SCUBA is a fun, relaxing, educational, interesting, and -- if approached properly -- safe activity, it is nonetheless a sport that has risks. SCUBA diving is in fact an extreme sport that can injure or even kill very quickly, and in some very nasty ways. What we are doing is entering an alien environment that is normally hostile to human life. We cannot breathe in water without some kind of mechanical assistance. These are facts and the details should be covered in every Open Water (OW) class. All too often in today's society, however, people do not want to take the time to properly prepare and get the education to safely take on new tasks. Some agencies appear to have responded to this by developing training programs that turn out high numbers of certified divers in shorter time frames, necessitating the reduction of time spent on what I consider to be some necessary basic skills. While this has resulted in great numbers of new divers entering the water, it has not resulted in many of those divers staying in the water. New divers are often given just enough training to enable them to dive in the most benign conditions under close supervision. Even then, there are still those who find out their initial training was just not adequate. It is at this point that they either make the decision to get more training or they leave the sport. The latter happens all too often. The former, when it does happen, does not always occur for the right reasons. Students should return to training to expand their diving and learn new skills; they should not have to return for new training just to be able to enjoy the sport safely. To require students to come back for basic information is something I find very troubling, and in some cases, has actually cost divers their lives. A lack of rescue instruction has resulted in a number of diver deaths when buddies did not know how to drop weights, support a diver at the surface, or even stay in contact with their buddy. This is another area frequently talked about, but all too often not actually put into practice. The concept of always diving with a buddy and just what that means in the "real world" is often given too little attention. Unfortunately, it is impossible to foresee every conceivable situation that can arise, but there are many basic issues that can be covered. The following chapters will hopefully address much of what is being overlooked or delayed in many programs as they exist today. It is my hope that this information also finds its way into the hands of those who have not yet begun the training process. I have included a chapter on how to select an instructor based on the quality of instruction and the content of the course. In some cases, these classes may cost more than the less comprehensive courses also available, but usually they do not. In fact, when you consider the additional skills and education gained from a more comprehensive course, you will find that you have received much more value for each dollar spent. In addition, you gain priceless benefits in the form of greater confidence, enjoyment, skills, and -- most importantly -- safety. Enjoy and dive safe

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BOOK IS AN EXPANDED REVISION OF MARK'S "THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SWIMMING BUTTERFLY" Always wanted to learn how to swim Butterfly? Do you find basic butterfly technique difficult? How To Swim Butterfly is your perfect guidebook, with over 20 simple exercises containing top tips and key coaching points. Fully illustrated and concise, you will discover: How to learn basic Butterfly in easy steps How to swim with smooth relaxed technique How to isolate and correct your bad habits The perfect aid for any complete beginner to learn, understand and practice and for any swimmer to adjust, correct and improve.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BOOK IS AN EXPANDED REVISION OF MARK'S "THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SWIMMING BACKSTROKE" Always wanted to learn how to swim Backstroke? Do you find basic backstroke technique difficult? How To Swim Backstroke is your perfect guidebook, with over 20 simple exercises containing top tips and key coaching points. Fully illustrated and concise, you will discover: How to learn basic Backstroke in easy steps How to swim with smooth relaxed technique How to isolate and correct your bad habits The perfect aid for any complete beginner to learn, understand and practice and for any swimmer to adjust, correct and improve.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BOOK IS AN EXPANDED REVISION OF MARK'S "THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SWIMMING BREASTSTROKE" Always wanted to learn how to swim Breaststroke? Do you find basic breaststroke technique difficult? How To Swim Breaststroke is your perfect guidebook, with over 20 simple exercises containing top tips and key coaching points. Fully illustrated and concise, you will discover: How to learn basic Breaststroke in easy steps How to swim with smooth relaxed technique How to isolate and correct your bad habits The perfect aid for any complete beginner to learn, understand and practice and for any swimmer to adjust, correct and improve.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BOOK IS AN EXPANDED REVISION OF MARK'S "THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SWIMMING FRONT CRAWL" Always wanted to learn how to swim Front Crawl? Do you find basic front crawl technique difficult? How To Swim Front Crawl is your perfect guidebook, with over 20 simple exercises containing top tips and key coaching points. Fully illustrated and concise, you will discover: How to learn basic Front Crawl in easy steps How to swim with smooth relaxed technique How to isolate and correct your bad habits The perfect aid for any complete beginner to learn, understand and practice and for any swimmer to adjust, correct and improve.

