Scuba Books

We've used this guide over the past several years and have found it to be exceptionally comprehensive. The book includes general information about diving the big island and then proceeds to give detailed descriptions of the various beaches around the island. We've yet to discover a beach that is not documented in this book.

The descriptions for of each beach include driving directions, parking information, and beach conditions. Whether you snorkel, dive, or just paly int he surf, this book will be helpful. As an experienced diver I enjoy the information about diving conditions, surge, clarity, and species that may be encountered at each site. Many of the beaches are known by several names. This guide includes local names as well as official state names.

Whether you plan to snorkel, scuba dive from shore, or just explore some new beaches, this guide is indespensible. This book combined with "Big Island Revealed" and "Hawaii's Fishes : A Guide for Snorkelers, Divers, and Aquarists" by John Hoover and you'll be fully set for any ocean adventures.

When we were new at snorkeling we relied on boat trips to operator-chosen sites. That was ok then, but our options were limited. So I started researching snorkel sites online for subsequent trips to Hawaii. The information was OK, but not as useful as I'd hoped. I wish I'd found Snorkel Hawai'i three trips ago. The island's site index map, the sites at a glance table [which are a great help at narrowing choices], and the detailed site descriptions and maps were wonderful resources. It was a great thrill sharing a recommended area with and observing [at a respectful distance] wild dolphins resting and playing. The book includes a good selection of useful information and illustrations about other aspects of Hawaii. It's obvious that Judy and Mel have experienced what they're describing, which was another strong selling point. I know the Malinowskis have at least two more future customers after snorklers we met got a look at our copy.

This book was great for precise and concise information about where to snorkel on the Big Island. We used it daily to decide where we would go. It also gave information about where it was safe to take our 2 young and inexperienced snorkelers as well as where to park, the easiest place for entry, and which direction to head once you are in the water. I highly recommend this book.

Good info, but some of the information is outdated. As one example, one hotel is marked as the Kona Hilton, but it has not been a Hilton property since about 1994. The book contains some very basic how-to snorkeling information as well as descriptions of access areas.

While a couple years old at this point, this book still pointed the way for me on a recent week of snorkeling on Hawaii. Excellent descriptions and maps of specific reefs and beaches. Good opening introduction to snorkeling for novices. If you are heading to the big island for snorkeling, spend time before your trip with this book and it will pay huge dividends.

This is THE book on Caribbean underwater life. Any where you dive this is the reference used. The only thing missing from the set is the behavior book, and it would be a great addition.

We have used these volumes regularly to aid in identifying what we've observed when SCUBA diving. Excellent photos and descriptions.

Excelent books, complete identification with pictures and full information. Delivered in Brazil on time and without any problem.

My husband and I are passionate divers! He takes fabulous pictures and I like to identify what he takes pictures of. I have a couple of the plastic i.d. cards of fish, but so many critters aren't on them. However, these books have everything! It's nice to go to a reef and know what everything is and what it might do to you! This set is expensive, but you'll make up the cost by not having to buy multiple I.D. books.

This is a must-have set for the SCUBA diver who is serious about knowing "exactly what is that fish/creature/coral" . And, even for the recreational diver, the books are laid out in a format to allow one's curiosity to help one to learn more about what exactly one can see while diving. Just about every live-aboard dive boat that I have been on counts this as a staple amongst its reference library. It is a nice set to have at home to review before or after diving - or even just to learn more about possibly what one MIGHT see on a future dive!

Can't say I loved it. I was expecting more thrilling stories about scuba diving, but it's more of a history of underwater exploration. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's not written terribly well either. There's a whole chapter on sponges; this is not riveting stuff.

You know what bugged me for some reason? When he talks about those old-school diving helmets with portholes in them and guys pumping air from the boat - you know, like from Tintin? - he visits some guys who still use them, but he doesn't try it himself. Why not? Jeez, dude, get in the game.

I thought this book would be a technologically driven, marine-laden book about the sport. I gave it a try. What a surprise after only a few pages! Tim Ecott wrote a passionate book filled with historical chapters and memoirs of some of the best diving spots in the world, and he always includes the plants and animals as part of the experience. He introduced the underwater world to us landlubbers in such a way that the "underworld" becomes that which it truly is: another habitat that happens to be under water.

