The Book Log
Every month, Sterner Editorial Services looks over the
books, DVDs and videos on sport diving shelves with an
eye for who would enjoy them the most. Generally the
newest entries are reviewed, but now and then it's a
classic that has been reprinted. See earlier reviews by
genre in the Book Log Library.
PUBLISHERS
Have your books considered for a review on this page,
which is also published in Northeast Dive News and
Northwest Dive News magazines as well as other
venues. Simply click Contact Bob and send it to the
mailing address. Press releases about new books and
videos are welcome by e-mail, but the only honest way
to evaluate them is by physically reading or viewing
them.
READERS
Tell us about the books and videos you would like
reviewed: e-mail info@sternereditorial.com.
Every month, Sterner Editorial Services looks over the
books, DVDs and videos on sport diving shelves with an
eye for who would enjoy them the most. Generally the
newest entries are reviewed, but now and then it's a
classic that has been reprinted. See earlier reviews by
genre in the Book Log Library.
PUBLISHERS
Have your books considered for a review on this page,
which is also published in Northeast Dive News and
Northwest Dive News magazines as well as other
venues. Simply click Contact Bob and send it to the
mailing address. Press releases about new books and
videos are welcome by e-mail, but the only honest way
to evaluate them is by physically reading or viewing
them.
READERS
Tell us about the books and videos you would like
reviewed: e-mail info@sternereditorial.com.
Click To Enlarge
Cop dives into mystery
You'll wonder what's in the water while reading Barracuda.
Mike Monahan's first novel blends detective, eco-disaster and
spy plots into a 236-page-turner. The dive master and
ex-New York City cop opens his soft cover from Book Surge
on firm ground. His protagonist, New York detective Mick
O'Shaughnessy decides a vacation at Bikini Atoll is what's
needed to overcome jangled nerves and the gunshot wound
that shook them up. There's no rest in this dive paradise,
though, as he stumbles upon an international money
laundering operation, a battle between natives and developers
and a turf war between Russian and Japanese mobsters.
Forget about escaping topside perils by plunging into the
water. Beneath the waves lurks the mother of all barracudas,
a giant mutated by atomic bomb tests there that has developed
a taste for sport divers. Monahan's police, diving and
international travel background help him weave a
suspense-filled tale that resolves almost all of the elements,
leaving the door open for a follow up. ISBN:
978-1419684029. www.mikemonahanbooks.com.
You'll wonder what's in the water while reading Barracuda.
Mike Monahan's first novel blends detective, eco-disaster and
spy plots into a 236-page-turner. The dive master and
ex-New York City cop opens his soft cover from Book Surge
on firm ground. His protagonist, New York detective Mick
O'Shaughnessy decides a vacation at Bikini Atoll is what's
needed to overcome jangled nerves and the gunshot wound
that shook them up. There's no rest in this dive paradise,
though, as he stumbles upon an international money
laundering operation, a battle between natives and developers
and a turf war between Russian and Japanese mobsters.
Forget about escaping topside perils by plunging into the
water. Beneath the waves lurks the mother of all barracudas,
a giant mutated by atomic bomb tests there that has developed
a taste for sport divers. Monahan's police, diving and
international travel background help him weave a
suspense-filled tale that resolves almost all of the elements,
leaving the door open for a follow up. ISBN:
978-1419684029. www.mikemonahanbooks.com.
Deadly Mistake, Good tale
Jim and Pat Stayer ventured from their milieu, Great Lakes
wrecks, to waters off North Carolina to document the demise
of the U-352. Their Out of the Blue Productions DVD A
Deadly Mistake describes what happened after the u-boat
fired upon what it thought was a merchant ship that turned
out to be the Coast Guard Cutter Icarus on May 9, 1942.
Although fairly early in the World War II battle with
Germany, the cutter was armed to the teeth with the newest
weaponry, which later helped to turn the tide in against the
subs that initially crippled U.S. shipping. Newspaper clips,
sketches, historic photos and an extensive interview with the
sub's finder, George Purifoy, tell the story. This find helped
him quit his day job to establish Olympus Dive Center, and
clips of reunions that he sponsored of U-352 and the Icarus
crews add a touching note to the life-and-death battle. Much
of it, though, is footage of what wreck divers love – an
underwater tour of the site including penetration of the
officers' quarters, control room and conning tower. Still shots
of a surviving Type 7C sub are interspersed with the inside
footage to make sense of the silt-covered pipes and gauges.
