a director of travel for the U.S. Army in Europe during the Cold War. Unbound by fear or the narrow expectations of society, this was a woman who lived ahead of her time, making things happen along the way. As her first biography, this book generously features Curtis's own words, selected from more than 2,000 pages of letters, and contextualized by her surviving friends and family members.

Chris and Chrissy Rouse, an experienced father-and-son scuba diving team, hoped to achieve widespread recognition for their outstanding but controversial diving skills. Obsessed and ambitious, they sought to solve the secrets of a mysterious, undocumented World War II German U-boat that lay under 230 feet of water, only a half-day's mission from New York Harbor. In doing so, they paid the ultimate price in their quest for fame.

Bernie Chowdhury, himself an expert diver and a close friend of the Rouses', explores the thrill-seeking world of deep-sea diving, including its legendary figures, most celebrated triumphs, and gruesome tragedies. By examining the diver's psychology through the complex father-and-son dynamic, Chowdhury illuminates the extreme sport diver's push toward -- and sometimes beyond -- the limits of human endurance.