This book was inspired by swimmers I have met over the years who train in small groups or on their own repeating the same boring sets over and over. When I set out to write this book I was surprised at the limited workout material that was available for swimmers. The goal was to take my favorite workouts and share them with you to increase your workout creativity which will transfer into positive results. Each of the 365 sets has four ability levels identified as gold, silver, bronze, and novice to suite every swimmers needs. The sets are grouped by length based on time and sorted by type of training. Enjoy your swimming knowing that the rest of this year you will never have to see the same set again

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BOOK IS A COMPILATION OF MARK'S FOUR BOOKS "HOW TO SWIM FRONT CRAWL, BACKSTROKE, BREASTSTROKE AND BUTTERFLY" Learning how to swim can be a frustrating experience sometimes, especially for an adult. Kick with your legs, pull with your arms, breathe in, and breathe out and do it all at the right time. Before you know it you've got a hundred and one things to think about and do all at the same time or in the right sequence. The Swimming Strokes Book is designed to break each stroke down into its component parts, those parts being body position, legs, arms, breathing and timing and coordination. An exercise or series of exercises are then assigned to that part along with relevant teaching points and technique tips, to help focus only on that stroke part. Although it is not the same as having a swimming teacher with you to correct you, this book perfectly compliments lessons or helps to enhance your practice time in the pool. The 82 exercises form reference sections for each swimming stroke, complete with technique tips, teaching points and common mistakes for each individual exercise. Clear, concise and easy-to-follow.

Spearfishing: How to Get Started - This book is a MUST for anyone who is curious about the sport of spearfishing. It covers all of the basics by discussing safety considerations, costs, equipment, techniques and skills that are necessary to get started. It is designed specifically for the beginner and is packed full of knowledge that has been acquired through years of practice. You should not attempt this activity until you read this book. Learn from the experience of others so that your journey into spearfishing can be safe, rewarding and exciting.

The Ultimate Diver's Log Book (Mini) is the colourful 50-dive log book. This is a thoughtfully-designed, book-format scuba diving log book. It contains boxes for all the essential details a sport diver might like to record in a clean simple layout. Each dive gets a two-page spread to record all the dive site information. You can also log kit details you might want to refer to again. There is scaled graph paper (time/depth) to record dive profiles (or use however you wish). Almost a whole page is available for sketches, notes and stamps. As with the larger Ultimate Diver's Log Book there is the innovative Visibility Scale - a range of colours from which to pick the water colour and compare with the visibility. There is also room at the front for personal details and lined pages at the back for additional notes. Two colourful pages per dive. Space for 50 dives. Log depths, times, buddies, gases and consumption. Visibility Scale. For recreational divers this is the Ultimate Diver's Log Book (Mini). Slightly shorter and narrower than it's big brother (Ultimate Diver's Log Book: ISBN 978-1-909455-10-6) but the same great quality.

"Sewing for Superheroes" is the fifth title in Marie Porter's "Spandex Simplified" series, and is all about designing and creating flattering, comfortable, and show-stopping spandex cosplay. (BAM POW ) This sewing manual is written from the experience of not only a spandex designer, but a former "performance" athlete. Written in layman terms, "Sewing for Superheroes" features carefully explained, step-by-step instructions and more than 250 full colour photos and diagrams. Requiring only basic sewing knowledge to get started, beginner and advanced seamstresses alike can enjoy using this book... and produce spectacular results from it. Learn how to design costumes, and how to alter patterns for shape, size, and style. Learn the tips, tricks, and techniques to make many of the design elements that can be used to design and create almost any style of spandex costume imaginable

Use your weight to help you swim, while you lose that weight with swimming and triathlon training. Buy this book for your triathlete, adult swimmer, or you. Learn the applied physics behind swimming as you learn to use your mass with your stroke velocity to create the momentum that you want while swimming. Learn to see, breathe, position your weight and use your arms to guide your swim while you protect your head when swimming with others. Learn to swim your size and shape. Learn to swim given your flexibility and level of coordination. Learn what natural swimmers take for granted and don't really think about while they swim.

Section 1 of "Fast Swimming with Technique and Mental Awareness " is aimed at describing competitive swimming strokes and other facets of swimming in simple language for swimmers, parents, and new coaches. Section 2 of this book illustrates situations where mental awareness, both consciously and sub-consciously made average swimmers into better, and sometimes great swimmers. This section is a must reading for, swimmers, parents and coaches, including advanced coaches.

