#hardhat diver

[divergear]

One last smoke before the helmet is sealed on

[chrisdiver2001]

Hot gear, icy lake. I love this dive gear setup :-)

[hardhatdiverus]

[equatorjournal]

Famed aviator and explorer Amelia Earhart after a dive off Block Island, Rhode Island, in 1929. "On the bottom of the submarine is an unusual contrivance. It is an airtight chamber. By making the air pressure equal to that of the water one may step gayly forth into the Atlantic Ocean with never a drop coming into the chamber. The phenomenon is that of the inverted tumbler only so far as the pressure of the imprisoned air will allow. Yes, I walked out of the strange door into the green sea and swam through it into the sunlight. — Amelia Earhart, The Fun of It (1932) "Aviation pioneer; first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean (1928); author; early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment; conducted two hardhat dives and became the first woman to exit from a submerged submarine in July 1929. She flew to Block Island (Rhode Island). On the first dive, she was lowered into the water in a hardhat suit owned by Frank Crilley. However, the dive was aborted before she reached the bottom due to a leak in the suit. The suit was repaired and on the next day, Earhart reached a depth of 7.5 m (25 ft) where she walked on the bottom with Crilley for over 20 minutes before she got cold and headed back to the surface after seeing only a milk bottle and a clam shell. She later dove in the submarine, which was undergoing U.S. Navy tests in Great Salt Pond Harbor, before exiting through a hatch in the floor of the diving compartment at a depth of 4.5 m (15 ft) clad only in a swimsuit. Although meant as a media stunt, Amelia Earhart's hardhat dives took place 14 years before Simone Cousteau became the first female scuba diver in 1943, approximately 25 years before Dottie Frazier became the first female commercial diver, and 46 years before Donna Tobias became the first female hardhat diver in the U.S. Navy in 1975. Earhart disappeared with navigator Fred Noonan during a circumnavigational flight of the globe aboard a Lockheed Model 10-E Electra on July 2, 1937..." https://www.instagram.com/p/CIjLi3ugwY0/?igshid=4dtafehcsvs9

[marsjackkean]

Shaun Tan’s covers analysed (5/5)

“Breathtakingly illustrated and hauntingly written, Tales from Outer Suburbia is by turns hilarious and poignant, perceptive and goofy. Through a series of captivating and sophisticated illustrated stories, Tan explores the precious strangeness of our existence. He gives us a portrait of modern suburban existence filtered through a wickedly Monty Pythonesque lens. Whether it’s discovering that the world really does stop at the end of the city’s map book, or a family’s lesson in tolerance through an alien cultural exchange student, Tan’s deft, sweet social satire brings us face-to-face with the humor and absurdity of modern life.”

What I’m gathering from this description of this book is that it’s a satire of modern life and trying to come to terms with it(?). 

It’s pretty obvious that the age range for this book is aimed towards adults, judging by the story at least.

The layout of the cover is cool because of the hardhat diver in front of a suburban area, the diver is obviously out of place here, so this could maybe be the theme of the book? Being out of place and trying to find it?

The text is very cool due to the grainy effect, with some parts of the letters fading away, this could also be a hidden meaning in the story, or I could be just reading into it too much.

[divescotty]

From Junraey: Today Misaki and her friend had an incredible time at our #helmet #diving experience here on #Mactan Island. Their friendly guide, Junray, was leading the adventurous #underwater stroll. They even managed to find Nemo.

#𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 #𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲

https://www.divescotty.com/scuba-diving/helmet-diving-seawalker.php

#helmetdiving #foundnemo #sandycheeks #boracay #philippines #vintagediver #divingmuseum #retrodiver #divinghelmet #commercialdiver #commercialdiving #kirbymorgan #millerdunn #divinghut #divingheritage #fun #dive #Repost #Commercialdiving #Professionaldiving #Commercialdiver #Onsurface #Surfacesupplydiving #Diver #Diving #Kirbymorgan #KM37 #Hardhat #underwaterwork #Underthesea

[kathleenhorwood-blog]

For most people, seeing majestic creatures like elephants and rhinos in the South African bush is plenty of adventure for one vacation. But for adrenaline junkies, a safari is the appetizer on an action-packed vacation menu loaded with adventure tours. We travel to collect experiences, but adventure travelers are in search of a feeling: a heart-racing adrenaline rush that makes them feel joyful, present, and alive. These activities are guaranteed to deliver a thrill.