However, as the chapters rolled on, the book became a "history of diving" that showed the depth of research Mr Ecott did for this book. Jaques Cousteau and the Aqualung of the 1940s are what hastened SCUBA diving as we know it today; only the race to the moon is what slowed research down once the 1960s came.

This book is highly recommended to those spouses, friends and lovers who nag the SCUBA-obsessed divers. Give them this book and make them read it. They will then better understand the passion and beauty that's found only below the sea. Sea for yourself!

Good book, well written, interesting facts and also for the non diver a good read.

The first time I read this book I was in the process of completing my Divemaster certification and also reading PADI's Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving. Neutral Buoyancy covers about 75% of the same information as found in the ERD text; but does so written in a travel memoir style from the authors personal experience, allowing for a much more approachable format for the general reader. The book is well written and I found it difficult to put down, a must read.

I bought this book as a gift for a scuba diver. It came quickly, and is exactly the kind of book scuba divers love to read!

It was nice to read a book without all the filler. No lingering fluff. Barracuda is fast-paced, to the point, fun, and easy to read. Anyone that works Public Service knows this stuff follows us no matter where we are. We also always seem to find other Public Service workers out on vacation, usually at the bar. I can relate to several different scenarios portrayed in this book during my own adventures. As a diver, I am glad I too keep a knife on my leg and trauma scissors in my vest! Now back to trying to finish a fluff-filler book.

Mike Monahan's Barracuda is an action packed fish tale. As a scuba diver, I may never enter the water again without thinking twice. "It" as Mr. Monahan calls his mutant killer fish is a loathsome creature. Mutated from years of living in nuclear bomb residue in the Bikini Atoll, when this monster fish is released from its lair, nothing in its realm is safe. NOTHING!

A wild array of characters including an NYPD officer, a couple of marine scientists, some extreme Aussie scuba divers, the Russian Mob, the Japanese Mob and a few local Bikinians make the story diverse. The setting of a 5-star dive resort and casino and its surrounding waters make it exciting. Money laundering, murder and all out hysteria during a hotel grand opening make it intriguing.

All in all Barracuda is an enjoyable fun story and very worth reading. Just beware if you're a diver.

Michael Balkind
Author of Sudden Death

Most people need a vacation to recover from their vacation but NYPD detective Mike O'Shaunghnessy takes things to the extreme! After being shot in the line of duty, Mike is ordered on vacation by the attractive precinct psychologist. The psychologist has an equally attractive sister in the travel industry who arranges for him to visit a posh new hotel on Bikini Island. Mike looks forward to a week of relaxation and SCUBA diving.

Even before Mike reaches his destination, he finds out that all is not well in paradise. There is money laundering happening and he is asked to keep his eyes open. Unfortunately, Mike's confidence still isn't back to 100%. Forewarned is forearmed and Mike watches closely as he settles into his luxurious accommodations.

The action picks up quickly for Mike as people come up missing, strange deaths happen in the water and the obvious tensions between the Japanese and Russian staff. Mike must be at his best if he is going to survive.

I enjoyed the realistic descriptions of SCUBA diving procedures and the concept of a mutant killer fish is absolutely horrifying! Author Mike Monahan has created an enjoyable ride for any reader who like a good mystery.

If you think this is another fish story, you have another thing coming.
Barracuda is full of twists and turns. I will keep my review short because there are so many other wonderful reviews stating the facts about the book.

At the beinning of the novel, you are introduced to the Barracuda. After you read about it, you are intrigued to find out more. Micko, the main character in the novel, is a NYPD detective. He is witty and this novel keeps you going from beginning to the end.

If you love great detective work and scuba diving, you will love this novel.

Mr. Monahan is a charming master of inner stories.

Once you pick up the book and start reading this book, you realize, you better not have plans for the day. With a driving force of mad raw passion, each page you turn digs you deeper into a mysterious and corrupt world.

