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.

Avid snorkelers, families, and novices will find this guide to Florida snorkeling invaluable. ""Snorkeling Florida"" identifies fifty unique snorkeling sites from Panhandle to Keys. The best public sites throughout the state are featured, including coral reefs, sea-grass beds, shipwrecks, springs, and rivers. Snorkelers will be informed on where to go, what to bring, and what to expect.Each site is described in detail and rated by difficulty (from beginner to advanced). Directions, boat ramp locations, physical characteristics of the site, likely animal life to be spotted, best times to explore, and the area's historical information are provided. Brad Bertelli also provides additional recommendations for local sightseeing at each location.Throughout the book, Bertelli addresses questions and concerns about the use of equipment, questionable creatures such as sharks, alligators, jellyfish, and stingrays, the rules and regulations regarding harvesting of lobster and scallops, Diver Down flags, spear-fishing, and manatee interaction. He also offers advice to the novice on how to choose the proper gear and appropriate precautions to take before getting in the water.From coral reefs to clear blue water, this book covers the best public sites throughout the state.

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.

SCUBA diving is thriving in the New York Area. The diving up here is much more challenging than warm water destinations due to our local conditions of cold temperatures, low visibility and currents. Written for both the diver and the non-diver, this book draws the reader into the exciting world of Northeast Technical SCUBA Diving. The book opens with an 'Introduction to SCUBA Diving' that explains the equipment, local conditions and dangers of diving to those new to the sport. Consisting of over 70 true stories of local dives this book has the reader descending with the author on numerous local shipwrecks such as the USS San Diego and ocean liner Oregon, both over 500 feet long and sunk in the Atlantic off of Long Island. The book also contains a number of dive site maps. The stories, chronicle the author's diving adventures and what it feels like to dive locally both exploring the wrecks and from popular shore diving sites . A site/equipment index allows the reader to also use the book to experience specific wrecks and sites. Let's say you have never dove the USS San Diego, a naval Armored Cruiser that sank in 1918 off of Fire Island. You can easily find all the stories about dives on her in order of increasing difficulty. Or you are considering getting an underwater scooter. You can locate all the stories where a scooter was an important part. Perhaps you want to understand how a reel helps keep a diver from getting lost inside a wreck or what its like to be entangled by a line of reel inside a wreck. Interested in finding out more of the dangers of technical decompression diving? It's all here in this book. This book takes you diving..

Aquatastic: Swimming Made Simple is for all individuals interested in the teaching of swimming. This book is easy to read, follow and understand for individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. This book will help everyone who is learning how to teach individuals to swim in a friendly and fun environment.
The goal of my book is to help people teach themselves and others to swim in a fun and positive environment. Learning to swim will be fun while increasing one's comfort level in the water. The goal here is to learn while you are having fun and you will not realize that you are swimming as it comes to you naturally. Safety will be stressed in all areas of the aquatic environment. The drowning rates in the United States are rising at an unbearable rate and something needs to be done. By teaching people Aquatastic, I will attempt to lower the drowning rates as people learn how to be safe in and around the aquatic environment.

At age forty-four, Penelope Niven was at a turning point in her life. In need of a change for both body and spirit, she decided to learn how to swim. While discovering the restorative effect of the water, she also began to notice that the lessons she was learning in the pool drew remarkable parallels with the lessons of life. The way in which you first get into the water, for example, is similar to trying anything new-you can jump in feet first, or dive in headfirst, but first you have to have some idea of what you're actually getting into. From floating to treading water, forward strokes to the backstroke, Swimming Lessons combines the familiar lessons of swimming with personal anecdotes and apt observations to stirring effect. Sensible, touching, and personal, this appealing book will be invaluable to any reader facing a life change or simply looking for a little bit of inspiration.
A Harvest Original

"Mind Training For Swimmers" is truly everything you ever could want to know about positive thinking and how to improve your swim or sport performance. Written by Craig Townsend, Australia's Swim Guru, it is filled with examples and teaching points that are sound, thorough, and based upon solid scientific thinking. The author is the Director of It's Mind over Matter in Sydney, Australia; and he has worked in the area of mental training for swimming, sports and personal development for over fifteen years He possesses a Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis, and for over twenty years he has researched and experimented with various methods of tapping the potential of the human mind. His program has received world recognition, and has now been put into book form. Bellissima Publishing, LLC is proud to have Craig Townsend among its writers. This is a must read book that should be required reading for every swim coach and swimmer It is a book that can help anyone move towards positive thinking and self-recognition.

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.

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.

Part aspirational, part instructional, this book is for competent divers who wish to extend their horizons or push themselves to the limit. Diving with Sharks and Other Adventure Dives covers diving with Great White, Hammerhead and other sharks, diving with gentle giants such as mantas and whale sharks, cave and wreck diving, and diving in strong currents and under ice. Each chapter is a combination of specialized technical and environmentally aware diving advice, site information and stirring anecdote. The dives featured range from established, accessible schemes such as the dolphin dives in the Bahamas to exceptional expeditions such as an unrepeated cave-passage exploration. Celebrating the diversity of diving as much as encouraging the pursuit of new challenges, this beautifully illustrated guide is a must for every qualified diver's bookshelf.

'Remarkable' Observer 'A joy to read' Daily Telegraph 'Soaringly beautiful' Sunday Times Magazine 'Genuine and persuasive' Guardian Alexandra Heminsley thought she could swim. She really did. It may have been because she could run. It may have been because she wanted to swim; or perhaps because she only ever did ten minutes of breaststroke at a time. But, as she learned one day while flailing around in the sea, she really couldn't. Believing that a life lived fully isn't one with the most money earned, the most stuff bought or the most races won, but one with the most experiences, experienced the most fully, she decided to conquer her fear of the water. From the ignominy of getting into a wetsuit to the triumph of swimming from Kefalonia to Ithaca, in becoming a swimmer, Alexandra learns to appreciate her body and still her mind. As it turns out, the water is never as frightening once you're in, and really, everything is better when you remember to exhale. What Hemmo's readers are saying: 'This book is funny, engaging, entertaining, informative, suspenseful, motivating, and inspiring... I've never read anything quite like it' - Nina on Goodreads, 5 stars 'Just like Running Like a Girl, this was an absolute joy to read. A beautifully written story of swimming, family and being a woman' - Violet on Amazon, 5 stars 'Fantastic book... Entertaining - often laugh-out-loud funny - and full of really useful advice' - J. Edwards on Amazon, 5 stars 'A fabulous book that's beautifully written' - Nik on Goodreads, 5 stars 'I can't recommend this book enough! I absolutely love Alexandra Heminsley's writing, her attitude towards exercise and her passion for swimming' - Sarah on Goodreads, 5 stars 'an inspirational and encouraging read' - Stephanie on Goodreads, 5 stars 'the author's enthusiasm is contagious... one cannot help but yearn to join in. ... A thoroughly inspiring book with a likeable narrator unafraid to share her personal life' - Eleanor on Goodreads, 5 stars 'This is a delightful book, a pleasure to read... Unbelievably well written, it flows like the water she loves' - Bobby on Amazon, 5 stars

Swimming is one of the most beneficial and refreshing ways to exercise. However, many swimmers miss the greatest benefits of the sport. These swimmers train by swimming continuously for an allotted time or for a specified distance. By organizing and structuring their time in the pool, swimmers can greatly increase the benefits and enjoyment they derive from their workouts.

"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.