The Best Activities for Thrill-Seekers in South Africa

1. Night Game Viewing Drive

What’s more exciting than seeing sleepy lions lounging in the sun during a safari? Catching a glimpse of these agile hunters at night, when they’re awake, alert, and on the prowl. Your chances of seeing these magnificent hunters increases in the dark. After the sun goes down in South Africa, the temperature drops. Predators like lions, leopards, and wild dogs take advantage of the cooler climate to run down their prey. A drive through the bush in the dark will deliver enough action for a National Geographic documentary. Many of the safaris arranged by South Africa Travel & Tours offer evening game drives.

2. Incredible Shipwreck Dives

Scuba diving is a known “gateway drug” for adventure travel. While scuba diving sounds tame — and is indeed very relaxing — your first dive in open water, at depths unfathomable, is sure to raise your heart rate and expand your mind. The ocean is another kind of wilderness altogether, which you will soon discover as the sun drifts away and transforms into tiny pinhole of light at the ocean’s sparkling surface. Many divers opt for shipwreck reef dives where they spot clusters of colorful fish, eels, stingrays, sea turtles, whales, and sharks. With 98 species of shark in South Africa, your odds of spotting one are relatively high. The haunting beauty of these wrecks will stay with you long after you return to the surface.

Bloukrans will send you plummeting headfirst for 708 feet!

3. Bloukrans Bungee Jumping

Bungee jumping is so angsty-1990s-thrill-seeker, right? Wrong. Bungee jumping isn’t just for an 18th birthday or a midlife crisis anymore. South Africa has earned a global reputation for a number of activities, including bungee jumping. The infamous Bloukrans Bridge jump on the gorgeous Garden Route is a must for adrenaline junkies. Bloukrans will send you plummeting headfirst down 216 meters (708 feet!) into a beautiful lush green gorge, giving you a unique view of the stunning vistas that the Garden Route is known for.

4. Climb the World’s Second Tallest Waterfall

If you are looking for incredible views, South Africa delivers at every turn. Outside of Angel Falls in Venezuela, Tugela Falls in South Africa is the highest waterfall in the world at 948 meters (3,110 feet). Some even argue that it is in fact taller than Angel Falls! To catch the best view, experienced hikers will make the steep trek up the stunning Drakensberg Mountains. Some of the hikes allow you to peer over the edge of the falls, but be warned: the climbs will have you scaling the mountains on ropes, chains, and ladders. The unforgettable views are well worth the effort and you’ll create a memory of an adventure that will last a lifetime.

5. Spelunking Inside Table Mountain

Not into climbing up? How about diving down? Into caves, that is. Spelunking or “caving” in South Africa is a popular choice for adventure veterans and caving novices alike. There are over a hundred caves just within the Cape Peninsula of South Africa, ranging from shallow overhangs to deep and winding tunnels that burrow into Table Mountain for more than a kilometer. Just like hiking, there are commercialized guided tours that provide a set route, handrails, and lights. However, you can opt for ‘adventure trails’ if you’re up for a challenge. These options will have you dropping into caves on ropes or shimmying down narrow crevices with footholds wearing hardhats and protective gear. Fantastic exercise and a truly unique experience.

6. Cage Diving with Great White Sharks

Arguably South Africa’s most unique and epic adrenaline rush is the rare opportunity to swim beside nature’s most lethal predator: the great white shark. At times you will find yourself mere inches from these beautiful, powerful creatures safe within a fully enclosed steel cage. Three of the best locations for great white shark cage dive tours are Cape Town, Gansbaai, and Mossel Bay. If great whites aren’t enough, you also have the opportunity to dive with hammerheads, tiger sharks, and whale sharks!

For more tips, ideas, and advice for creating incredible experiences in South Africa, visit us at vacationtosouthafrica.com.