Dense clouds of fish and Jim Stayer's homey narration give a
warm tone to life springing anew from the devastation of war.
Out Of The Blue Productions
Jim and Pat Stayer ventured from their milieu, Great Lakes
wrecks, to waters off North Carolina to document the demise
of the U-352. Their Out of the Blue Productions DVD A
Deadly Mistake describes what happened after the u-boat
fired upon what it thought was a merchant ship that turned
out to be the Coast Guard Cutter Icarus on May 9, 1942.
Although fairly early in the World War II battle with
Germany, the cutter was armed to the teeth with the newest
weaponry, which later helped to turn the tide in against the
subs that initially crippled U.S. shipping. Newspaper clips,
sketches, historic photos and an extensive interview with the
sub's finder, George Purifoy, tell the story. This find helped
him quit his day job to establish Olympus Dive Center, and
clips of reunions that he sponsored of U-352 and the Icarus
crews add a touching note to the life-and-death battle. Much
of it, though, is footage of what wreck divers love – an
underwater tour of the site including penetration of the
officers' quarters, control room and conning tower. Still shots
of a surviving Type 7C sub are interspersed with the inside
footage to make sense of the silt-covered pipes and gauges.
Dense clouds of fish and Jim Stayer's homey narration give a
warm tone to life springing anew from the devastation of war.
Out Of The Blue Productions
Cave into exploration
Axis Mundi gives viewers an armchair appreciation for rigors
of true exploration. The nearly 50-minute video from Pixnat
Productions documents a 10-day expedition to Mexico's
Yucatan Peninsula, where Curt Bowen and Bret Hemphill lead
a veritable army of divers and support teammates to dive
cenotes, several for the first time. The title means "center of
the world" which is what these water-filled holes in the
limestone were to ancient Mayans. In water-filled passages,
the team found exquisite decorations of stalactites and
stalagmites. They also found remains of not just animals that
may've stumbled into the holes, but human bones and pottery
as well. Whether they are the result of accidents, secondary
burials or human sacrifice can be only speculated, for those
who know the answer are long gone. Balancing the beauty of
the dives is the truly grueling work of mounting an trek into
the foreboding jungle. Ticks, wasps, poisonous plants and
animals are among the inconveniences of cutting through the
lush, hot, steamy land to lug mountains of gear and lowering it
into tiny cave openings. Nathalie Lasselin, Pixnat Productions
owner is among the videographers who document the trip,
which is narrated by Stacy Brown. Original music adds to the
mood of the scenes. Even if you never go there, you're glad
this team did and brought back images.
www.axismundi.pixnat.com.
Axis Mundi gives viewers an armchair appreciation for rigors
of true exploration. The nearly 50-minute video from Pixnat
Productions documents a 10-day expedition to Mexico's
Yucatan Peninsula, where Curt Bowen and Bret Hemphill lead
a veritable army of divers and support teammates to dive
cenotes, several for the first time. The title means "center of
the world" which is what these water-filled holes in the
limestone were to ancient Mayans. In water-filled passages,
the team found exquisite decorations of stalactites and
stalagmites. They also found remains of not just animals that
may've stumbled into the holes, but human bones and pottery
as well. Whether they are the result of accidents, secondary
burials or human sacrifice can be only speculated, for those
who know the answer are long gone. Balancing the beauty of
the dives is the truly grueling work of mounting an trek into
the foreboding jungle. Ticks, wasps, poisonous plants and
animals are among the inconveniences of cutting through the
lush, hot, steamy land to lug mountains of gear and lowering it
into tiny cave openings. Nathalie Lasselin, Pixnat Productions
owner is among the videographers who document the trip,
which is narrated by Stacy Brown. Original music adds to the
mood of the scenes. Even if you never go there, you're glad
this team did and brought back images.
www.axismundi.pixnat.com.
Lowdown on diving
The Diving Almanac & Book of Records just keeps on
getting bigger and better. At 750 pages, the soft-cover book
of argument stoppers is up from the 2008 edition's 620 pages.
Personality profiles have grown to 600, up from 500, and
record entries total 500, up from 300. The new edition sports
a Diving Business Directory section and a Year In Review
chapter that documents events between September 2007 and
December 2008. Underwater photogs get advice on shooting
still shots and videos from Alex Mustard, Ph.D. Handy
sections from prior years are back such as the directory of
world dive destinations with info on climate, currency,
electricity and other data that are helpful in planning dive trips.
