Cave Diving Books

I just returned from Playa del Carmen and did two cavern dives.Chacmoo and Tajmaha. If only I had more time. This book is as real as it gets. The water IS as clear as Evian. Steve Gerrard has done a splendid job.

Steve has put together an amazing guide for those divers that want to go to Mexico. It covers everything from where to stay, what sites to go to, what each site has to offer. Steve has done an amazing job. The photos in this book are just breath taking.

While I admit that this is an EXCELLENT resource for cave diving in the Yucatan, and is definately worth 5 stars and the trouble of purchase, there is NO way I can be advocate for some internet jockey raping people for $291 for this book which I bought brand new for $35.00. These people need to either lay off the dope or learn to share.. because that is OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! If you really want to spend that kind of money, hire a guide or send it directly to steve, but dont buy it here for over $40 usd!
Shop before you buy.. this is not the only source!
(simple cave diver looking out for the like..)

Five Stars Plus. As a certified cave diver of two years, I have found that Steve's book is the most concise, informative, and conclusive book I've read on cave diving. It not only discussed diving in the Riviera Maya, but provides a succinct overview of the preparation and equipment needed to dive in caves. Not only are the pictures highly professional, but they also capture the true to life experience of diving in the cenotes. As other reviewers have stated, I support the comments that this book allows other non-cave divers (as in my family) to get a feel for the underwater cave experience and help explain why we want to go there. James Yeary, Krum, TX

This book is a goldmine of information for the traveler to the Riviera Maya. Cave divers, Cavern Divers, Open Water Divers, Snorklers and Swimmers alike will find this book indispensible.

While some of the best above and under water cave photography in the world is contained within this book, it is the detailed information that allows the adventurer to veer off the beaten path to some of the most beautiful locales in the Yucatan.

As a frequent traveler to the Riviera Maya, this book has led to many locations I would never have found on my own. The author does an excellent job of detailing the many hundreds of cenotes in the area, including location, access, site rating and description, along with a photograph of most all locations. I heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Riviera Maya.

This is an absolute must for every technical/overhead diver but also an intriguing super enjoyable book for all divers and non-divers alike. Exley was not only the best cave diver ever but a great writer too. You will not put it down!

Hard to put down. It's an exhilarating ride for an autobiography. The history of cave diving is the history of Sheck Exley. He pioneered many of the cave diving protocols and risked his life testing the theories. All divers owe Sheck our gratitude.

Highly recommended.

Sheck's book delves deep into what drives people to pursue an activity that most "sane" people shudder even to think about. Written by the one individual who was recognized as the finest cave diver in the world, he has both the experience and breadth of knowledge to write a truly superlative text on cave diving. Included in his narrative is a history of cave diving, related by one who helped set much of it. During his life, Sheck helped set the standards for safe cave diving, and was responsible for pushing many of the limits of the sport. In fact, many of those barriers he broke still stand as records or significant milestones. With the publication of this book, Sheck, even after his unfortuanate, untimely death, continues to contribute to an endeavor that epitomizes the nature of man... the curiosity, drive, and willingness to explore the environment in which he lives, even though the price of that knowledge may be death. If you are interested in caves, diving, or just man's willingness to explore, this book is a "must read."

I read this book from front to back in about 4 days. It was a very enjoyable read and very hard to put down. Exley did a very good job describing the early years of cave diving and how it evolved to it's present state circa 1993.
I didn't want the book to end, for I knew that one more turned page was one step closer to the end of Exley's life.
I have read many books on diving-The Last Dive, Submerged, The Cave Divers, Final Descent, etc.- and I have to say that Caverns... was one of the more descriptive,better moving books of all that I have read. It was fascinating to read about all of the research, preperation and logistics that went into Exley's record setting dives. I also found it interesting to read about Exley's incredible luck through 20 plus years of diving. Of all the envelope pushing that was a part of cave diving and deep diving's infancy it was very apparent that Exley was incredibly lucky to not die or get seriously bent in his record breaking pursuits. Others around him, even partners, seemed to succum to the deep while Exley remained unscathed. Incredible luck or Incredible talent? Probably a lot of both.
What needs to be written now is an addendum to the book that discusses Exleys fatal dive at Mante and how and why it happened.
One thing is for certain, had Exley not lived, many of the safety measures that are a part of everyday life for a scuba diver would not have been invented. We scuba divers, won't fully realise the contribution that Exley made until we read this book.
A Great book, a keeper to be re-read many times.

Sheck Exley is without a doubt the best cavediverin the world, probably unchallened in that title. Here we are invited into his world to share in his unharnessed thrill of the dive. You are welcomed to see through his eyes the beauty of what awaits. Many of todays standards in cave diving were set by Exley he has set many records that today stand still unchallenged. If you have the tiniest of desire to cave and explore the wonderous beauty of caverns or understand the desire of those who do, this is the book you need to read.