SaveSave

The post 6 South African Adventure Tours for the Adrenaline Junkie appeared first on South Africa Travel and Tours.

[dscreativestudios]

#standarddiver #tradtionaldiver #hardhatdiver

[nemesisbinxartifactseries]

Artifact Series P

Paavo Nurmi’s Stopwatch

Pablo Escobar's Speedboat

Pablo Fanque's Riding Boots

Pablo Picasso's Chisel

Pablo Picasso's Paint Brush

Pacal the Great's Sarcophagus

Pachycrocuta Jawbone *

Paddy Barrie’s Stove and Brushes

Paddy Roy Bate's Nautical Compass

Padlock Charm

Padlock from Alcatraz

Painless Parker’s Tooth Necklace

Paintbrush from a Radium Watch Factory

Paintings from Island Farm

Pair of Fertility Statues

Pamela L. Traver's Umbrella

Pancho Villa's Boots *

Pandora's Box *

Pan Twardowski's Mirror

Pappus of Alexandria’s Hexagon

Paracelsus' Medicine Bag

Paragon 3-D Glasses

Paris' Bow

Parmenides of Elea's Tunic

Paschal Beverly Randolph's Crystal Ball

Past-Seeing Alarm Clock

Patient 16 (Athens Asylum)'s Toy Car

Patsy Ann Campbell's Tanning Bed

Patty Hearst's M1 Carbine

Patrick Bohan’s Locker

Patrick Henry's Letter Opener

Patrick Sherrill's Letter Bag

Patrick Skene Catling's Divider

Patrick Suskind's Bottle of Perfume

Paul Bunyan Fiberglass Statue

Paul Bunyan's Axe *

Paul Broca's Surgical Scissors

Paul Charles Dozsa's Chopsticks

Paul Dukas’ Broom

Paul Ekman's Nesting Dolls

Paul-Émile Botta's Alabaster Bas-Reliefs

Paul McNulty's Piano Tuning Hammer

Paul Morphy's Chess Piece

Paul Reubens' Rouge

Paul Revere's Lantern *

Paul Rusesabagina's Telephone

Paul Tibbet's Binoculars *

Paul Vasquez's Camera

Paul W. Fairman's Office Chair

Paving Stone from Tiananmen Square

Pax's Cornucopia

P-body Android Test Subject

'Peace for Our Time' from "Heil Honey I'm Home!"

