Dive Scapa Flow has been THE definitive guide to diving the fabled wrecks of Scapa Flow, one of the world's greatest wreck diving locations. This completely re-written and updated centenary edition is produced to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the scuttle of the 74 warships of the interned German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow on 21st June 1919 - the greatest act of maritime suicide the world has ever seen. The dark depths of Scapa Flow conceal the remains of several of the Kaiser's WWI High Seas Fleet. Three massive 575 feet long 26,000-ton Konig-class battleships await exploration - huge underwater mountains where divers can see the last 12-inch big guns to have fired at British warships at the Battle of Jutland in 1916; or drift along rows of 5.9-inch secondary battery casemate guns and see massive masts and heavily armoured spotting tops. Four 5,000-ton, 500 foot long, kleiner kreuzers, Brummer, Coln, Dresden and Karlsruhe lie on their beam ends open for inspection with parts that remained on the seabed of many other High Seas Fleet vessels as they themselves were lifted to the surface during the greatest feat of underwater salvage that has ever taken place. Add in a U-boat, a boom defence vessel, an Icelandic trawler, a number of drifters, WWII vessels, many 'blockships' intentionally sunk to block the smaller channels into Scapa Flow during WWI and WWII and it becomes apparent what Scapa Flow offers divers. Scapa Flow's war graves, HMS Royal Oak, torpedoed at the beginning of WWII and HMS Vanguard, which blew up in a catastrophic magazine explosion in 1917 and HMS Hampshire, which struck a German mine and sunk on 5th June 1916 north-west of Orkney carrying Lord Kitchener and his staff on a secret diplomatic mission to Russia, are off limits to divers today - but their stories are recounted to preserve the memory of those that perished.

'An important, inspiring book by someone that has encouraged million of people to experience the wonders and friendships of Britain's rivers, lakes and seas' ROBERT MACFARLANE 'A treasured guide for anyone who wants to venture into rivers, estuaries, lakes and seas for a dip, a moonlit swim or a great adventure. I loved this book!' LYNNE COX Capturing the freewheeling spirit, community and wisdom that defines The Outdoor Swimming Society movement, founder Kate Rew reveals everything you need to know to explore rivers, lakes, seas and estuaries. Sharing tales of her own inspiring swims, Kate explores the rich and varied life of outdoor swimmers, from the physiology of cold to planning lazy hazy downstream swims. An exquisite guide for beginners and enthusiasts alike, The Outdoor Swimmers' Handbook will lead you to the shore and become your trusted companion for the adventures ahead.

In 1970s Cincinnati, Kim's overwhelmed, financially stressed parents dragged her and her four younger siblings into swimming-starting with a nearby motel pool-as a way to keep them occupied and out of their way. When Kim was eleven, they began leaving the kids at home with a sitter while they traveled the Midwest, where they sold imported wooden ornaments from their motorhome. But when Kim's six-year-old brother crashed his new Cheater Slick bike and the babysitter deserted the children, what started as an accident became a pattern: Mom and Dad leaving for weeks at a time and the kids wrestling with life's emergencies on their own. As Kim coped in the role of fill-in mother while dealing with the stresses of elite swimming, she struggled to shape her own life. She eventually found strength, competence and achievement through swimming-and became the second female swimmer to win a full ride to the University of Southern California, where she earned two national titles. Swimming for My Life is a peek into the dark side of elite swimming as well as a tale of family bonds, reconciling with the past, and how it is possible to emerge from life's toxic and lifesaving waters.

Lynne Cox has set open water swimming records across the world, and now she has focused her decades-long experience and expertise into this definitive guide to swimming. Cox methodically addresses what is needed to succeed at and enjoy open water swimming, including choosing the right bathing suit and sunscreen; surviving in dangerous weather conditions, currents, and waves; confronting various marine organisms; treating ailments, such as being stung or bitten, and much more. Cox calls upon Navy SEAL training materials and instructors' knowledge of open water swimming and safety procedures to guide her research. In addition, first-hand anecdotes from SEAL specialists and stories of Cox's own experiences serve as both warnings and proper practices to adopt.
"Open Water Swimming Manual" provides a wealth of knowledge for all swimmers, from seasoned triathletes and expert swimmers to beginners exploring open water swimming for the first time. It is, as well, the first manual of its kind to make use of oceanography, marine biology, and to weave in stories about the successes and failures of other athletes, giving us a deeper, broader understanding of this exhilarating and fast growing sport.

