Guidebook Book Log
Albatrosses, Petrels & Shearwaters May 2007
What diver hasn’t watched and wondered about the birds of the sea. Whether waddling in from a shore dive or bobbing on a diveboat far
offshore, divers often marvel at the antics of a wide range of birds often called “gulls” and wonder how they survive in such varied and
sometimes extremely harsh conditions. Wildlife artist Derek Onley and biologist Paul Scofield can help put names on these hardy avians and
describe their habits and ranges in their 256-page soft cover field guide from Princeton University Press. The guide is generously illustrated
with plates to help identify the birds, starting with a page that describes the general physiology. Once a bird is identified, readers are directed
to a page that describes the species in depth, including the scientific name, breeding, feeding, migration habits plus information on
conservation. Each entry is complete with a map that shows its habitat range. Printed on sturdy stock, this is a handy book to slip into the
dive bag to learn more about birds during surface intervals. ISBN 13: 978-0-691-13132-0. nathist.press.princeton.edu.
Shipwrecks of Massachusetts July 2007
Diver and historian Gary Gentile put the fruits of a lot of serious research into print in his Shipwrecks of Massachusetts (South), a 224-page
soft cover from Aqua Quest. He divides the turf into chapters covering popular wreck sites of Buzzards Bay, Vineyard South, Nantucket
Sound, Offshore and Special Report, which focuses on damage done on Oct. 8, 1916, by U-53. Each entry tells the story of the wrecked
ship in its heyday, which providing glimpses of history, and of the conditions leading to the demise. Lives of sailors who worked the
vessels and in many instances died on them too remind readers that these wrecks today are shrines to the tough life that men faced at sea in
their day. Conditions on the wrecks today are described in fair detail. Accompanying each entry is a handy block of data about the ship,
such as its type, size, builder, port of registry, location depth and the like. More than 400 loran and GPS coordinates are presented in an
appendix not just for the featured wrecks but those nearby. A bibliography points readers to more information and an index makes the book
a handy reference for research. ISBN: 1-883656-21-7. www.aquaquest.com.
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Dive into Erie wrecks October 2006
Georgann and Michael Wachter have a two-book set that may inspire wreck divers from throughout the Northeast and Midwest to descend
on Lake Erie. Erie Wrecks East and Erie Wrecks West divide the shallowest of the Great Lakes into two basins at Fair Port Harbor near the
Ohio border with Pennsylvania. The 220-page West book highlights 83 wrecks while the 218-page East book covers 93. Both soft cover
books are published by Corporate Impact.. Each wreck entry contains lists vital statistics such as its dimensions, dates of construction and
demise, cause of sinking, general location and GPS coordinates. They tell tales of the each vessel, stories about its loss and descriptions of
the sites today. Historic black and white photos, site maps, underwater photos and news clips of the day illustrate the stories. Georgann’s
watercolors brighten the covers. Bibliographies point to more reading, and numbered maps and tables of contents ease finding specific
wrecks, which are presented alphabetically. After diving the world over, the Wachters became enamored with the pristinely preserved
wrecks off their home in Avon Lake, Ohio, and compiled notes on them to respond to frequently asked questions aboard their dive boat.
The notes grew into books and documenting the wrecks became a life passion. With these books, it’s nearly 200 wrecks down, 1,800 more
to go. West ISBN: 0 9661312 2 3. East ISBN: 0 9661312 4 X. Learn more at www.ErieWrecks.com.


Wreck diving pros share tips October 2006
Just in time for the winter armchair diving season, Henry Keatts’ and Brian Skerry’s Complete Wreck Diving has been reissued by Aqua
Quest. Biology and oceanography professor Keatts and National Geographic photographer Skerry are well qualified to put the “complete” in
their guide to their favorite pastime, wreck diving. The 274-page soft cover book has 11 chapters that start with the reasons to dive wrecks
and then delve into facts on ships, research, gearing needs, safety and charter boat tips, identifying wrecks, preserving artifacts and
photography. Dozens of black and white photos and line drawings illustrate the book. Many descriptions are of wrecks in the Northeast,
where the two live, but Great Lakes and West Coast sites are covered as well by these globe-trotting divers. A bibliography and appendices
provide leads to help research wrecks by state in the U.S. and by country for international sites. These appear to have been updated from
the initial first publication. A comprehensive index is a handy key to content. ISBN: 1 881652 30 0. Learn more at www.AquaQuest.com.