CAVES: EXPLORING HIDDEN REALMS by Michael Ray Taylor (0792279042, $35.00) provides some outstanding cave shots from caving experiences around the world. The book accompanies a new film 'Journey Into Amazing Caves' which was released in March 2001: many of the hundred-plus photos are from the film and highlight places no large-format camera has gone before.

I am always left breatheless at the majestic beauty of every cave I am blessed to enter. This book gives wonderful descriptions of caves and the pictures in this coffeesque style book are the icing on the cake.

I really liked this book. It has good pictures for people who want to be a cave explorer. It tells you a good description of the caves these people explored. I really liked the fact that they explored ice, water and earth caves. I think students that are studying caves would really like this book

Many of us have probably been very fascinated with caves since we were small children. However, we probably never had the actual experience of exploring caves nor will we ever undertake such a voyage to many of our planet's uncharted regions.

Perhaps, the wisest and safest way to satisfy our curiosity pertaining to the study of caves, or as it is called, Speleology, is to seek out a good reference text. National Geographic Society's coffee-table book entitled CAVES: EXPLORING HIDDEN REALMS, authored by Michael Ray Taylor, would certainly meet the criteria as being one of the most outstanding introductions to the mysteries of the underground.

The tome is the companion text to the McGillivray Freeman Imax film by the same title.
Taylor separates the book into three distinct sections, ice, water and earth in order that we have a general understanding as to where caves are to be located as well as their respective formations. As the author states: "the skin of the world hides many caves. All are profoundly shaped by, and profoundly affect, the nature of the land overhead. Caves are to a surface landscape as veins and capillaries are to a human face-the hidden structure of an inseparable whole."

The ice section introduces us to the caves of the heartland of Greenland where glossy photos provide us with fantastic visual entertainment that convey to us the beauty of these caves as well as the danger constantly prevalent within. Moreover, we are also clued in to the many animal creatures found within these subterranean enclaves such as the tardigrade. It is to be noted that the study of life in caves is known as biospeleology.

Our adventure moves onto to some of the caves discovered beneath the Yucatan or the section dealing with water. One only has to stare at the introductory photos to this chapter and we can appreciate the utterances of the cavers when they assert: "we are amid the wildest scenery we had yet found in Yucatan; and, besides the deep and exciting interest of the ruins themselves, we had around us what we wanted at all other places, the magnificence of nature."

The final stop on our journey delivers us to the caves of the earth where we explore the deepest one in the United States, Lechuguilla located in New Mexico. We also venture into the caves of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia or as they are termed the TAG region. The spectacular photo of the Lechuguilla certainly reaffirms the statement that "a picture is worth a thousand words."

Enhancing the usefulness of the book are the many articles pertaining to the study of caves that have been contributed by several well-known experts. These short essays also include those of the author, Michael Ray Taylor, who has explored more than 600 caves in expeditions that have taken him around the world.

Bon voyage on your next expedition into the world of caves where all you will need is a good chair and Michael Ray Taylor's brilliant book.

Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures.com

This book is very well written with lovingly detailed chapters devoted to the many splendid cave networks dotted around the world. There's a great section on the flora and fauna of the underworld, as well. I went potholing in Kak Canyon once, and saw a couple of chutney ferrets, all thanks to this book. Incredible creatures - and I wouldn't have known they were there until I read this.

As I have already said in another review of this man's work, for those who knew the late Rob Palmer, as I once did, I think most would agree he was difficult to like but easy to respect for his work. In life he always sought to be different - and in many ways that was from where his great gift of being a diving pioneer came. Until his early death just a few short years ago (already!) Rob Palmer was the one man who knew more about true Blue Holes than any other person on earth.

In 1985 I was appointed Chief Diver for Operation Raleigh and Rob was one of the Diving Officer's responsible for a specific diving project out in the field. Because of his own particular skills and experience, I was aware that he at least "knew what he was doing."

Today, all divers who call themselves "Technical Diver" because of their use of mixed gases, Nitrox etc, owe something to the Rob Palmers of this world for their pioneering work in testing different gases to different extents - so that we who follow may dive ever deeper and ever further - in greater safety.

This book puts into perspective his work with regard to the Blue Holes over many years. It explains the successes, the disappointments and the excitement that went hand in glove with this particular sphere of exploration. It is well written and tells a very important story. Whether or not you personally get to dive the Blue Holes of the Caribbean - this is a book which every scuba diver should read.