This collection of true diving stories makes for compelling reading for all divers and would-be divers. Enjoy classic tales of this extreme watersport, from thrilling wreck discoveries to encounters with the bizarre and the beautiful. There are stories of death and disaster, as well as bravery and triumph. Tales of the exciting and the extreme rub shoulders with more poetic pieces about the people and places that make up the folklore of this fascinating sport. The author's global tour takes you everywhere, from Indonesia to the Caribbean and from the chill waters of Northern Europe to the reefs of the Pacific. Every ocean of the world is explored, making this essential reading - or a wonderful gift - for divers everywhere. This new edition sees the book return to hardback with a plate section of stunning colour photographs.

The fully revisied second edition of Wild Swimming Coast now includes even more for walkers, swimmers and explorers: Full national coverage of Britain's most beautiful beaches Lagoons, sea caves and amazing places to snorkel New 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey mapping Best beach cafes, local food, pubs and campsites Where to sea kayak, coasteer and swim with dolphins Best activities with children and families This revised and expanded edition of the best-selling coastal classic features the same winning formula of stunning photography, engaging travel writing and practical guidance. It is set to continue as the definitive guide to Britain's secret beaches and hidden coastline.

The Diver's Tale is an unvarnished account of real British diving, based on the author's 40+ year experience. Britain is an island nation so, unsurprisingly, scuba diving is a popular British pastime enjoyed by thousands of keen participants and just as many of the armchair variety. A carefully-structured programme of training ensures that UK divers are well-prepared for the challenging conditions which may be encountered beneath our seas. Or does it? How many trainee divers were taught about the perils of high-speed testicular trauma during descent? Or the dangers of having sex in a tent with a deaf person? Why bacon should be in your first aid kit. How to build a space shuttle using salvaged ammunition? Or why the name Valerie is so very special? During a 40-year plus odyssey through the strange and exotic world of British diving, Nick Lyon and his disparate collection of buddies have answered all these questions from personal experience, and many more besides. It may not be pretty, it may not be painless, but it is real British diving. The Diver's Tale is not a diving manual - quite the opposite. How not to do it, why not to do it, when not to do it and who not to do it with.

Parr takes a broadly chronological look at the social history of British swimming. She explores the earliest records, accounts written by the Romans; unearths references from Anglo Saxon times and delves into stories of the Viking invaders.

Diving Equipment: Choice, maintenance and function is a guide to how diving gear works. It is completely independent of brands - focusing instead on the design, technology and practicality of the equipment options available for scuba and other types of diving. Former Head of Education at PADI Sweden Jonas Arvidsson details the choices that divers are faced with, and gives tips to help ensure your gear will last. If you want to better understand diving kit without having to dismantle it, then Diving Equipment - with its colourful illustrations and explanations of the hidden inner workings - is the answer. Although it is therefore of obvious benefit to newer divers, Diving Equipment will also be of interest to the experienced. Divemasters, instructors, those in need of a refresher and curious non-divers are all likely to find out things they did not previously know. This book covers a wide range of diving gear options including: accessories, BCDs, computers, cylinders, drysuits, fins, gauges, masks, rebreathers, regulators, sidemount, snorkels, stages, torches, weights, wetsuits, wings and more... Although many of the dives we make are in tropical regions, Diving Equipment has an international perspective. It covers a range of conditions; discusses laws and regulations in different parts of the world; suggests what to look out for and what to ask locals about. Anyone who asks technical questions will often be directed to have a look at equipment manufacturers' websites, but those have limited descriptions of how equipment really works. This book aims to plug the gap. Diving Equipment also includes some less common and older items for interest and historical comparison, and finishes with some speculation on what the future might bring.