The almanac kicks off with a foreword by Hillary Vidders of
the Women Divers Hall of Fame and Academy of Underwater
Arts and Sciences. Best of all, it is packed with short
informative items that are great little reads for moments when
you want a little diversion. Keep this handy reference on the
"library" shelf, right next to the toilet tissue and air freshener.
ISBN: 978-0-9781078-2-6. www.divingalmanac.com.
The Diving Almanac & Book of Records just keeps on
getting bigger and better. At 750 pages, the soft-cover book
of argument stoppers is up from the 2008 edition's 620 pages.
Personality profiles have grown to 600, up from 500, and
record entries total 500, up from 300. The new edition sports
a Diving Business Directory section and a Year In Review
chapter that documents events between September 2007 and
December 2008. Underwater photogs get advice on shooting
still shots and videos from Alex Mustard, Ph.D. Handy
sections from prior years are back such as the directory of
world dive destinations with info on climate, currency,
electricity and other data that are helpful in planning dive trips.
The almanac kicks off with a foreword by Hillary Vidders of
the Women Divers Hall of Fame and Academy of Underwater
Arts and Sciences. Best of all, it is packed with short
informative items that are great little reads for moments when
you want a little diversion. Keep this handy reference on the
"library" shelf, right next to the toilet tissue and air freshener.
ISBN: 978-0-9781078-2-6. www.divingalmanac.com.
Truk extends dive video genre
Wet Film / Dusmar Production took the dive video genre to a
new level with The Legacy of Truk Lagoon. Sure it has the
requisite segments of drifting through a beautiful underwater
playground accompanied with mushy music that's expected of
dive resort videos. However, much of its 47 minutes is taken
with interviews of Truk natives who survived Operation
Hailstorm when Allied forces sank most of the Japanese fleet
there on Feb. 17-18, 1944. Japanese and American veterans
tell of their roles in the battle and its effects. Cinematographer
Neil McDaniel's subjects describe life on the island before and
after the siege, and how it affected the development of the
world-class wreck diving destination that Truk is today.
Historic footage includes not just the battles, but also Japan's
effort to recover and cremate sailors' remains so they could be
returned to their homeland for burial befitting their heroic roles
in battle. It even covers the discovery of the Katsuragisan
Maru, a wreck that long eluded searchers. These elements
make this video a true documentary that presents an underlying
theme on the horror that is war and of the necessity to find
peaceful ways to resolve conflicts if at all possible.
www.subsea-enterprises.com.
Wet Film / Dusmar Production took the dive video genre to a
new level with The Legacy of Truk Lagoon. Sure it has the
requisite segments of drifting through a beautiful underwater
playground accompanied with mushy music that's expected of
dive resort videos. However, much of its 47 minutes is taken
with interviews of Truk natives who survived Operation
Hailstorm when Allied forces sank most of the Japanese fleet
there on Feb. 17-18, 1944. Japanese and American veterans
tell of their roles in the battle and its effects. Cinematographer
Neil McDaniel's subjects describe life on the island before and
after the siege, and how it affected the development of the
world-class wreck diving destination that Truk is today.
Historic footage includes not just the battles, but also Japan's
effort to recover and cremate sailors' remains so they could be
returned to their homeland for burial befitting their heroic roles
in battle. It even covers the discovery of the Katsuragisan
Maru, a wreck that long eluded searchers. These elements
make this video a true documentary that presents an underlying
theme on the horror that is war and of the necessity to find
peaceful ways to resolve conflicts if at all possible.
www.subsea-enterprises.com.
Cozy up to Cozumel
If a trip to Cozumel is in your plans, drop by your dive shop
to pickup up the Lonely Planet guide to "Diving & Snorkeling
Cozumel". The 104-page soft cover is one an extended series
of guides to destinations around the world. It goes beyond
describing in detail 21 of the most popular dive sites on the
island off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. The book offers
chapters on facts about the island's history and climate,
descriptions of typical dive operations and techniques, marine
conservation, health and safety tips, marine life you'll see,
travel facts and a list of operators and their Web sites.