Having personally "been there, done that and got the T-shirt" (Really!) I fully recommend the Blue Holes if only because they offer a different type of diving from anywhere else in the world. Should you feel the same way and want to learn more about these incredible phenomena - especially the Blue Holes of the Bahamas, then this book becomes essential reading.

NM

Palmer uses a fine documentative approach, weaving the evolution and aspects of technical diving with the biology and history of the Andros Island blue holes and caves. The challenging, sometimes fatal experiences of diving these beautiful caves is described in a smooth almost conversational style. A great read for divers, and anyone interested in the Caribbean.

I once had a copy of this book; sadly, no longer. I loaned it to a friend who moved to higher places and well, I never got my book back.

Although not a caver or a cave diver myself (I am too scared of tight little dark holes), this book is very appealing for that very fact - the "squeezes" that the divers go through to find the "ultimate" cave makes for terrific reading. So much so that it could (almost) make me take to cave diving. The book has numerous full colour plates showing the terrific underwater scenery of the Blue Holes (of Andros Island in the Bahamas). If you're into diving pictures, they alone are worth the book.

Rob Palmer is one of cave diving's greats. He's dived with pretty much the who's who in the world of cave and 'extreme' (depth) divers. While the book tells in detail hopw each dive is conquered, sobering thoughts jump to mind when a story relates how the divers turn a bend in the channel they think they are the first to discover, and find the body of a previous explorer who got lost and couldn't find his way out.....

Gripping stuff. Wish I still had my copy.

Deep Into Blue Holes is a great read if for nothing more than the adventure of going where no man had gone before. It is much more than that if the readers involve themselves in understanding the technology used in Palmer's efforts to explore deep and stay long. Cutting edge at the time and very expensive, it's now available to all cave divers. As an aside, Palmer, now deceased, is rolling over in his watery grave if he can see the ecological damage done (and still being done) to those beautiful Bahamian inner spaces. Having dived some of these myself and seen their mysterious beauty, cave divers and ecologists everywhere should unite in their efforts to prevent similar abuses to resources like these wherever they may be.

Martin Farr's book is by far the best book on the subject of history and development of cave diving. It is really exciting as you follow the development of the sport over the years from before the war to the latest trimix dives, scooter etc... Geographically it concentrates on the UK (about 1/3 of the book) and then Europe, USA and the rest of the world. Mandatory for anyone involved in cave diving and recommended for all interested in adventure stories.

Farr tells the complete story of cave diving in England's caves (often sumps), and then describes all major explorations worldwide (up until the beginning of the nineties). The book is not centered on Florida's caves so american cave divers might be somewhat disappointed. There are many pictures and drawings, the account is always accurate and detailed. It is a very interesting lecture and reference for any cave diver, not very much so for an open water diver. Cave divers are explorers that always pursue the extreme: deeper or longer into a cave; this will probably fascinate most adventure seeking people.

Good scary reading. Great book. Journey underground into the dark depths of the earth, to a world that few dare to tread. Read this book if you dare! For other underground adventures read, Steward's "Tales of Dirt, Danger, and Darkness."

The book is a good description of the history of the sport. Combined with the Master Exley's "Caverns Measureless to Man", one has a good set of stories on the origins of the sport and some of the scary stories.
The second half unfortunately seems a little anecdotal and turns into something that only the die-hard archeology enthusiast would want to get further into. While entranced in the first few chapters, I got pretty bored with the rest. If you want horror stories from caving, read also Exley's Basic Cave Diving - A Blueprint for Survival. It's a hand-typed, thin pamphlet of a book, but it's one of those essential reads, even if you don't intend to do the sport - like me.

Burgess's recount of these various cave diving episodes makes a good read. It is not very detailed on technical aspects, nor pretends to be a comprehensive re-tracing of the cave diving history. It does however weave in suspense filled short stories the beginnings of cave diving, its major players and their accomplishments. Without the boring list type of dry dates, names and events. Will interest the few passionate about the sport, as well as all adrenaline rush and adventure seekers. To me, it gave a backdrop, a character and a soul to many of those names I looked up to when I started venturing deeper and longer in the underwater realm.

Burgess's recount of these various cave diving episodes makes a good read. It is not very detailed on technical aspects, nor pretends to be a comprehensive re-tracing of the cave diving history. It does however weave in suspense filled short stories the beginnings of cave diving, its major players and their accomplishments. Without the boring list type of dry dates, names and events. Will interest the few passionate about the sport, as well as all adrenaline rush and adventure seekers. To me, it gave a backdrop, a character and a soul to many of those names I looked up to when I started venturing deeper and longer in the underwater realm.

