Scuba
Diving
by Dennis K. Graver
Published: 3rd edition 2003

Book Description: Learning what to do, how to do it, and when to do it is essential in underwater sports. Scuba Diving provides a clear, thorough, and captivating educational experience for all who want to take the plunge. Packed with beautiful, full-color photographs and detailed diving instruction, this newest edition of the popular resource is the preferred guide for recreational divers, diving instructors, and students. Dennis Graver sheds light on the undersea world and how to experience it safely with essential details on diving equipment, skills, and planning. Also included are sections on diving history, boat diving procedures, use of computers, dive tables, buddy check procedures, and lifesaving.

Scuba Diving is so complete and authoritative that it serves as the official manual of the YMCA Scuba Diving Program. Whether you’re a beginning or intermediate diver or a diving instructor, make sure you have all the bases covered before you go underwater. This guide will ensure a safe and successful dive every time you take the plunge.

Customer Review: Excellent preparation for the PADI open water certification - I bought this book to prepare for the PADI open water certification. I found it to be a very well organized book that did an excellent job of explaining everything from the concepts of boyancy, diving physiology, to the dive tables. It will serve as a great resource the next time I plan to dive.

The opening chapter discusses the the sensitivities of the underwater world and the importance of respecting this environment. I really appreciated this chapter after my first dive where I witnessed a group of reckless divers whom were basically out of control in the coral reef.

I highly recommend this book to any beginning diver that wants to prepare for open water diver certification. - Reviewer: John I Brown from Atlanta, GA, June 17, 1999

The Complete
Diving Guide:
The Caribbean (Vol. 1)
Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Grenada, Tobago, Barbados
Author: Colleen Ryan,
Illustrator: Brian Savage
Published: 1997

The Complete Diving Guides to scuba diving in the Eastern Caribbean, including descriptions of ALL dive sites, dive stores and operators. Island maps show the location of dive sites and stores. Dive sites are illustrated by underwater maps and photographs.

Volume 1 gives you everything you ever need to know about scuba diving on these fantastic Caribbean islands: Dominica, Martinique, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, Grenada, Tobago & Barbados.

July 2001 I dove several of the sites reviewed by ms Ryan and Mr Savage
and found their profiles of the dives to be very accurate and
helpful. I hope she and Brian Savage will do a "complete DG of the Bahamas, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. - Reviewer: Winston Reed from Milford, Connecticut US, March 6, 2002

The Complete
Diving Guide:
The Caribbean: Puerto Rico/Us Virgin Islands/
British Virgin Islands (Vol. 2)
Authors: Colleen Ryan, Brian Savage
Published: 1998

From the Back Cover

>> As far as the eye can see tiny islands surrounded by turquoise water line the horizon, offering a fascinating mix of cultures - British, American, and Spanish.
>> The region has a wide range of diving: shallow water sites (where white sand reflects the sun so brightly that you need sunglasses underwater), seemingly bottomless walls and numerous wrecks.
>> This guide is packed with information giving vacationers, local divers, and yacht crews everything they need to know to dive the area.

"It is rare to find a book that is so comprehensive and which presents a vast amount of information in such a readable manner. In particular we find the island and dive site maps useful along with the descriptions of the dives and the underwater route maps." Excerpt: Review 2000 - Bill Hunnisett, St. Thomas, USVI

The Dive
Sites of the
Cayman Islands:
Over 260 Top Dive and Snorkel Sites
by Lawson Wood
Published: Second Edition, 2001

Book Description: With more than 260 diving and snorkeling adventures, this gorgeously illustrated guide presents the best marine sites of these Caribbean isles. Organized by island, The Dive Sites of the Cayman Islands, Second Edition, rates each site and describes the conditions, marine life, depths, and access. It also highlights special points of interest and offers features such as the Cayman Turtle Farm, Stingray City, rare and unusual marine life of the Caymans, and underwater photography and video tips.

Customer Review: One of the most definitive books on dives sites for Cayman! - Lawson has continued with the attention to detail that he began in the 1st Edition with the best guide to dives sites for the Caymans.

Very logical layout... format is easy to read and particularly interesting to follow... There are books that might do a good job of describing a particular site or two, but this book is the most comprehensive I've found. - Reviewer: lindabob11 from Fremont, OH United State, April 15, 2003

Diving
Bermuda

(Aqua Quest Diving Series)
by Jesse Cancelmo, Michael Strohofer, Mike Strohofer
Published: 2nd edition 2004

Chronicles the underwater world plus offers extensive topside information. Color photos.