Pearl Harbor Tool Box

Pearl Hart's Stolen Stagecoach

Pearl of Wisdom *

The Pearl of the World

Pedro Álvares Cabral's Naval Map

Pedro Menéndez de Avilés’ Patache

Pellegrino Ernetti's Chronovisor

Penetrating Cake Tester

Penguin's Hat and Umbrella *

Penthesilea's Spear

Pepsi Bottle and Cap

Perceval Camper Carbon Fiber Knife

Percival's Grail Sword

Percy Bysshe Shelley's Note to his Wife

Percy Fawcett's Machete

Percy Spencer's Microwave Oven

Perdita's Fardel

Père Fouettard's Whip

Perk-a-Cola Machines

Perpetually Burning Torch

Perry Como's Gold Record *

Persephone's Pomegranate Seeds

Persian Amulet

Persian Spear

Perun's Axe

Pete Conrad's Space Boots

Peter Carl Faberge's Caliper

Peter III of Russia's Toy Soldiers

Peter Abelard's Letter Stamp

Peter Francisco’s Cannon

Peter Henlein's Nuremberg Egg *

Peter Kollwitz’s Boots

Peter Kropotkin's Bread Knife

Peter Kurten's Skeleton Key

Peter Laurie's Eyeglasses

Peter Lawford's Shot Glass

Peter Minuit’s Wampum

Peter Pan's Tunic

Peter Piper's Jar of Pickled Peppers

Peter Shellem's Paper Weight

Peter Stumpp's Wolf Skin

Peter Stuyvesant’s Pegleg

Peter Sutcliffe's Vehicle Registration Plate

Peter the Great's Cape

Peter the Hermit’s Pilgrim Badge

Peter Tripp’s Glass Booth

Peter Wright's Earpiece

Peterson's Armored Personnel Carrier

Phan Đình Phùng's Mandarin Square

Phar Lap’s Blinders

Pharaoh Pen-abw's Twin Caskets

Phineas Gage's Tamping Iron

Phidias' Hammer and Chisel

Phil Connor's Radio Alarm Clock

Philibert Aspairt's Chartreuse-Glass Googles *

Philip Astley's Circus Tent

Philip Griebel's Original Garden Gnome

Philipe Pinel's Quill Pen

Philip K. Dick's I Ching

Philip K. Dick's Journal

Philip Reid’s Block and Tackle

Philip Van Doren Stern's Upholstery Brush *

Philosopher's Stone *

Philo Farnsworth's Alpha-Wave Form Sender *

Phoebe Snetsinger's Binoculars

Phoenician Idol

Phone Booth from the Mojave Desert

The Phoenix *

Phoenix Wright's Magatama

Pickens County Courthouse Window

Pickled Dragon

Piece of Halley's Comet *

Piece of the Antikythera Mechanism

Pieces of Yolanda Saldivar's Gun

Pied Piper's Flute *

Pier Gerlofs Donia's Compass

Pier Giorgio Perotto's Programma 101

Pierre-Auguste Renoir's Easel *

Pierre-Auguste Renoir's Two Girls Playing the Piano *

Pierre Batcheff's Bicycle

Pierre Charles L'Enfant's Compass

Pierre Desloges' Dining Table

Pierre Fauchard’s Needle Nose Pliers

Pierre-Joseph Desault’s Culottes

Pierre le Grand's Galleons

Pierre Benjamin Montuex's Conductor Baton

Pierre-Simon Laplace's Telescope (canon)

Pike Carousel Horse

Pike River Mine Hardhat

Pilot Episode of 'America's Funniest Home Videos'

Piltdown Man Skull

Pimp Cane

Pink Floyd's Remaster of 'Another Brick in the Wall'

The Pink Panther

Pinkamena's Cupcake Tin

Pinto Colvig's Clown Shoes and Nose

Pipe from the Children’s Crusades

Pipe Organ from Diana's Funeral

Piri Reis Map

Pistol from the USS Maine

Pitch from Tutankhamun’s Tomb

The Pius Device *

Placido Domingo's Strawbery Handkerchief

Plaek Phibunsongkhram’s Niello Scarf Clip

Plane Sabotaging Oil Can

Plaque from the Kunta Kinte Memorial

Plastic Mannequin Arm

Platinum Rings from Poland’s Wedding to the Sea

Plato's Tablets *

Plinko Board & Chips

Pliny the Elder’s Sea Chart

Pliny the Elder's Scroll *

Pluto's Toga

Pocketknife from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft

Podgórski Sisters' Cottage

Poe Toaster's Roses and Cognac

Poké Ball

Poker Alice's Playing Cards

Police Car from the MOVE Bombing

Police Sketch Artist Sketchpad

Pol Pot's Copy of "The Communist Manifesto"