Sea life in the Atlantic September 2006
Northeast divers who’ve always wondered what those plants and critters are on Atlantic wrecks are in luck. Andrew J. Martinez’s classic
Marine Life of the North Atlantic has been released in a third edition by AquaQuest Publications. The 370-page soft-cover book has some
365 color photos and 15 black and white illustrations of more than 200 species of fish, invertebrates and marine plants that can be found
from New Jersey north though New England and Canada. It has an easy-to-follow guide to help budding marine naturalists identify the
species that stumped them underwater. Accompanying the photos are descriptions of each specie’s habitat, range and natural history. The
book includes a glossary, bibliography and an index of common and scientific names along with descriptions of the various habitats to be
found in region. Readers can record their own notes on sightings on log pages included in the book, which, at 6 by 9 inches slips easily into
the dive bag. Martinez has more than 30 years of experience diving New England and Canadian waters, and his National Geographic photo
assignments have taken him from Fiji to the Caribbean. ISBN: 1-881652-32-7. Learn more at www.aquaquest.com.

Get tips from a pro September 2006
It’s not a new book on the shelf, but Robert Rossier’s Dive Like A Pro, featured this month by Best Publishing, can help divers of all levels
improve their skills. Tips are given on ways to safely conserve air, achieve better buoyancy, build self-confidence, fine tune your gear, get
good and safe air fills, stay warm in cool water, be a better buddy, diving fitness, maintain equipment and avoid decompression sickness.
Rossier is a contributing author to Dive Training magazine, and he takes to heart the publication’s catch phrase: “A good diver is always
learning.” Although the 104-page soft-cover book is primarily targeted to new divers, it is a good read for seasoned divers to refresh their
basic and advanced open water skills. Keeping safe diving practices in mind is as important today as it was when Dive Like A Pro was first
published in 1999. ISBN: 0-9413327-5-6. Learn more at www.bestpub.com.

Great Lake dreams September 2006
With the diving season on the Great Lakes region approaching the winter freeze, it’s a good time to sit down and think about the wrecks
that were visited, and more importantly, the ones that weren’t. Diver / historian Cris Kohl’s Great Lakes Diving Guide is just the book to
plot your next season. He breaks the six lakes and St. Lawrence River down into 49 areas from Duluth, Minn., to Cornwall, Ontario, and
describes the known wrecks in each area. Loran numbers, depths and diving skill level suggestions are presented with each short
description of the wrecks, many of which are accompanied with site maps or photos of the wreck above or below the water. A distance
chart can help divers determine how much a drive is required to get to the wrecks, and he offers tips on diving the Great Lakes, fresh vs.
saltwater diving, border crossings and illustrations of common fish species a diver may encounter. Kohl includes his own wish list in a top-
10 guide to undiscovered wrecks. An extensive bibliography points readers to additional information, and an extensive index eases finding
references to specific wrecks. ISBN: 0-9679976-2-3. Learn more www.SeawolfCommunications.com.