Symbols printed with each of the sites make it easy to
determine the degree of difficulty of the dive and what to
look. Tips on the local culture and top-side activities and
attractions to visit will help first-timers not only get more out
of their trip, but allow them to blend in as veterans to the
island as well. Full-color photos throughout the book will
whet your appetite to get underwater there. The 5- by
7.75-inch guide slips easily into the luggage for a read on the
plane to Mexico or into a jeans pocket when you're strolling
along San Miguel's Melgar Avenue. www.lonelyplanet.com.
If a trip to Cozumel is in your plans, drop by your dive shop
to pickup up the Lonely Planet guide to "Diving & Snorkeling
Cozumel". The 104-page soft cover is one an extended series
of guides to destinations around the world. It goes beyond
describing in detail 21 of the most popular dive sites on the
island off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. The book offers
chapters on facts about the island's history and climate,
descriptions of typical dive operations and techniques, marine
conservation, health and safety tips, marine life you'll see,
travel facts and a list of operators and their Web sites.
Symbols printed with each of the sites make it easy to
determine the degree of difficulty of the dive and what to
look. Tips on the local culture and top-side activities and
attractions to visit will help first-timers not only get more out
of their trip, but allow them to blend in as veterans to the
island as well. Full-color photos throughout the book will
whet your appetite to get underwater there. The 5- by
7.75-inch guide slips easily into the luggage for a read on the
plane to Mexico or into a jeans pocket when you're strolling
along San Miguel's Melgar Avenue. www.lonelyplanet.com.
True test for wreck divers
Jim and Pat Stayer's videos often are litmus tests for divers.
Wreck divers will love them while reef lovers will wonder
about wreck divers' sanity. "Sifting Sands of Time" from their
Out of the Blue Productions provides just such a test. The
21-minute video tells the tales of four wrecks, the Alex
Nimick, Myron, Miztec and Allegheny. All went down in
shallow waters off Lake Superior's Whitefish Point early in
the 20th century as they tried to reach the protection from
raging storms offered by Whitefish Bay just beyond the point.
As the video cruises the bottom, Jim Stayer describes the
function of each pulley, engine part, brass ring and other
items strewn on the bottom, often pausing to read names and
specs off makers' plates and other identifying items. Wreck
divers will hang on every word and marvel at the superb
condition of these parts that are preserved in the lake's cold
freshwater. Still there are parts to catch the ear of non-wreck
divers in the narratives on the history of each vessel, and
quirks about its crewmen, including one captain who had the
misfortune to be at the wheel of three of the four wrecks.
The video's title is drawn from two visits to the Nimick one
year apart. During the interim, sands at the 24-foot-deep site
shifted uncover even more bits of wreckage, including what
might have been the failed part that led to its demise. Reef
divers will roll their eyes. Wrecker divers will click to the
screen featuring the Stayer's other videos so they can order
compete sets. .
Out Of The Blue Productions
Jim and Pat Stayer's videos often are litmus tests for divers.
Wreck divers will love them while reef lovers will wonder
about wreck divers' sanity. "Sifting Sands of Time" from their
Out of the Blue Productions provides just such a test. The
21-minute video tells the tales of four wrecks, the Alex
Nimick, Myron, Miztec and Allegheny. All went down in
shallow waters off Lake Superior's Whitefish Point early in
the 20th century as they tried to reach the protection from
raging storms offered by Whitefish Bay just beyond the point.
As the video cruises the bottom, Jim Stayer describes the
function of each pulley, engine part, brass ring and other
items strewn on the bottom, often pausing to read names and
specs off makers' plates and other identifying items. Wreck
divers will hang on every word and marvel at the superb
condition of these parts that are preserved in the lake's cold
freshwater. Still there are parts to catch the ear of non-wreck
divers in the narratives on the history of each vessel, and
quirks about its crewmen, including one captain who had the
misfortune to be at the wheel of three of the four wrecks.
The video's title is drawn from two visits to the Nimick one
year apart. During the interim, sands at the 24-foot-deep site
shifted uncover even more bits of wreckage, including what
might have been the failed part that led to its demise. Reef
divers will roll their eyes. Wrecker divers will click to the
screen featuring the Stayer's other videos so they can order
compete sets. .