Competitive swimming is one of only five sports to have been contested at every Olympic Games since the first competition of the modern era was held in 1896. While only a handful of swimming events took place that year, the sport has grown considerably since then-at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, there were 16 swimming events on the schedule for both men and women. The growth of competitive swimming has given athletes the opportunity to push the limits in the pool, and for more than a century countless swimmers have done just that, proving their worth to be considered one of the best. They Ruled the Pool looks at the careers of the 100 greatest swimmers in history, profiling some of the biggest names the sport has seen, from Mark Spitz and Tracy Caulkins to Janet Evans and Michael Phelps. Each swimmer is ranked based on achievements such as Olympic medals, world and European championships, and world records. Chapters include biographical information, accomplishments, records, finest performances, and insight into how the swimmer became one of the best in the sport. Thoroughly researched and compiled, They Ruled the Pool also contains appendixes that serve as quick reference tools for those wanting to see world and Olympic medal counts of the profiled swimmers. Fans, coaches, athletes, and researchers alike will find this an indispensable resource.

From the best-selling author of four classic UK diving books, comes The Darkness Below - a collection of absorbing adventures gained from a lifetime in diving. As one of the UK's leading Technical Divers, Rod takes the reader on a spellbinding and gripping journey, from first beginnings as a novice scuba diver. Told in intimate detail with a beguiling sense of self-deprecating humour, he recounts epic dives on some of the most fabulous shipwrecks around the world. Terrifying first explorations of virgin shipwrecks far offshore, lost in time and enshrouded in darkness in the silent depths, cram the pages. A daring expedition into the heart of the feared Corryvreckan whirlpool, the third largest in the world, an open sea encounter with Orca killer whales and an agonizing attack of the bends keep the reader engrossed. The palpable gloom, despair and human tragedy of the wrecks is never far away - the cold and darkness of the depths almost resonating with the cries of those who have perished. The fear of entrapment inside a wreck is grippingly described and becomes almost claustrophobic to the reader unfamiliar with the perils of wreck penetration, when snagged nets sometimes billow unseen above the unwary diver. However, there are rewards when survivors from wrecks are keen to speak to someone who has seen and touched their ship that had been lost long ago. This is an unmissable book for all divers and anyone interested in maritime history.

Multiple award-winner Paul Colley shows you how to take the step from good to great underwater images - maybe even good enough to win awards. 'This book will arm and inspire you to transform your underwater photographs, whatever camera you use': Alex Mustard (from the Foreword). The best underwater images don't just capture the subject well, they also capture mood, emotion and atmosphere. Unlike most other underwater photography books, Winning Images with Any Underwater Camera focuses on composition and techniques rather than the all--consuming camera technology that people tend to chase first. This makes it a supremely cost-effective tool for improving images; and there is no discrimination between users of different camera systems - this truly is a book for all. International award winner and instructor Paul Colley reveals the short cuts and shows the vital bits of artistic theory as it applies to underwater photography, grappling with composition in much greater depth than in other books.He also includes easy-to-remember reference models for underwater composition: pre-planned concepts for twelve typical underwater scenes, with the principal considerations boiled down to those essentials that will help you achieve great results, time and again.

Claire Walsh spent her twenties living the life she thought she was supposed to live, all the while playing hide and seek with depression. As a result, the road to recovery was the only travelling she did. Aged 32, single and living with her parents, she decided it was time to chart her own path. Booking a flight to South America, she let go of 'at home Claire' and opened herself up to a new world of possibilities. It was here she discovered freediving. Diving deep under water without the use of breathing apparatus, freediving is one of the most dangerous sports in the world, but at 60 metres below the surface, Claire discovered a fresh perspective that transformed her life and helped her find freedom. Under Water is Claire's candid and captivating story of how holding her breath taught her to live.