Great Lake dreams September 2006
With the diving season on the Great Lakes region approaching the winter freeze, it’s a good time to sit down and think about the wrecks
that were visited, and more importantly, the ones that weren’t. Diver / historian Cris Kohl’s Great Lakes Diving Guide is just the book to
plot your next season. He breaks the six lakes and St. Lawrence River down into 49 areas from Duluth, Minn., to Cornwall, Ontario, and
describes the known wrecks in each area. Loran numbers, depths and diving skill level suggestions are presented with each short
description of the wrecks, many of which are accompanied with site maps or photos of the wreck above or below the water. A distance
chart can help divers determine how much a drive is required to get to the wrecks, and he offers tips on diving the Great Lakes, fresh vs.
saltwater diving, border crossings and illustrations of common fish species a diver may encounter. Kohl includes his own wish list in a top-
10 guide to undiscovered wrecks. An extensive bibliography points readers to additional information, and an extensive index eases finding
references to specific wrecks. ISBN: 0-9679976-2-3. Learn more www.SeawolfCommunications.com.
Hunt for Terry's wreck book July 2006
Terry Dwyer has done wreck divers a big favor by penning Wreck Hunter: The Quest For Lost Shipwrecks. In the 210-page soft cover
book from Pottersfield Press, Dwyer captures the spirit that drives exploration as he describes hundreds of shipwrecks off his native Nova
Scotia. Sites are presented geographically along the coast, with others by topic in chapters on Pirates and Privateers, and Treasure Ships.
Dwyer, who’s worked on underwater movie sets, salvage ventures and public safety teams, tells of the tools and techniques needed to get
the most out of wreck diving. And with sport diving growing in popularity, he also covers the tourism opportunities and local boat diving
tips. The wreck hunter even shares his wish list in a chapter on Discoveries In Waiting. It’s written in easy-to-read prose by an author who’
s glad to be the professional diver he wanted to be from the time he was a 14-year-old. Recommended references and Web sites in the
appendix extend the depth of the book. ISBN: 1-895900-67-0. Learn more at www.wreckhunter.ca.

GTMO out of diving July 2006
Getting sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, courtesy of the U.S. Government is decidedly bad news for prisoners, and a potentially bleak
assignment for military personnel who oversee them. Adam M. Grohman of Long Island, N.Y., and Andrew R. Campbell of San Franscisco
made the most of their Navy tour there by diving some of the least visited waters in the hemisphere. Dive GTMO from LuLu Press pools
their experiences and photos into a 68-page soft cover book. After a short history of the base, they offer tips on diving there, starting with
where to get certified and obtain gear and air fills. Tips on entries for windward and leeward shore sites are given and accompanied with
photos. Nearly half of the book is devoted to regulations that must be followed while diving protected waters off the military installation.
Despite the rules, the authors enthuse over the reef life and share their color shots to prove its there. This is a great “how to” book for
anyone who’s received papers for a tour at GTMO. No ISBN. Learn more at www.lulu.com/adamgrohman.

Dry Suit Diving August 2007
If your copy of Dry Suit Diving has a diver sporting an Edge “brick” computer on the cover, drop by your dive shop and spring for the
fourth edition of this classic guide to diving dry. Plus, as temperatures begin to fall this month, it’s a good time to pick up this 186-page
soft cover from Hammerhead Press. Dry suit pioneers, Dick Long and Bob Stinton at Diving Unlimited International teamed up with
veteran commercial diver and gear designer Steve Barsky to create the definitive guide to help divers learn the comfort of diving dry. Its 12
chapters cover everything from the history and importance of thermal protection, to the materials, construction methods, suit maintenance
and repair to dressing and drysuit diving techniques. Several appendixes in the back help readers to determine insulation factors they’ll need
for comfort, define terms, contact suit manufacturers. A bibliography is a starting point for further research, and a complete index helps to
look up information in the book. The fourth edition, also available in DVD, is updated throughout with descriptions of new gear and how to
fix it, illustrated with 95 new photos. There’s a reason why this book is the text for drysuit specialty courses. Everything is addressed in
laymen’s terms, so it’s a handy book for any diver who wants to get more bottom time out every dive and more dives out of every season.
ISBN: 0-922769-36-2. www.hammerheadpress.com.