Dark, riviting and a must read. This is an awesome novel that deserves a look. Be sure to check it out, hopefully we get the sequel soon!

This book is a must read for new divers. It will really drive home the points that you were taught during certification. I don't recommend this book to the non-diver however I think it might scare non-divers out of the water.

Great after dive analysis, not only a great read but also teaches from others mistakes.

Scuba Diving magazine has run all of these stories. Was hoping for something I had not seen before. Did not research this before I bought it, did not realize it was just same stories. If you read Scuba Diving magazine, Lessons for Life you don't need this book unless you are looking to have them at your fingertips in one volume. Wish I had not spent the money on this.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. As someone looking to get recertified in scuba, I learned a great deal on how NOT to be a statistic.

Diver Down is an easy to read book that appeals to all divers, expert or novice. The book focuses on mistakes made by divers at all experience, levels which in some cases cost them their lives. Reading this book will enable you to learn valuable lessons without making the same mistakes these unfortunate divers made.

I think among divers it is generally known, that the majority of dive accidents could easily have been prevented with better planning or better reactions to occuring problems.
Newer divers, and even some experienced ones, however lack certain experiences, that make dives safe while still being enjoyable.
This book gets you thinking...
I myself came away from reading it with one or two things that I will do differently in the future...
I can recommend this book to any diver.

the stories in and of them selves for the most part are interesting however a major drawback is that he can not write. he says he is waxing prosaic. and guess what he is absolutely correct. for a much better examppe of underwater adventures and vastly superior writing would be shadow divers. the writing makes this almost unfinishable however it is written at a grade 10 level so it doesnt take much time to blow through it. newmarket press should have insisted on a real writer to tell the story . this is truly a waste of very interesting material

I am an experienced technical diver and was fascinated with that aspect of this book. Mr. Lenihan is indeed a good story teller. I wouldn't be caught dead doing some of the dives that they did on air-- but then again they were diving years ago when no mixed gasses were easily available. I feel that I have the right to take souvenirs from shipwrecks if I've gone to the trouble and expense to get to them and they're going to just corrode away in the sea. But Mr. Lenihan makes his points about preservation without being obnoxious and self-righteous and I like that. He made me think enough about the value of these wrecks that even though I'll probably still take small souvenirs, my newly informed conscience would keep me from taking anything too nice. Don't buy this book if you want to know the best and safest ways to deep dive or cave dive. I'm not saying they aren't real good divers but they dive with air and a prayer. Still, in all, I really enjoyed it.

Submerged is not only the title of the book but describes my feeling when reading it. Lenihan took me on a deep journey. I'm only an amateur diver but the simple clarity of the writing allowed to me a glimpse into the professional side of underwater work. The book was compelling but I must say at times I was uneasy-there was a dark side to even the lighter narratives. He and his diving team had some of the most frightening and even bizarre experiences I've ever read about and ones I personally would not find worth the risks. Nevertheless I must give them credit for such extreme dedication to historic preservation. I read the book over three evenings and most enjoyed the personal stories. My husband found the same book interesting for very different reasons. He was most interested in the history and romance of the shipwrecks.

I loved this book so much! I was truly saddened when i reached the end. Mr Lenihan obviously loves his job and brings these stories to life with vivid storytelling. I'm never letting this book leave my possesion.

Sometimes it's hard to tell by the title what a book is all about. "Submerged -- Adventures of America's Most Elite Underwater Archeology Team" certainly sounds interesting, but I wasn't quite sure about to the exact nature of the volume. Turns, out it is the recollection of the founder and former chief of the United States National Park Service Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, a group of National Park Service divers, scientists and other professionals seeking to document and catalog shipwrecks. The "SCRU team" is thus a legitimate part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, yet it is one that's about as far removed from stereotypical deskbound civil service as one can imagine. Over a period of 25 years, author Daniel Lenihan created and crafted a team of divers whose skills and sense of adventure was second to none, yet also a group that combined astonishing underwater feats with a keen sense of archeological and anthropological imperatives.