The book takes you on magical journeys through Britain’s most popular walking and swimming region, combining classic Lakes fell walking with adventurous swimming, collating the very best swims and hikes in Lakeland. Combining stunning photography, engaging stories and history, the book is packed with all the practical information you need, including detailed directions, route maps and downloadable guides. > Discover the beautiful pool below the highest waterfall in Cumbria > Seek the legendary talking fish of Bowscale Tarn > Swim around the islands of Ullswater and into the Devil’s Chimney > Bathe in the deepest tarn in the Lakes beneath the towering crags of Mardale > Explore the craggy highs and the watery lows of Scafell Pike from the wonderful Eskdale Valley

This is the second book in the series that contains 100 conditioning workouts that focus on building swimming capacity, with specific workouts for each of the competitive swimming strokes, and overall endurance. The workouts in this book use interval training, speed play, and stroke contrasting sets that total up to 3,500 yards/meters. Each workout is accompanied by a 'Tip of the Day' to help swimmers get the most benefit out of their conditioning routine through heart rate monitoring, stroke versatility and improved strength. Coach Blythe's Swim Workouts are appropriate for the self-coached swimmer and triathletes, as well as for coaches looking for workout content for the athletes they train. The presentation of the workouts in this book series is clear and comprehensive. Photos and diagrams are included to assist with training goals. Each book begins with a motivational introduction, and contains sections on planning an on-going swimming routine, and goal setting.

Is there anything quite so exhilarating as swimming in wild water? This is a joyful swimming tour of Britain, a frog's-eye view of the country's best bathing holes - the rivers, rock pools, lakes, ponds, lochs and sea that define a watery island. Charming, funny, inspiring, an assertion of the native swimmer's right to roam, a celebration of the magic of water - this book will indeed make you want to strip off and leap in. Selected from the book Waterlog by Roger Deakin VINTAGE MINIS: GREAT MINDS. BIG IDEAS. LITTLE BOOKS. A series of short books by the world's greatest writers on the experiences that make us human Also in the Vintage Minis series: Eating by Nigella Lawson Liberty by Virginia Woolf Summer by Laurie Lee Desire by Haruki Murakami

Situated on the south side of the Firth of Forth, the port of Leith, Edinburgh, is a major harbour for warships and cruise liners. Over hundreds of years it has been a trading port and a military dockyard. With Rosyth Dockyard situated further west, this busy waterway has two historically-important destinations for vessels and over time, many vessels were sunk during storms, failed to avoid collisions or were wartime victims of U-boats or aircraft. From Leith Docks the river widens forming a huge estuary filled with volcanic islands and submerged pinnacles that are blasted by fierce tidal streams, providing an opportunity for some fantastic scenic diving. This is also the final resting place of hundreds of shipwrecks, many of which are of especial historical importance. For the diver there is so much to explore in these new and exciting deeper wrecks that have the added attraction of being little known. These wrecks include an aircraft carrier, a German light cruiser that saw action at the Battle of Jutland, aircraft and even steam-powered submarines are all there waiting to be dived. Unlike the well-documented and dived River Clyde wrecks on the west coast, or those in the English Channel, these in the Firth of Forth are rarely mentioned - although many lie within a 20-mile radius of Edinburgh. The author has dived all the 100 sites and wrecks in the book and as a professional underwater photographer has provided truly atmospheric images that capture the special identity of these East coast wrecks and reefs. As well as his detailed knowledge of the sites, the author has also given his recommendations for dive sites, including their GPS positions, safety, and skill level required. Practical information such as dive centres, dive boats, accommodation and onshore activities is also included. This guide will help divers select the best dives to suit local weather conditions and to find the best scenic sites. It includes all the new and exciting dive sites recently found in areas such as Burntisland, North Berwick, Dunbar, St. Abbs and Eyemouth and information on how best to dive them - an absolute must for divers visiting this area!