Book Description: The combination of hundreds of shallow-water shipwrecks surrounded by colorful reefs abundant with tropical fish makes this picturesque island a unique destination for scuba divers and snorkelers. In addition, the superb beaches, excellent restaurants and exceptional shopping make Bermuda an ideal vacation spot for divers accompanied by non-diving family or friends. This volume covers shipwrecks, reefs, snorkeling sites as well as shopping, dining and lodging.

Dreamwrecks
of the World:
The Best Shipwrecks
of Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao
by Dominique Sérafini, Catherine Salisbury
Published: 2002

Book Description: More than just a dive guide, this full-color book features painting, high-quality photography and stories about the most spectacular shipwrecks of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Informative sidebars tell scuba divers how to locate and dive these popular wrecks. Included, a special chapter on the wrecks of Las Aves, Venezuela.

This unique and passionate book, of interest to divers and would-be adventurers alike, will send shivers down your spine. (Jean-Michel Cousteau: October 1, 2002)

Shipwrecks
of the Caribbean
by Martha Watkins Gilkes, Stan Waterman
Published: 1st American Edition edition 2003

Book Description: From the earliest days of discovery, the Caribbean has been synonymous with marine adventure. Many vessels and seafarers have met their fate-often in mysterious circumstances-in the Caribbean Sea.

Now, Martha Watkins Gilkes has traveled the length and breadth of the region to document the shipwrecks. She unravels the mystery behind many of these wrecks-from the infamous disasters to the long forgotten. She also has explored and written about many of the ships that have been deliberately sunk in recent years, offering unique homes for underwater creatures and marine plants.

In this practical and informative guide, the shipwrecks of each island are explored in turn offering history, trivia, advice, and location details.

AUTHOR: A professional diver, Martha Watkins Gilkes started scuba diving when she was in college. Now owner and operator of a retail scuba store and travel company, she instructs, photographs, and models-all underwater. She lives on Antigua with her husband and diving companion.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Stan Waterman is an award-winning underwater cinematography-most notably, an "Emmy" for his work with ABC's "The American Sportsman Show." He was co-director of underwater photography for the film he Deep.

The Rapture
of the Deep:
And Other
Dive Stories You Probably Shouldn't Know
by Michael G. Zinsley
Published: 1999

Book Description: Journey with scuba instructor Michael Zinsley as he dives his way through 16 countries, rubbing shoulders with the locals and mixing underwater adventure with after-hours escapades.

The Rapture of the Deep is fast paced and rich in content, consisting of humorous anecdotes, insightful histories, underwater descriptions, and terrifying close calls. The diving stories relate events seen once in a thousand dives. Native cultures are revealed with an awareness that only someone who has lived in those lands can describe. The book's lighter side is the combination of underwater adventure mixed with after-hours escapades (imagine Cousteau extending his documentaries to include closing time in the local bars). The descriptions of coral reef life are written in a way that non-diving readers will be as intrigued as the experts.

Featuring stories from: Antigua, Australia, Bermuda, Bonaire, California, Fiji, Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Palau, Philippines, Ponape, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Truk, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, and Yap. Includes over 20 color photos and maps.

Down
Time:
Great Writers on Diving
Edtors: Ed Kitrell, Casey Kittrell, Jim Kittrell
Published: 2nd edition 2001

Book Description: More than 35 passages from novelists, journalists, poets, playwrights, essayists, and scientists detail an intertwined passion for diving and the written word in this collection. From Robert Stone's portrayal of a diver who faces the terrorizing prospect of his air running out to Clare Booth Luce's search for the treasures of the underwater realm, every passage reveals a perspective of the world that only divers have known. Humor columnist Dave Barry battles a lobster and explains why staying on the ocean's surface is like "going to the circus and staring at the outside of a tent." From Rangiroa to the Red Sea, from deep within caverns to the eerie light under ice, from the lethal silliness of nitrogen narcosis to the elation of soaring over unfathomable depths, every selection, like every dive, is a unique experience

Customer Review: Down Time - I loved this book. Diverse writing styles, coupled with humor and drama make this book addictive. I thought Dave Barry's story was a crack up! Buy two because it's the kind of book you loan out to share the joy and never get back! If you like diving and diving tales, this is the book you've been waiting for. - Reviewer: Pennie Wyatt from kapaa, HI US, March 9, 2001

Marine Plants
of the Caribbean:
A Field Guide
from Florida to Brazil
by Diane Scullion Littler, Mark M. Littler, Katina E. Bucher, Jam Norris, James N. Norris
Published: 1992

Descriptive text and color illustrations for common species likely to be encountered, along with those that are locally abundanet or might attract attention because of some unusual characteristic. From Book News, Inc.