Pol Pot's Punji Sticks

'Polybius' Arcade Cabinet

Polybius' Scytale

Polycrates’ Ring

Polonus Vorstius' Wine

Pompeii Bread

Pompeii Amphora *

Pompeii Pithos

Pompey the Great's Shield

Pony Express Mail Bag

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 1976

Pont-Saint-Esprit Bread Knife

Pop-Down Book

Pope Clement VI’s Papal Bulls

Pope Clement VII’s Zucchetto

Pope John Paul II's Assassination Bullet

Pope John Paul II's Papal Tiara

Pope Leo XIII's Rosary

Pope Urban II's Stole Vestment

Poppa Neutrino's Oar

Portal Gun

Portobello Pin-Cushion

Portrait of Katherine FitzGerald, Countess of Desmond

Portraits Used in The Original Production of Ruddigore

Porygon Statue

Poseidon's Conch

Post-It Notes from the Lennon Wall

Potatoes from the Great Irish Famine

Prada Mannequins

Predatory 1950's Refrigerator

Prehistoric Plant Pollen *

Preston Brooks' Cane

Preserved Apple Pie

Preserved Hardtack from the Civil War

Preserved Head of Medusa

Preserved Shark Fin

Prester John's Silver Grail

Preston Brooks' Cane

Primo Levi's Scarf *

Primordial Tar from Pitch Lake, Trinidad *

Prince Hussain's Flying Carpet *

Princes in the Tower's Red Rose Petal

Prince's Keyboard

Printing Press Handle from Ettela'at Newspaper Printing Press

Primo di Castello’s Siege Engine

Priscilla Dunstan's Playskool Tape Recorder

Private John Williams' Diver Helmet *

Prize Generating Cracker Jack Box

Procrustean Bed *

Professor Layton's Hat

Prokop Diviš' Cross

Prop Bomb from the Batman Series

Protective Safe Deposit Box

Prototype NERF Maverick

The Proverbial Apple

Prudence Laverlong's China Dolls *

Pryderi's Golden Bowl

PS3 Wireless Controller

Psychic Penny

Psy's Tuxedo Jacket

P.T. Barnum's Spinning Top *

P.T. Barnum's Top Hat & Walking Stick

P. T. Selbit's Box and Saw

P. T. Selbit's Cheese Wheel

Ptolemy's Refracting Mirror Lens

Ptolemy XII Auletes' Ankh Charm

Puckle Gun

Pulley Block form the Mary Celeste *

Pupa the Haunted Doll

Puyi’s Headdress

Pwyll's Bag

Pykrete Destroyer

Pyotr Kapitsa’s Turbine

Pyotr Potemkin’s and Frederick the Third's Beds

Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Music Box

Pyrrhus of Epirus' Helmet

Pytheas’ Tin Ingots

Pythia's Tripod

[divergear]

[chrisdiver2001]

Divers cock check.....would you be hard in that situation?

[hardhatdiverus]

[sea-shur-jewelry]

#hardhatdiver #traditionaldiver #diver #necklace #silver #jewelry #pendant #charm #gifts #giftideas #ordernow #buynow

[frogmenbook]

The Incredible Story Beneath Jacques Cousteau’s Famous Red Hat

The Incredible Story Beneath Jacques Cousteau’s Famous Red Hat

A red hat, a hard hat and Winchester Cathedral: How did Jacques Cousteau’s famous red hat become an icon? 

Calypso Captain, SCUBA diver, filmmaker, conservationist, scientist, innovator and author, Jacques Yves Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910 in Saint-Andre-de Cubzac France.  Known as “Jyc” (rhymes with “chic” and pronounced with the soft J in ‘Jacques’), Cousteau was not only an iconic explorer – but a fashion icon. 

Seriously. Can you think of JYC without the red knit hat? And where did that hat come from anyway? We did some digging so you don’t have to.  Here is the unusual story of a red hat, a hard hat and Winchester Cathedral.

Sifting through maritime history, it turns out the knitted hat has its origins in Britain as standard issue for the British Army and Royal Navy divers, and as far back as the end of the 1800’s and early 1900’s, many hundreds of civil engineering divers were wearing the red hat.  Called a “cap comforter” in admiralty speak, most early pictures of hard hat divers show them wearing a cozy cap while topside. But the transformation of red woolen hat into bold fashion statement is attributed to the most famous hardhat diver in the world, William Walker.   

William Walker and Winchester Cathedral

William Walker (1869-1918) was Chief Diver at legendary British commercial diving company Siebe Gorman & Company Ltd. (est. 1830), overseeing some 200 divers working around the world. But Walker’s real claim to fame was single-handedly saving one of England’s 11th century Coronation Cathedrals from collapsing.  It was a diving job.

Opened in 1093, Winchester Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. Early on the cathedral had been a church of choice for royal weddings, funerals and marriages.  Fast forward to 1906 and Winchester Cathedral had a weighty problem. When the cathedral’s builders had laid the foundations back in 1079, they unknowingly placed them on top of a peat bog  –  and as a consequence the cathedral was sinking.