The Learn to Swim book is a superb how-to guide for parents and caregivers to teach their baby the basics of swimming and water familiarization in the lead up to, and in conjunction with, swimming lessons. Each chapter focuses on a new skill for the parent and baby to learn together in the bath or pool. The skills-illustrated by detailed photos, key learning points, and troubleshooting suggestions-are for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, catering to all stages of learning from those fearful of water to the most water-confident babies all over the world. This book can be adapted to bath time, pools, lakes, or beaches and shows what parents can do with their baby in a safe environment, paving the way for a strong swimming toddler. This book also addresses concerns new parents may have with a dedicated FAQ section that will also answer the age-old question: "Will my baby drink the water?" Finally, key safety information-including supervision, swim wear, floaties, pool fences, and a special chapter on babies with special needs-are all expertly addressed.

Triathlon Swimming reveals the rewarding and rigorous Tower 26 program for mastering open-water swimming by the world's leading open-water swimming coach Gerry Rodrigues and former pro triathlete Emma-Kate Lidbury. Triathlon swimming is unique in its challenges and physical and mental limits. Over his lifetime of over 100 open-water swim race wins and over 30 years of coaching, Rodrigues has perfected the art and science of open-water swimming. His famed Tower 26 swimming program trains athletes in both the pool and in rough open water conditions, making triathletes and swimmers skilled, confident, capable, and fast in any condition. In Triathlon Swimming, Rodrigues and Lidbury break down open-water swimming technique and show how triathlon swimming requires different form. From kicking to sighting, Triathlon Swimming describes the best technique for swimming in open water. This guide shares the best gear for open-water swimming, shows how to create your own effective open-water swim workouts, and shares a plan for race prep and taper. Tower 26 offers the best open-water swimming technique. With Rodrigues' coaching approach and Lidbury's first-hand experience and insight, Triathlon Swimming can help you become a master open-water swimmer for faster, fearless racing.

Live a more creative, content and fulfilled life by reconnecting with nature. Brothers Jack, Calum and Robbie have been swimming together their whole lives, and have never lost the sense of wonder, excitement and relief that getting in open water brings. In this book, we learn about their swimming feats, from tackling the 145km River Eden to setting the world record for swimming in the Arctic. They take us through their preparation for these expeditions, including sourcing wild spots in the heart of sprawling cities in which to train. They document the challenges they encounter and the successes often achieved in the most unexpected ways. And with everything they've learned, they give tips for those wanting to take on their own aquatic foray, whether a beginner or a seasoned swimmer. This book will show people of all ages how they too can take part in open water swimming and reconnect with the natural world around them. Their experience will embolden readers to escape their status quo and build confidence and contentment by challenging themselves to try something new and reconsider their relationship with nature and the wild. At its core, this book will provide advice, reassurance and inspiration for anyone in search of something more joyful, peaceful and, ultimately, meaningful.

A photographic identification guide to the reef fishes of Seychelles aimed at divers, snorkelers, scientists, students and general fish enthusiasts. To date nearly 900 species of fish have been recorded from coral reefs and their associated habitats within Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone. With over 550 species and almost 700 photographs all captured in situ, this book represents the most comprehensive field guide to the reef fishes of Seychelles currently available. The general introduction discusses Seychelles' geography and coral reefs, followed by the taxonomy, classification and nomenclature of the species, fish diversity in Seychelles, endemic and endangered fishes, and fish anatomy. The species descriptions cover identifying features, size, biology and distribution.

"Discover untouched lakes, rivers and waterfalls in the Alps and foothills of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia. Over 150 secret bathing and swimming spots with detailed descriptions and tips on safety and access. Including family-friendly locations as well as challenges for the true adventurer. > Bathe and picnic by secret forest lakes > Hike to pristine mountain waterfalls > Swim over rare underwater meadows in transient summer lakes > Plunge into the icy waters of an underground glacial lake at 3200m > Adventure through mysterious flooded caves and tunnels"

Open Water Swimming: A Complete Guide for Swimmers and Triathletes is aimed at all levels of open water swimmer, from beginners right through to competing professionals. It covers all aspects of the sport: its history and health benefits; a through introduction to getting started; a full discussion on training equipment and how it should be used; the safety and legal aspects of choosing a suitable location for swimming; acclimatization for both the beginner and the experienced swimmer. The author then goes on to explain in detail all technical aspects of open water swimming; sighting; drafting; turning around buoys; entraces, exits and transitions.