A 'Superior' guide book September 2007
Great Lakes aficionados will find a trove of information in Around the Shores of Lake Superior: A Guide to Historic Sites. Margaret Beattie
Bogue, professor emerita of history and liberal studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison, follows the lake’s shoreline in this
comprehensive look at Lake Superior’s history, tourism and commerce. The book begins with a chapter on the lake’s history and natural
setting. In Part II, chapters are organized by state or province. There is plenty of information on the lake’s shipping history, notable ships,
notable danger areas and wrecks to keep divers riveted. More than 200 color photos and black-and-white images depict the region’s history.
The 356-page hardcover is in its second edition from University of Wisconsin Press and includes a separate pull-out map of the region. A
selected bibliography offers leads for further study. ISBN 978-0-299-22170-6. www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
– Susan Mador

Book for Northwest Diving September 2007
Divers will want to pack their bags and move to the Pacific Northwest upon seeing 151 Dives, Betty Pratt-Johnson’s guide to the protected
waters of Washington State and British Columbia. She divides the 460-page paperback from Mountaineers Books into 10 chapters, each
addressing a section of water from Queen Charlotte Strait to Puget Sound. Each chapter begins with a marine chart marked with numbers
that correspond to specific dive sites. What to see, depths, hazards, access information, GPS data and other tips are detailed for each of the
sites. A handy table shows whether it is a boat / kayak or shore dive, skill level needed and which chart to follow in a region renowned for
ripping tides. A space for divers to log their personal notes is provided too. Chapters close with contacts for the area’s local shops and
charter boats. A general description of Northwest diving opens the book. General conditions, local laws and regulations, access signs and
even a scientific drawing of marine life prepare visitors to dive there. An extensive index closes the book, making it handy as a reference.
Crisp black and white photos of reefs, wrecks, critters and other marine life are sprinkled throughout.ISBN: 978-1-594 850-43-1.
www.mountaineersbooks.org.

Treating the blahs September 2007
The Art Of Diving is a great book to have on hand when vagaries of topside life push the serenity of diving aside. The 272-page hardcover
from Lyons Press is a cross between a coffee table book, travel guide and compilation of dive stories and profiles of diving pioneers. British
Broadcasting Corp. wildlife photographer Alexander Mustard, PhD., brings the beauty of undersea life alive with vivid color photos taken
around the world. British guidebook author Nick Hanna provides the text that weaves science, nature and aesthetics of diving with
observations by Jacques Cousteau, Howard Hall, Sylvia Earle, Emile Gagnon, Hans and Lotte Haas, Jacques Mayol and a host of other
notables. In eight chapters, it describes the allure of the underwater world’s landscapes and creatures, how to watch fish, diving
techniques, freediving, the spirit of the sea and poses ideas about the future of our oceans. An index helps guide readers to specific topics
and names. References and organizations listed in the back give leads to learn more about diving and conservation. Readers are provided
with a password to learn more as well through the book’s Website. IBSN: 978-1-59921-227-2. www.artofdiving.com.

Compute what's best for you October 2007
Divers considering dropping a bundle on a computer may be wise to first get Steve Barsky's DVD Choosing and Using Dive Computers
from Hammerhead Press. The 47-minute video acknowledges that makes and models change annually, so the content focuses on basic
issues divers face when shopping for a computer that meets their needs. Whether you're young and aggressive, older and conservative, use
special gases, intentionally go into deco, and aim to upload data for logging an analysis are among the topics. Advantages and disadvantages
of air integration and hose-less models are covered along with care and maintenance of your unit once you buy one. The veteran instructor
and commercial diver is as well suited to cover this topic as he was for his earlier guides like Dry Suit Diving and California Fish and
Wreck Diving. Barsky's wife, Kristine, produced the well-shot video and serves as his model throughout. Karl Huggins, who developed the
algorithm for the Edge, the first electronic computer, provided technical advice as well. One dollar from each DVD sale is donated to the
Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber, which helped to sponsor the video. ISBN: 978-0-9740923-4-8. www.hammerheadpress.com.