The only way to save the cathedral was to remove the layer of peat below and fill the space with concrete. The renovation was complicated because the 3.5 meter space below the Cathedral was filled with turbid ground water. This was a job for a diver; and being one of the best in the world, William Walker was called to the task. (photo – Walker in front of Winchester Cathedral). The task was monumental, and William Walker became known as the diver who saved the cathedral.

Between 1906 and 1911, Walker spent six hours a day in 20′ of pitch black water, working blind to under-pin the foundations of Winchester Cathedral. Against these daunting odds Walker managed to lay 25,000 bags of concrete, 115,000 concrete blocks and 900,000 engineering bricks with the help of a topside support crew of 150. For his work, Walker was awarded the honour of the Royal Victorian Order. Today, a bust of Walker is on display at the cathedral, with Walker sporting the famous cap comforter.

More vintage photos of this major undertaking can be found at the Winchester Cathedral site.

From Cozy Cap to Fashion Statement

Some may argue if such gallant efforts catapulted the red cap into fashion fame, but the fact remains that the red cap comforter became, and still is, the trademark of commercial divers. By the 1950’s, the use of S.C.U.B.A. equipment moved from commercial to general use, thanks to aqualung inventors Emile Gagnan and Jacques Yves Cousteau:  With Cousteau and other diving personalities upholding the diving fashion statement, the red woolen cap soon became the world wide recognized symbol of the diver. (photo – Rolex Magazine)

Another Cap, Another Story

This brings us to author Richard Hyman who also has a red hat and an equally fascinating story, episodes of which we will share with our Blue Ocean community. At the tender age of 18 Richard met Jacques and got a job driving a supply truck, which led to diving with manatees, chasing spiny lobsters, filming spawning groupers and exploring Belize’s Barrier Reef – and that was just the beginning.  Watch for the launch of a special Blue Ocean article series, Inside the World of Jacques Cousteau.

In the first episode, Richard describes his earliest adventures with the Captain, including how to get a red cap. In the photo, Hyman is the skinny one on the left and Jacques is the skinny one on the right. (photo- Richard Hyman)

The True Story of My Journeys

In 2011, Richard published Frogmen: The True Story of My Journeys With Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and the Crew of Calypso. A fascinating first-hand account of his experiences aboard the Calypso, FROGMEN is the inspiring story of a young man who pays homage to one of the greatest explorers and visionaries of all time. You can find your copy at Amazon.com, available in ebook and softcover. For direct shipment of signed books contact Richard at richardehyman@gmail.com or check out Richard’s website at: www.richardehyman.com

By Laurie Wilson, Blue Ocean Network

[wayneooverton]

Our Favorite Classic Dive Reads

Classic dive reads should stand the test of time. Any of the books on this list weaves a tale of timeless undersea adventures, and will instantly transport readers into the dive dreams of our forefathers. All the below works remain available today in one format or another. Nevertheless, please keep in mind that these older books include some things nowadays considered unsavory or outdated.

“20,000 Leagues Under the Seas” (Written by Jules Verne in 1870)

That last “s” in the title isn’t a misprint. Though too late now, if the English title were correctly translated from Jules Verne’s French title, “Vingt Mille Lieues Sous les Mers,” it would end with the plural “seas.”

And that’s the problem. Lewis Mercier’s common translation limps along poorly, and also cuts 100 pages out of Verne’s writing. When I read this novel years ago, it bored me. But the novel accurately translated by Walter James Miller and F. P. Walter commissioned by the U.S. Naval Institute reads like a dream. The version recently illustrated by John Patrick, and released by the Paradrome Press, held me in thrall of Verne’s undersea world. Downloaded onto my black and white Kindle, I switched briefly to my phone when the richly colorful renderings of the paintings appeared.

Eminently readable, the novel describes a fantastical submarine voyage with extraordinary walks in diving suits on the bottom of the ocean. Published when electricity existed only as a carnival curiosity and electric submarines had yet to be invented, Verne’s future predictions are even more wondrous for their accuracy.

Considered one of the all-time best science fiction novels, it’s not surprising that “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” has remained in print for 147 years. However, it’s Verne’s beautiful marine-life descriptions that will remind you of the exquisite underwater world from your best dive.