Reef
Fish
Identification:
Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas
by Paul Humann, Ned DeLoach
Published: 3rd edition 2002

Book Description: The standard fish ID reference for underwater naturalists and marine scientists since 1989 just got better! The new 3rd Edition has grown by 20 percent including the addition of more than 100 exciting new fish species. 825 classic photographs of 600 common and rare reef fish. Now includes a section on Brazil. A must for every serious diver. Improved flexi-binding with plastic covers -- 512 pages.

Customer Review: The definitive guide for reef fish of the Caribbean - I visit family in St. Croix (US Virgin Islands) yearly, and I have looked at a number of books in order to learn the names of the numerous fish I see when I'm snorkeling or diving. This one makes identification easy, with beautiful pictures and the all-important "Distinctive Features" sections, which give you tips on how to distinguish one fish from the next. Make no mistake: this book is the easiest to use and the most comprehensive one I've seen. I'm online to buy the other two books (Reef Coral and Reef Creatures). - Reviewer: A reader from Waterford, CT, USA, June 8, 1999

The Perfect Dive Buddy - I bought this book seven years ago, when I began scuba diving, and it has accompanied me on every dive trip. I remain impressed by how comprehensive and user-friendly it is. It may be the best equipment investment I've ever made! - Reviewer: A reader from New York, NY United States, October 15, 2003

Reef
Creature
Identification:
Florida Caribbean Bahamas
by Paul Humann, Ned Deloach
Published: 2nd edition 2001

Customer Review: Great book for identifying all types of sea creatures! - After we came back from our honeymoon, I wanted to buy my husband a book to help identify the various sea creatures we encountered on our trip, and this book turned out to be perfect. First of all, the animals are broken down into various categories such as "crabs," "squid," etc., and each classification is clearly labelled. There are wonderfully clear, glossy pictures of each individual creature combined with a detailed description which includes information such as size, colors, appearance of immature, habitat, and reaction to divers. An ideal book for serious research or just for fun. Reviewer: doctor_beth from Upstate NY USA, July 18, 2003

Customer Review: The best Guide available - Sponges, jellyfish, flat worms, crustaceans, mollusks, star fish, if it is not a fish then it is in this book. This is the authoritative reference for reef creatures (other than fish) throughout the Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas area. The most complete book on reef creatures that I have seen, it is easy to use and beautifully illustrated. Each creature has it's own full color picture along with a line drawing that points out the defining characteristics of that particular species. With a plastic cover and the pages treated to resist water it can be taken to the beach or onto the boat without much concern about the water damaging the book.

Each entry has complete information on the creature from size, depth, range and habitat to the level of concern that a diver should have for their safety around the creature. Whether you snorkel, scuba dive or engage in other activities around a reef, this is the best book to have to identify reef creatures. This book can also be purchased as part of a three part set that also includes the Reef Coral Identification and Reef Fish Identification texts, each of which is equally as excellent as the Reef Creature Identification book. Reviewer: Harold McFarland from Florida, April 21, 2002

Reef
Coral
Identification:
Florida Caribbean Bahamas Including Marine Plants
by Paul Humann, Ned Deloach
Published: Spiral edition 1993

Customer Review: Without a doubt, the BEST identification book out there. - This is a fantastic book, and along with the other two books by this author you should be able to ID any marine creature you encounter!

• The book lists virtually all types of corals including Algae, black corals, brain, lace, cactus, cup, boulder, fire, fleshy, etc.
• Each entry has an excellent picture, the name, family, size, depth, and other information.
• The pictures alone are worth the cost of the book!

This is definetely the book you want to have with you when you dive or snorkel. Buy it today, you won't be disappointed! - Reviewer: fishgeeks_dot_com (see more about me) from Racine, WI US, December 5, 2001

Snorkeling
Guide to
Marine Life:
Florida Caribbean Bahamas
by Paul Humann, Ned Deloach
Published: Spiral edition 1995

Customer Review: For casual snorkelers - If you dive or snorkel with any regularity, buy the 3-book set by Humann and Deloach. For casual snorkelers or divers, this book will do wonderfully. It's a bit heavy on the fish, so if you are looking for comprehensive invertebrate, algae, or coral guides, look elsewhere. Otherwise, this book will certainly enhance your enjoyment of snorkeling and diving. - Reviewer: Jessica from Rainbow Inn, Eleuthera, Bahamas, December 8, 2003