Lenihan describes his own introduction to cave diving as one of the pioneers who developed and advanced the state of the art when the sport was young and so many died in their often ill-conceived pursuits that the government considered closing off the Florida cave systems. Like most divers, young Lenihan was intrigued by finding and recovering artifacts but, unlike most, he quickly discovered that removing them meant destroying perhaps their most intrinsic value, that of learning from the past, the setting where they were found, the condition they and their surroundings were in. In the early 1970s he studied anthropology at the University of Florida, then joined the National Park Service as a "Park Ranger/Archeologist." Lenihan's quest essentially became a fight against the mindless destruction of shipwreck sites by treasure and artifact hunters by finding and documenting them so they could be properly protected as national cultural resources, just like those above ground.

The book, divided into three parts ("Caves, Dams, Shipwrecks, and Dreams;" "The SCRU Team;" and "Reaching Out") and 22 chapters, documents Lenihan's lifelong quest, their early missions, and how his team's influence and reputation grew until it was called to work in all parts of the world, often in conjunction with the US Navy and other governmental entities. We learn about the development of underwater surveying techniques, ranging from simple measuring and triangulation all the way to sophisticated high-tech scanning and mapping systems later on.

Lenihan describes such diverse operations as diving the frigid waters around Isle Royale (a national park in Lake Superior) to map and document the wealth of shipwrecks surrounding it; to doing the first actual underwater survey of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor; to locating wrecks around Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico; to potentially hazardous dives to the USS Saratoga at the bottom of Bikini Atoll that was used for nuclear tests in the 1940s and 50s; to discoveries around Micronesian islands. He describes almost impossible-to-get-to excursions into Kauhako Crater on Molokai; underwater searches in the Aleutians where tactical side-maneuvers had played a large role in the outcome of the more major seabattles of WW II; grisly rescue and recovery missions in poorly accessible locations where even Navy divers deferred; and making sure French divers properly surveyed and protected a sunken Confederate raider, the CSS Alabama, in the English Channel off the coast of France. Learning, developing, training, passing on always figure large in Lenihan's work, as does a healthy respect of the dangers of diving, and the ensuing meticulous preparation and following of diving protocol and procedures. There are many other examples, all wonderfully described in Lenihan's style that merges good storytelling with precise technical information and always a nod of appreciation towards those who helped him and his team, plus a good deal of pride in their accomplishments.

"Submerged" presents all of this in a holistic way -- recollections, experiences, reports, suggestions. Lenihan includes adventures of his youth, including cave diving trips to Mexico with such pioneers as Sheck Exley who later perished in one of the very caves they had explored, as well as hopes for the future.

This is a book about diving both as a passion and as a tool for the greater good of mankind, in this instance the preservation of underwater heritage. "My conviction, which has emerged from thirty years of diving, is that shipwrecks and underwater caves are places where one can touch the past in the most special ways," writes Lenihan who also described himself as someone who once "associated with professors and students who thought SDS, SNCC, and Abbie Hoffman were too damn conservative." Out of that counter-cultural mindset grew a sense of responsibility for our submerged heritage, and the drive to make it real, that sets a shining example of what can be accomplished when passion and purpose merge in a career, and that fortunate synthesis Lenihan successfully shares in this eminently readable and highly recommendable book.

SCRU is now the Submerged Resources Center of the National Park Service. Its website at http://home.nps.gov/applications/submerged/ contains a wealth of interesting materials, including additional materials and images of many of the SCRU projects described in the book. Some detailed reports are availabled as PDF files at http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/hisnps/submerged.htm -- C. H. Blickenstorfer, scubadiverinfo.com

This book is helpful in finding the best places to snorkel on Maui. It also advises on places to avoid. Great book!

I went snorkeling in northwest Maui in April 2007, and found the Malinoski guide to be accurate and more complete than other guides that I read.

If you are going to Maui and plan to snorkel, this book is a MUST !!!! It will take you to sites you would NEVER find on your own.