Really cool diving book January 2008
Divers planning ice dives this month or who want to prepare for their winter and early spring dives will want to plunge into the pages of
John N. Heine's Cold Water Diving: A Guide To Ice Diving. Best Publishing is recirculating the 128-page soft-cover that was initially
printed in 1996, and Heine's tips are as valid now as then. The past president of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences divided the
topic into five chapters: an introduction, training, equipment, operations, and safety and emergency procedures. In easy to digest English, he
explains how to prepare teams execute dives under the ice. Many common pieces of gear like regulators, valves and zippers on drysuits,
and even ropes have different characteristics in cold temperatures, so the gearing section si especially handy in planning. While resort divers
may think it's crazy, ice diving does afford a chance to see favored sites in extremely clear water, and it's great for team building. Heine
shares historic shots of excursions to the Antarctic among the more than 100 color photos and illustrations in his book. It closes with a
comprehensive table of contents and an a bibliography to point readers to information.ISBN: 0-941332-52-7 www.bestpub.com.

A Sound Long Island dive log March 2008
David Rosenthal puts most divers to shame for their sloppy record keeping with his 372-page soft cover Scuba Diving The Wrecks and
Shores of Long Island. The former president of the New York City Sea Gypsies shares his notes from dozens of local dives from 2000 to
2007, often as logged while the residual nitrogen bubbled out of his system. The afterglow of the experience is evident in his first-person
prose. His post-dive out-gassings, though, have bubbles of inspiration into divers' thoughts with vignettes on maritime history, dive
techniques and reflections on connecting with the underwater world. The book, published by the Wharves Project, resonated for Steve
Bielenda, captain of the Wahoo dive boat, and dive author / historian Gary Gentile, who contributed forewords. Black and white photos
sprinkled throughout liven the text with site map sketches, portraits, aerial photos, underwater images, gear shots and historic photos.
Scholars might want a more comprehensive index. Divers who like to just get underwater to have fun will want to buddy up with this book.
ISBN: 978-0-9793852-0-9. www.thewharvesproject.org.

Great Lakes guide gets better March 2008
Great Lakes historian Cris Kohl rewrote his Great Lakes Diving Guide with updates throughout that are well worth replacing his 2001
first edition on divers' bookshelves. At 610 pages, the soft cover from Seawolf Communications is nearly 200 pages larger than the original.
New entries and expanded details in prior ones entail much of the revision. He's added sections on the value of dive clubs and safety
pointers. Sites are grouped by region through the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River to the sea. Wrecks within each area are presented
with a tabular grid of Loran / GPS location, depth and skill level, plus a description of each site. What keeps this scholarly presentation from
being pedantic is the warmth from a love of diving and documenting Great Lakes sites that is shared by Kohl and his wife, fellow author
Joan Forsberg. A bibliography points readers to further study. A comprehensive index eases locating specific details within the book. ISBN:
978-0-9679976-9-8. www.seawolfcommunications.com.

See life of the seashore May 2008
Divers and beachcombers from Cape Cod north to tip of Labrador have a handy marine life in J. Duane Sept's "Photographic Guide to
Seashore Life in the North Atlantic" from Princeton University Press. Biologist Sept is an award winning photographer who filled the book
with some 300 crisp color photos of more than 225 intertidal species found on rocky shores, sandy shores, mud beaches and on floating
docks. The region is known for its large tidal shifts, which leave many plants and water denizens exposed at low tide. A three-page
illustrated index at the opening helps readers identify general families of creatures and plants, and points them to pages to fine-tune specific
species in subsequent chapters arranged by family. Each species is described in text, including the scientific name, and various facts about
its life and commercial value, if any. Drawings at the close of the book pinpoint eyes, mouths and other body parts. Sept provides
descriptions and contact information for parks and nature areas throughout the region, and suggests sources for further reading. A
comprehensive index helps readers find information quickly. The 226-page 5.5- by 8.5-inch slips easily into a backpack and it's printed on
durable paper. ISBN: 978-0-691-13319-5. www.press.princeton.edu.