Out Of The Blue Productions
Fiction author gets serious
Paul J. Mila took more than notes as he crisscrossed the dive
sites of the world to research his adventure novels on Terry
Hunter, his globe-trotting protagonist. He took a lot of
underwater photos as well. Now with "Basic Underwater
Photography" he is branching from fiction into guidebooks
with a text intended to help neophytes get the most from their
new point-and-shoot digital cameras. All images were taken in
the camera's "auto" setting, he notes, suggesting that budding
photographers can master the additional control offered with
manual operation as they become more comfortable with their
cameras and craft. The four chapters take the reader from
preparing to dive with a camera, getting accessories such as
good external strobes, basic techniques and post-dive
procedures for maintaining the camera. The techniques
chapter is less about photography than it is about positioning,
buoyancy and breath control to help divers get close enough to
shoot subjects without scaring them away. This book won't
turn a newbie into the next David Doubilet overnight. The
National Geographic photog spent decades underwater
developing his craft. However its tips could help non-pros
bring home shots that will wow members of their dive clubs
and maybe even get into print. Unlike Mila's fiction, this book
isn't in Barnes & Noble yet. Find it at www.milabooks.com.
Paul J. Mila took more than notes as he crisscrossed the dive
sites of the world to research his adventure novels on Terry
Hunter, his globe-trotting protagonist. He took a lot of
underwater photos as well. Now with "Basic Underwater
Photography" he is branching from fiction into guidebooks
with a text intended to help neophytes get the most from their
new point-and-shoot digital cameras. All images were taken in
the camera's "auto" setting, he notes, suggesting that budding
photographers can master the additional control offered with
manual operation as they become more comfortable with their
cameras and craft. The four chapters take the reader from
preparing to dive with a camera, getting accessories such as
good external strobes, basic techniques and post-dive
procedures for maintaining the camera. The techniques
chapter is less about photography than it is about positioning,
buoyancy and breath control to help divers get close enough to
shoot subjects without scaring them away. This book won't
turn a newbie into the next David Doubilet overnight. The
National Geographic photog spent decades underwater
developing his craft. However its tips could help non-pros
bring home shots that will wow members of their dive clubs
and maybe even get into print. Unlike Mila's fiction, this book
isn't in Barnes & Noble yet. Find it at www.milabooks.com.
Image will leave you 'Shaky'
Books and videos are the mainstay of Book Log, but a picture
recently became available that is worth so many thousands of
words that it warrants a review. It's enough to inaugurate a
new category, Artwork, for this column. Artist Mick St. Clair
created a painting of "Old Shaky", as Texas Tower No. 4 was
dubbed by its crew, as it faced angry seas before succumbing
to a nor'easter off the New Jersey Shore on Jan. 15, 1961.
Remains of this Cold War era radar dome now are visited by
adventurous wreck divers and memories of the 28 men who
perished are still cherished by those who knew them. St.
Clair's depiction captures the spirit of that night with frothy
waves and rain driven by fierce winds. A taller wave in the
distance suggests that the coup de grace is nearing as lights of
the tower windows glimmer in the storm. This is a picture
that will raise goose bumps on wreck divers and anyone
who's ever been caught at sea during a raging gale. St. Clair
has 200 16- by 20-inch prints on archival 20-by 24-inch 100
percent cotton paper. Each is numbered and signed by the
artist. An Ultrachrome process accurately depicts the original
and, with proper handling, will not fade for decades. For
information, e-mail stclairart@yahoo.com.
Books and videos are the mainstay of Book Log, but a picture
recently became available that is worth so many thousands of
words that it warrants a review. It's enough to inaugurate a
new category, Artwork, for this column. Artist Mick St. Clair
created a painting of "Old Shaky", as Texas Tower No. 4 was
dubbed by its crew, as it faced angry seas before succumbing
to a nor'easter off the New Jersey Shore on Jan. 15, 1961.
Remains of this Cold War era radar dome now are visited by
adventurous wreck divers and memories of the 28 men who
perished are still cherished by those who knew them. St.
Clair's depiction captures the spirit of that night with frothy
waves and rain driven by fierce winds. A taller wave in the
distance suggests that the coup de grace is nearing as lights of
the tower windows glimmer in the storm. This is a picture
that will raise goose bumps on wreck divers and anyone
who's ever been caught at sea during a raging gale. St. Clair
has 200 16- by 20-inch prints on archival 20-by 24-inch 100
percent cotton paper. Each is numbered and signed by the
artist. An Ultrachrome process accurately depicts the original
and, with proper handling, will not fade for decades. For
information, e-mail stclairart@yahoo.com.