Scuba Confidential is a unique book packed full of valuable tips and expert advice, giving you unprecedented access to the secrets of dive professionals and technical divers. With Scuba Confidential, you will learn how to master skills and techniques that will make you a more confident, capable and safe diver. It offers an informed, balanced view on some of scuba diving's most contentious issues like going solo, deep diving and rebreathers and includes a comprehensive analysis of how diving accidents happen and how to make sure you do not become a statistic. Scuba Confidential also gives you valuable insights on a vast range of topics such as what it is like to do a cave diving course, how to make sure you buy the right equipment, what to consider when choosing an instructor, things even the pros get wrong and where to find the best diving in the world. This is candid, no-nonsense practical advice from a professional who has been involved over the last three decades with virtually every aspect of the sport. Scuba Confidential answers a whole host of questions. For example, have you ever wondered........... How the professionals look so comfortable in the water? What it is like to dive under ice and inside shipwrecks? Which training courses are worthwhile and which might just be a waste of time? If you would make a good technical diver? If you should be considering a rebreather? How you can reduce your air consumption? Whether you might actually be safer without a buddy sometimes? Or How muck diving can possibly be any fun? Scuba Confidential has the answers to all these and many more.

I spent my summers growing up at the Jersey Shore and many of those summers as an ocean lifeguard. As you can imagine, I am very comfortable in the ocean. During those summers, 13 children drowned after hours when the beaches were not guarded. I wanted to do something to help prevent this from happening again and that's when I came up with the idea to write a children's book with the hopes that parents would read the book to their children. My book would then educate the parents and children at the same time about water safety in the ocean. If this book saves one life, it's worth everything to me. Follow the Sands family on their vacation to the shore town of Seaside Delight. Little Sean and his sister, Summer, along with their parents will learn some important safety tips about swimming in the ocean while making some very special friends. Find out who their new friends are and what valuable lessons they learn on this vacation.

"Sewing for Gymnasts" is the third title in Marie Porter's "Spandex Simplified" series, and is all about designing and creating spectacular and durable leotards for gymnasts of all disciplines - Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Trampoline, Tumbling, Acrobatic Gymnastics, Aerobic Gymnastics, and more. This book is appropriate for beginner to advanced levels of sewing ability, and is written from both a designer, and former "performance" athlete's point of view. It will teach everything from the basics, to tricks of the trade. "Spandex Simplified: Sewing for Gymnastss" will prepare the reader to design and make almost any design of practice or competition leotard imaginable. Given the cost of decent competition leotards - or even practice leos - this manual will more than pay for itself with the savings from just one project Sewing for Gymnasts is written in laymans' terms, featuring carefully explained, step by step instructions, as well as many full colour photos and sketches. Only basic sewing knowledge and talent is required. Learn everything from measuring, to easily creating ornate applique designs, to embellishing the finished leotard in one book

No one who has ever seen Matthew Mitcham perform one of his heartstopping dives or make Olympic history would ever guess the obstacles he had to overcome just to be a contender. 'People kept remarking on how they were surprised that a gold medal and fame hadn't changed me. I always responded, "Why would I change? Being me is the easiest person to be." I was lying. It wasn't.' At the Beijing Olympic Games, Matthew Mitcham made history with an unforgettable dive, scoring perfect tens, and winning gold for Australia. there was no hint of the harrowing battle this talented young dynamo had fought with clinical depression, self-harm, and his addiction to alcohol and drugs including crystal meth (also known as Ice). Joyously out and proud, Matthew was a role model for his courage both in and out of the pool. Yet even after Beijing and ranking No 1 in the world, beneath that cheeky, fun-loving exterior he was painfully aware of how easily it could unravel. Unbeknownst to everyone, even those closest to him, Matthew turned to crystal meth as a way of dealing with his personal demons some of which stemmed from his childhood. When injury further threatened his London Olympic hopes, he struggled to overcome his addictions, and balance his perfectionism with the old fear of self-doubt. He may not have won gold but he triumphed over his physical and emotional pain - and showed us the true meaning of sportsmanship. twists and turns is an inspiring story of a true champion, in and out of the pool. "A searingly frank memoir" - Deborah Snow, the Sydney Morning Herald

A book of three parts; Freediving manual, sustainable marine foraging guide and introduction to sustainable and ethical spearfishing.