'Superior' look at shipwrecks May 2008
Divers looking for information on shipwrecks in Lake Superior’s northern waters have a tremendous new resource: Shipwrecks along Lake
Superior’s North Shore. In this book, divers and people who stay on shore get a detailed look at the wrecks littering the lakebed from Grand
Portage Harbor south to Duluth, Minn. Author Stephen B. Daniel is a veteran diver who is the president Great Lakes Shipwreck
Preservation Society. The book is a diver’s guide and is a production of Minnesota Historical Society Press. Each chapter describes the ship
and its service history along with details of the wreck. Daniel also includes information on lifesaving and salvage efforts. He includes
numerous black-and-white photos, charts, illustrations and drawings to illustrate each wreck. Some photos are vintage; others show
contemporary divers exploring the wrecks. Portions of this book first appeared, in a workbook “Shipwrecks along the Minnesota North
Shore: a Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society project” also by Daniel. ISBN: 978-0-87351-618-1. www.mhspressorg.
– Susan Mador

'Trukin' to Palau July 2008
If you're dreaming of a trip to the Pacific Rim, Steve and Kristine Barsky can help refine your fantasies with their new DVD Diving the Far
Pacific: A Taste of Chuuk (Truk) and Palau from their Hammerhead label. Steve narrates the 34-minute segment on Chuuk and Kristine,
the 20-minute one on Palau. Chuuk is Japan's World War II equivalent of the U.S. Pearl Harbor and the video visits all the popular wrecks
there. Data about each ship and the dive is presented in slides before each ship, freeing Steve to just tell tales about the sunken materiel they
contain while Kristine glides easily over artifacts that would have wreaked havoc on U.S. / Allied forces had Japan's fleet not been sunk
here. Drifting strains of Japanese instrumental trio music accompanying the video add a nice touch of cultural sensitivity for dives through
what is essentially a wartime graveyard. Counterbalancing that somber note is seeing the vibrant waters of Palau. Currents for drift diving
draw a kaleidoscope of colorful sea life. Breaking up the fish and plant portraits is a trip to the fabled Jellyfish Lake. Throughout both
segments are safety reminders to wear thicker suits than many do in warm waters, and to watch depths and bottom times. Good thing.
Opening slides tell of substantial depths and cooler water at them. Like the sites, this is a video that won't be fully appreciated on just one
trip through it. ISBN: 978-0-9740923-5-5. www.hammerheadpress.com.

Shore is good diving (September 2008)
Tom Gormley has done a real favor in sharing his favorite dive sites in Top 40 Shore Dives in New Jersey. In the decades since Daniel Berg
published the last bible, New Jersey Shore Diver, the coastline has seen the nation's biggest beach-replenishment program, which rearranged
or buried sites and bared others. Gormley's 210-page 8.5- by 11-inch soft cover from Safe Scuba is packed with more than just site descrip-
tions, access points and directions. History to be seen at each site, especially the tales of the ships that wrecked, is presented in detail.
Hand-drawn maps pinpoint landmarks and provide compass settings to navigate to underwater sites. Photos of sites underwater, artifacts
and topside structures provide an immediacy that beckons divers to come for a visit. General tips on shore diving open the book. Closing
chapters offer leads to marine conservation organizations, tips on photography and artifact restoration, spearfishing and even recipes for
your catch. Appendices include a glossary, global positioning points and references. ISBN: 978-0-9795925-1-5. www.safescuba.com.

Diving's Halls of fame
Just in time for the holidays Monty Halls' DIVE: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Top Dive Locations has come off the Firefly Books
Ltd. press. The 354-page soft cover divides the world into regions: North America, Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, Britain, Red Sea Africa,
Indian Ocean, Australia and Southeast Asia. Geography, marine life and other details of favorite sites in each region are described and
illustrated with luscious photos on the 8.5- by 11-inch pages. Travel tips, essential data like water temperature, chamber facilities, degree of
difficulty, locator maps and other details are listed to help plan trips. The book closes with a list of organizations with contacts, a glossary
of terms and an index. Marine biologist Halls gathered his data by leading dive teams around the world as a Royal Marine officer, who has
earned the Scientific Society's Bish Medal. ISBN: 978-1-55407-402-0. www.fireflybooks.com.