“Secret Sea” (Written by Robb White in 1947)

This adventure novel will thrill the wide-eyed kid in you with its hunt for sunken treasure, bad guys and an underwater battle with a monster octopus. Did I forget to mention there’s a brash ragamuffin crewing the boat?

You’ll be surprised by how quickly the fun story engages you even as you realize everything will turn out fine in the end. At 325 pages, it’s still a fast read and a physically small book, so perfect for travel.

The author published 27 novels and many Hollywood scripts, including a few recently remade movies. The diving by hardhat and a “self-contained outfit with an oxygen bottle and caustic soda regenerator” is a means to an end, but makes this novel an entertaining dive read.

“Silent World” (Written by Jacques Cousteau in 1953)

Divers and non-divers alike worldwide know of Jacques Cousteau, the famous father of underwater exploration. “Silent World” solidified his place in the public eye, becoming an international bestseller. It was the first popular read revealing the undersea world to the public.

Though composed in English, his narrative occasionally makes it clear that English was not Cousteau’s native tongue. However, the quirks add to the otherworldly quality of the book.

Cousteau’s dive descriptions echo some of the best and worst of modern diving, from sun-filled underwater reefs to the darkness of oxygen toxicity. However, the surprising and sometimes ugly treatment of marine life clanks as a jarring note, albeit one more common in days’ past. Regardless, this book is practically required reading for divers, with Cousteau briefly touching on dive principles, marine-life behavior, his co-invention of scuba diving and tales of his exploration as a “manfish.”

“Ordeal by Water” (Written by Peter Keeble in 1957)

Containing vivid descriptions of ponderous diving dress and almost insurmountable marine salvage, this book illustrates the hair-raising experience of a British Navy salvage diver in World War II.

Though biographical in nature, the paperback features an easy writing style that’s honest and sometimes funny. The jerry-rigged innovations which surprisingly succeed inspire awe.

Skip the book’s forward because it contains a number of spoilers. Instead, jump straight into the action in the Eastern Mediterranean. The book predominantly features diving with dangerous excursions as the norm. A few of the dive experiences remain true to this day, but you’ll shudder through the brutal realities of old-school hardhat diving.

Honorable Mentions 

Worth including on this list are these last two books. They’re unique in their own way, though they feature far less diving than the ones above.

  “Under the Waves Diving in Deep Waters” (Written by R.M. Ballantyne in 1886)

Harkening back to a simpler time, this swashbuckling adventure written for teens contains pirates, treasure and love. It also happens to include hard-hat diving as the hero’s job. Ballantyne has written a nice vacation read that still works for adults and it’s free on a Kindle.

“Beneath Tropic Seas” (Written by William Beebe in 1928)

Written by the director of tropical research for the New York Zoological Society, this large, floppy paperback details Beebe’s expedition exploring the coral reefs of Haiti. While Beebe experienced more fame for his co-invention of the bathysphere, his books endured as best sellers.

While the cover looks modern, the printing remains old fashioned. The book survives only as a reproduction, with the original imperfections included. Nevertheless, it remains pleasant and sometimes waxes poetic. While Beebe took a scientific focus, he lovingly detailed the underwater world although the diving comprises only a small part of the book.

      By guest author Beth McCrea

The post Our Favorite Classic Dive Reads appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/2omKVgK

[mrbobgove]

Our Favorite Classic Dive Reads

Classic dive reads should stand the test of time. Any of the books on this list weaves a tale of timeless undersea adventures, and will instantly transport readers into the dive dreams of our forefathers. All the below works remain available today in one format or another. Nevertheless, please keep in mind that these older books include some things nowadays considered unsavory or outdated.

“20,000 Leagues Under the Seas” (Written by Jules Verne in 1870)

That last “s” in the title isn’t a misprint. Though too late now, if the English title were correctly translated from Jules Verne’s French title, “Vingt Mille Lieues Sous les Mers,” it would end with the plural “seas.”