I have used both the Snorkel Kauai and this book on different trips to Hawaii. On our most recent trip to Maui, I found this book to be quite useful for finding those harder to find access points to the numerous beaches in South Maui. I also have the Maui Revealed book by Dougherty & Friedmann, but I find their discussions on snorkeling spots to be quite limited in all of their books and definitely not as good. Also, with Snorkel Maui and Lanai, the beaches are organized geographically around the island, the maps are closer to the page describing the beach, and the directions to get to the beach and find parking are much better than you will find in the Maui Revealed book. I didn't mean this to be a comparison of these two books, but based on other comments, I think if you want to explore the beaches in detail for where is best to snorkel you should buy this book. It is not expensive and is a good deal.

The most useful section of this book is on pages 40-42, "Maui Snorkeling Sites at a Glance". They list the beaches going from west to south to east around the island and a "snorkel worthy" rating, how easy is the access, facilities, what page you'll find the description on, and then a brief note on each. These pages are well worth the cost of the book and I would use them constantly to plan our next day. I found their ratings (A, B, or C) to be dead on and "easy, intermediate, or advanced" rating to be good, too. The next best aspect of the book is letting you know about the beach access parking, you don't often get that for every beach in Maui Revealed.

A very useful book!

P.S. As they suggest, do NOT miss Honolua Bay, Malu'aka Beach, and the Fishbowl (we followed the instructions from Maui Revealed for that one, though). Ulua Beach was beautiful and good for snorkeling, too.

Hope this helps.

We went to many spots in this book, and found the rating system to be a little off. In general, the Caribbean offers superior snorkeling to Hawaii, and even the best spot that the authors may rave about in this book is mediocre at best. We also found other guide books to give more accurate info on the best snorkel spots. This book is good if you are afraid of the water or have kids, but those more experienced may actually be better off without the book, relying instead on timely advice from locals.

I found this to be a very insightful review of a tragic event. It brings to light how in a situation like this your safety is largely in the hands of the captain. Since reading this book, my 13 y/o son, who also read the book, and I did a one week live aboard in the Bahamas. In contradistinction to the WD captain, our Captain Paul, was meticulous in ensuring our safety. He or his crew would do a moving predive to make sure the currents at dive sites were within safe limits. We ran day and night to the Cay Sal banks, had an incredible and safe adventure. Kudos to the captains and crew who do their jobs. NSH makes you realize what can happen when they don't.

I read this book after having been on the Belize Aggressor Aug 2007, which was the boat that didn't capsize. It's a fascinating book, particularly if you've either been on one of the boats or are planning to be. One of the misconceptions I've seen in various writings is when a particular liveaboard is called a 'party' boat - I've been on many liveaboards and none of them have been party boats. After getting up at 6:00am everyday and doing a day's worth of diving, everyone generally goes to bed at a reasonable hour in order to be well rested for the next day. Who wants to be hungover when you've paid good money to dive in these exotic locations? If by chance, a boat becomes a 'party' boat, its because that week's charter is more interested in drinking than diving, and that hasn't been my experience on liveaboards. People go on liveaboards because they want to immerse themselves in scuba diving and the wonderful world that opens up to them below the ocean's surface.

As a diving aficionado, I remember hearing about the Wavedancer tragedy when it occurred, but never knew the background and details surrounding the event. I stumbled upon this book by accident, bought it on a whim (and based on Theresa Mars's review) and am glad I did.

Joe Burnworth has created a vivid and interesting account of an event that robbed us of so many good people, but the story is faithful to who they were and their lives, although tragically cut short.

It was a page-turner, and one I found almost impossible to put down once I got going. I even held off on another book I had begun reading several weeks earlier because No Safe Harbor was so compelling in its scope.

Although I knew none of the members of the Richmond Diving Club and very little about the events other than what I had seen on the news six years ago, I came away with a much deeper appreciation for what happened and how dangerous and deadly mother nature can be.

Baghdad
10-10-07

As I diver, I found this book riveting. It is a quick read and an interesting depiction of the final events surrounding the Wave Dancer dive ship caught in a hurricane.

I've been on the boat that is the subject of this book, and the one that has replaced it. The author did a good job of capturing the experience of live aboard dving. Passages vividly recalled my time on both boats.

It was a quick, engrossing read that was for the most part I enjoyed. I did dread turing the page and seeing another page long doubled spaced weather report. I had questions as to HOW this tragedy occured, this book answered all my questions. All in all a worthwhile read for the divers among us...