New to technical diving, I found this historical perspective very interesting. Being French, I was most impressed by Burgess' firsts stories about early dives by pioneers. Each chapter recounts a Cave diving exploration history, and can be read independently. It is also well written, in an entertaining style and does not try to play it too "tekkie". The focus is on exploration. I spent a straight week nights on it, and loved it all the way down. You gonna be hooked.

'Robert Burgess succeeds in conveying the excitement, eloquently painting pictures of the sights and describing the intellectual challenges and satisfactions, masterfully mixing adventure with history, sociology, archaeology and some hard-learned lessons in physics. There are chapters with unexpectedly happy endings and others detailing tragic mistakes made in this unforgiving environment... it is easy to see why this book earned a 'Book of the Year' award from Forward Magazine... As a photographer, Burgess is able to add another dimension to this book... Burgess' photos cover many decades and many caves... Overall, the book is a delight, entertaining and an easy read. It's a great vacation book, full of adventure, divided into chapters that can easily stand alone or mesh together...[Burgess] masterfully glides the reader through tales of history that cavers and non-cavers will enjoy.' Susan Brillhart Book Review IMMERSED. The International Technical Diving Magazine

Many years have passed since the first edition still this basic manual is a must read for any Cave Diver.

This booklet is the first cave diving manual and although decades old it is amazingly contemporary and still extremely useful to all technical/overhead divers. A must have book for every serious divers' library.

The "brand new fifth edition" of Basic Dave Diving is last copyrighted 1986. I'm intrigued by cave diving, but am not yet a cave diver, so I don't know for sure, but question if some of the equipment discussed in absolutely up-to-date. The addresses for instructors and phone numbers for Florida recompression facilities may also be in question. I'm trusting, though, that the National Speleological Society (NSS) is not continuing to print something that promotes dangerous, discredited, technique. Moreoever, I've seen this book in the dive shops in north central Florida, and it still seems to be in use for cave diving instruction.

First, for those who judge value in the book by the quality of printing, note that this booklet is a typewritten, photocopied, booklet, copied on 8-1/2-x-11 in paper and folded in half with a cardstock cover. I just mention this so someone expecting more is not disappointed.

The book is divided into 10 short chapters, each 3 to 8 pages long, and the book can be easily read in its entirety in one evening. Each chapter begins with an actual accident report and an accident analysis leading into the subject of the chapter, whether it be silt, lights, guidline, air supply planning, etc.. Each chapter focusses on one aspect of proper cave diving, and thus the book divides techniques into small, easily digestible, pieces. Each chapter tells you what it needs to without adding extraneous information to complicate your understanding.

Note that the book focusses on cave diving technique in Florida, and warns the reader that different techniques may be appropriate in other locations.

I think that this book is a good, inexpensive, introduction to cave diving for someone with a curiosity about this sport, whether or not you plan to pursue it. The book is also written by the probably best-known person in the field of Cave Diving. (Don't let the fact that Sheck Exley died cave diving cause you discredit the information in this book - he balanced the risks with the rewards and willingly chose to push the limits of cave diving.)

It would be irresponsible of me to conclude this review without a warning. An open water diver armed with the this book might think that they know enough to safely cave dive, but PLEASE do not attempt cave diving without training from an appropriate agency. I am an open water divemaster, and do not feel that I yet have the experience to even begin cave diving training. Before beginning cave or cavern diving training, a diver requires extensive open water experience, must be thoroughly comfortable in the water, must be able to handle emergency situations without panicking, and must be physically fit.

Very important mind forming book about cave diving. Accident analysis covering the firsts statistical reasons people get killed in cave diving. s.Exley was among the most important people to learn from. All cave divers need this to play "What if..."

There are several dangers that exist with cave diving. This book covers each one of these points with absolute clarity. With the description of each danger an accident analysis is reviewed where divers died by violating one of the basic rules in cave diving. This book saved my life. It is a must for anyone that is considering cave diving. With proper training and equipment Cave Diving can be a safe sport. This is a good primar on the subject

The Slough was unfinished and it is not as good as the Caves Measureless to Man as a result of this. However it is considered a classic as a standard textbook for underwater cave exploration techniques.

It is what it is - a detailed book about Peacock Springs and some of the other U/W caves of north Florida. It is detailed, well researched book on a specific cave system, from a scuba divers point of view. If you want to learn about this area - might be the ONLY book you can get - hence it is invaluable. Has sections on the biology of caves, geology, maps of caves, past explorers, etc.
I wish they'd spend more time on specifics of all the divers who died in these caves - just to keep the many amateur divers out of them and alive!

If you are a person that wants to get started with cavern diving, this is the book. If you are an experienced cave diver, there is no need to get this because everything is so basic and it talks ALOT about cavern.