And that’s the problem. Lewis Mercier’s common translation limps along poorly, and also cuts 100 pages out of Verne’s writing. When I read this novel years ago, it bored me. But the novel accurately translated by Walter James Miller and F. P. Walter commissioned by the U.S. Naval Institute reads like a dream. The version recently illustrated by John Patrick, and released by the Paradrome Press, held me in thrall of Verne’s undersea world. Downloaded onto my black and white Kindle, I switched briefly to my phone when the richly colorful renderings of the paintings appeared.

Eminently readable, the novel describes a fantastical submarine voyage with extraordinary walks in diving suits on the bottom of the ocean. Published when electricity existed only as a carnival curiosity and electric submarines had yet to be invented, Verne’s future predictions are even more wondrous for their accuracy.

Considered one of the all-time best science fiction novels, it’s not surprising that “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” has remained in print for 147 years. However, it’s Verne’s beautiful marine-life descriptions that will remind you of the exquisite underwater world from your best dive.

“Secret Sea” (Written by Robb White in 1947)

This adventure novel will thrill the wide-eyed kid in you with its hunt for sunken treasure, bad guys and an underwater battle with a monster octopus. Did I forget to mention there’s a brash ragamuffin crewing the boat?

You’ll be surprised by how quickly the fun story engages you even as you realize everything will turn out fine in the end. At 325 pages, it’s still a fast read and a physically small book, so perfect for travel.

The author published 27 novels and many Hollywood scripts, including a few recently remade movies. The diving by hardhat and a “self-contained outfit with an oxygen bottle and caustic soda regenerator” is a means to an end, but makes this novel an entertaining dive read.

“Silent World” (Written by Jacques Cousteau in 1953)

Divers and non-divers alike worldwide know of Jacques Cousteau, the famous father of underwater exploration. “Silent World” solidified his place in the public eye, becoming an international bestseller. It was the first popular read revealing the undersea world to the public.

Though composed in English, his narrative occasionally makes it clear that English was not Cousteau’s native tongue. However, the quirks add to the otherworldly quality of the book.

Cousteau’s dive descriptions echo some of the best and worst of modern diving, from sun-filled underwater reefs to the darkness of oxygen toxicity. However, the surprising and sometimes ugly treatment of marine life clanks as a jarring note, albeit one more common in days’ past. Regardless, this book is practically required reading for divers, with Cousteau briefly touching on dive principles, marine-life behavior, his co-invention of scuba diving and tales of his exploration as a “manfish.”

“Ordeal by Water” (Written by Peter Keeble in 1957)

Containing vivid descriptions of ponderous diving dress and almost insurmountable marine salvage, this book illustrates the hair-raising experience of a British Navy salvage diver in World War II.

Though biographical in nature, the paperback features an easy writing style that’s honest and sometimes funny. The jerry-rigged innovations which surprisingly succeed inspire awe.

Skip the book’s forward because it contains a number of spoilers. Instead, jump straight into the action in the Eastern Mediterranean. The book predominantly features diving with dangerous excursions as the norm. A few of the dive experiences remain true to this day, but you’ll shudder through the brutal realities of old-school hardhat diving.

Honorable Mentions 

Worth including on this list are these last two books. They’re unique in their own way, though they feature far less diving than the ones above.

  “Under the Waves Diving in Deep Waters” (Written by R.M. Ballantyne in 1886)

Harkening back to a simpler time, this swashbuckling adventure written for teens contains pirates, treasure and love. It also happens to include hard-hat diving as the hero’s job. Ballantyne has written a nice vacation read that still works for adults and it’s free on a Kindle.

“Beneath Tropic Seas” (Written by William Beebe in 1928)

Written by the director of tropical research for the New York Zoological Society, this large, floppy paperback details Beebe’s expedition exploring the coral reefs of Haiti. While Beebe experienced more fame for his co-invention of the bathysphere, his books endured as best sellers.

While the cover looks modern, the printing remains old fashioned. The book survives only as a reproduction, with the original imperfections included. Nevertheless, it remains pleasant and sometimes waxes poetic. While Beebe took a scientific focus, he lovingly detailed the underwater world although the diving comprises only a small part of the book.

      By guest author Beth McCrea

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