Great Book, did more for my spearfishing than any other book i've read, including some highly regarded 'manuals' on the subject. covers brief history, and lots of important bits of info woven into these tales. this is way more than just a story, it'll change your attitude, perception and comfort level in the water. i wish it were updated to current status of overfishing as well as recent bluewater techniques...

I really enjoyed this book. It is a fast easy read, however it didn't fail to stimulate my immagination throughout it. The author jumps around a bit to past stories of spearfishing elsewhere, but they are filled with some unbelievable events. I am a spearfisherman myself and this was my first Carlos Eyles book. I was hoping it would have some more technical information, but nonetheless I was very happy reading it. I am going to read more of his books in which I'm sure I will find more of this information along with more exciting stories. Spearfisherman or not, if you are in love with the sea like I am and appreciate all it has to offer the mind, body and soul, you will also appreciate this book. Carlos is a man of the sea and he will make you want to experience it for yourself.

I spent a summer as a kid freediving and spearfishing in La Jolla, Calif.. This book took me back to that time and documents a history of spearfishing that goes all the way back to its birth here in the US. A really great read. I was sad when it was over. Wonderful first hand accounts of the men who went deep and who are still discovering the biggest and last frontier on our planet.

I love this book. It puts me in the water on those sad days when I can't get out. I recomend this for anyway that enjoys spearfishing, freediving, or the ocean.

I would recommend this book to anyone that likes fishing, the ocean, or nature in general. It was very touching in the end with his final sentences. I am sad to say that 9 out of 10 times it was not a page-turner. I learned so much, but you have to stick with it to enjoy it. I absolutely loved the writing style used in this book. Carlos takes things from the beginning and middle of the story and puts you on hold, and then wraps it up in the end. Sometimes the book got boring and other times you wish it didn't end. The author gave many details about life under the sea and the journey of a hunter.

On the last page of All the Guys are Bad Guys, author Ned Lord's protagonist Andy Bowers says regarding the prospect of writing a book about his great adventure, "I've always liked Ned as a name. Maybe I'll call myself Ned something." Well, Andy, or Ned, you've pulled it off! This rates well for a first offering, and Andy Bowers is right up there with Dirk Pitt. Move Over Clive Cussler, there's a new kid in the pool.

I am an avid fan of both Robert B. Parker and Elmore Leonard. This new writer brings a talent to writing that will be good competition for these seasoned writer sas he gains experience.

Yes, there is a little slow-down in the middle, but overall, I was interested from the beginning and and kept right with it until the unusual ending.

Ned did his homework and the diving action descriptions were plausible and exciting. He has a good imagination and uses it well to create plot twists and turns.

I am looking forward to reading more books from Ned Lord.

This was an excellent adventure story. The book takes its time in getting to the main "event" but keeps the reader locked in for the ride. The plot was simplistic and played out as to be expected without the tossed in turn that many other books feature. This was a welcome change as the book relied more upon its characters to fill the story. A great balance between character building and story telling leaves me waiting for the next installment.

This is a very good first effort by Ned Lord. I think we may be hearing more from him. He has assembled an interesting cast of characters, led by the protagonist Andy Bowers. Although the pace could have been faster at times, the storyline keeps you interested. I know nothing about sailing or diving, but the author's description makes you feel like you're there. I hope that we get more of Andy Bowers adventures in the future.

The are a few drawbacks which have already been mentioned: The pacing of the novel is forced in places and slow in the middle. The title of the book is somewhat of a precursor to the action that follows. And there are the normal first book jitters. However, the story carries the book in my opinion. I'm not a sailing enthusiast and I don't read many books about sailing but that portion of the book is still very intriguing and still managed to hold my attention. The development of the main character is handled extremely well; as is the author's ability to neatly tie everything together for a solid ending. There's also the expectation of a second book because of certain aspects of the ending (I don't want to give away any spoilers.)
If I was limited in what I was allowed to say I would simply say, "If you enjoy a good, action-filled, mystery adventure, you can't go wrong with Ned Lord."