In this full colour, large format (8.5"x11") publication by master freediving instructor and expert marine forager Ian Donald, you will be taught in a step-by-step manner how to freedive, forage for marine foods and spearfish, all with sustainability in mind.

DISCOVER the vast array of sustainable foods available from above and below the water and acquire the skills to collect them. Full colour photographs of seaweeds and other edible sea-shore plants, molluscs and crustaceans.

LEARN the art of freediving, working through the skills in a logical manner, so you too can be a freediver, including: Equipment, breathing, relaxation, equalisation (basic and advanced), posture, movement, safety and many other skills.

UNDERSTAND how to fish in the most sustainable way, with this introduction to spearfishing. Starting with the basics, including how to rig a gun, what gun to buy, how to shoot, where to hunt, and how to stay safe. Full colour photographs of sustainable fish with hunting instructions for each one.

UNCOVER the truth behind our impact on the seas, and how by becoming an underwater forager, you can start to make a difference. Learn about freediving and foraging cultures of the past and present and how their part in underwater foraging history has influenced us.

Written in plain English and avoiding confusing technical jargon wherever possible, let this book become your guide to the beautiful underwater realm of the breath-hold diver and forager.
The marine life featured in this book are of predominately Northern Atlantic origin, but the freediving and foraging skills are universal.

"This book is as autobiographical as it is biographical . . . a book that juxtaposes two adventurers, one with her own challenges still unfolding and the other with his position fixed in history . . . a book worthy of the centenary celebration of Amundsen's trek to the South Pole."--"San Francisco Chronicle"
Today the North and South Poles are home to research stations and film crews, but just a century ago they were forbidding lands seldom seen by human eyes. Those who journeyed there were the last true explorers, and one of the most successful ever was Roald Amundsen. Known as "the last of the Vikings," the Norwegian-born Amundsen began his career of adventure at age fifteen and by forty had become the first man to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage, and to reach both the North and South Poles.
As a girl, Lynne Cox read of Amundsen's exploits, which inspired her to follow her own adventurous dreams of open-water swimming. Here, she gives an account of Amundsen's life and expeditions while detailing her own experiences swimming (without a wetsuit) in the same polar regions he first explored. At once a biography, history, and memoir, "South with the Sun "holds something for any lover of adventure.
"Not to miss . . . It's fascinating to read about the Norwegian hardman through the eyes of Cox."--"Outside"

The Swimming Triangle: A Holistic Approach to Competitive Swimming is a unique, innovative, and essential guide to achieving superior mental, technical, and physical fitness in one of the world's greatest sports. Whether you're a coach or a swimmer, former Olympic coach Nick Baker's wholly integrated approach can help you maximize your true potential. In this book Coach Baker offers proven, results- oriented methods for gaining-and keeping-a competitive edge, including: 75 winning mental concepts to use in training and competition 75 elite-level technical concepts A complete breakdown of all starts, strokes, turns, and finishes More than 100 stroke errors to avoid 100 progressive stroke drills 30 sample practices for novice-, junior-, and senior-level swimmers Intensive dry-land training circuits More than 100 strength and flexibility exercises

How To Swim Faster will show you everything you need to know about swimming faster.

Once you have learnt how to swim, the next stage is how to swim faster. I will reveal the valuable secrets you must know to quickly achieve success.

Swimming lessons will give you the basics. This book will go further than your swimming lessons and give you the winning advantage.

Dive into this challenge and make the most of your effort. Don't miss your chance to discover the techniques used by professionals.

Swim faster. Train better. Win more often. Achieve your goals.

Topics covered in How To Swim Faster include:
- What speeds you should be aiming for
- Techniques to improve your individual strokes
- Overcoming drag to increase your speed
- How to increase propulsion
- A better catch and pull technique
- What should you do with your recoving hand
- How often should you include speedwork in your training for maximum results
- How to position yourself for a great dive to give you a lead from the start
- Outdoor swimming and open water swimming
- AND SO MUCH MORE

You've got an important decision to make. Do you want to discover how to swim faster?

Unlock your potential today by reading this incredible book.

This book - is a sequel to "Dive Navigator" series (English edition). Here you can find the most interesting and popular dive sites south of Safaga to the southern border of Egypt, include St. Johns reef system and Marine Parks Brothers, Dedalus, Rocky and Zabargad. In the other books in this series are the best reefs and wrecks for diving available along the west coast of the Egypt - from Sinai Peninsula to the border with Sudan. Each book in the series is named by the closest town on the coastline.