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HISTORY
of DIVING |
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| For a comprehensive listing
of historic and classic diving books, many of which cover the history of
diving, see the sponsored site Classic
Dive Books. |
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DEEP,
DEEPER, DEEPEST.
Man’s
Exploration of the Sea.
Robert
F. Marx.
If
anyone can write a book on ‘Man’s Exploration of theSea’ it is Robert Marx.
His treasure and archaeological finds are quiteamazing, and with fifteen
books to his credit, he is well versed to writethis book. His style is
easy and interesting and the photographs are adequateto complement the
text. He starts of with free diving, then goes into theearly diving bells,
diving machines and helmet diving. Armoured divingsuits get a mention,
and of course the modern scuba equipment. Additionalchapter cover warfare,
submersibles, underwater habitats, underwater archaeology,sunken treasure,
and oceanography. A very good read - interesting and informative.
Hardcover,
326 pages, mono photos.
$52.00 |
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DIVING PIONEERS - An
Oral History of Diving in America.
Eric Hanauer.
If sport diving did not
start in America, it was certainly developed there post war, with the development
in improved equipment, promotion through television and film, and remarkable
treasure salvage. This is the pioneering era of diving, when innovation
and courage was the prime requisite, and achievement the reward. The book
commenced with a potted history of diving, and the first US dive club,
the San Diego Bottom Scratchers, followed by oral histories from: Walter
Davis, E.R.Cross, Dick Anderson, Wheeler North, Andy Rechnitzer, Connie
Limbaugh, Jim Stewart, Chuck Mitchell, Dottie Frazier, Zale Parry (remembr
Sea Hunt), Norrine Rouse, John Steel, Chuck Nicklin, Bill and Bob Meistrell,
Dick Bonin, Bob Hollis, Frank Scalli, Dan Wagner, Ralph Erikson, Lee Somers
and Tom Mount. This book will tell you who did the great paintings on the
early editions of Skin Diver magazine, who formed the great dive equipment
company Oceanic, who played the leading female role in Sea Hunt. A very
interesting book. Softcover, 266 pages, mono photographs. $28.00 |
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DIVERS
IN TIME.
Australia's
Untold History.
Jeff
Maynard.
The
author is well known for his many well researchedand fascinating articles
on diving history that appear regularly in thediving magazines, as well
as his book ‘Niagara's Gold'. The first thingI checked out was to see if
there was any mention of Noel and Kitty Monkman- and there was, indeed
a very good tribute to these pioneer Australianfilm-makers. The seven major
chapters cover: The Standard Dress Divers,The Pearl Divers, The Inventors,
The Salvage Divers, Divers at Work, TheNavy Divers, The Scuba Divers. Thus
the book covers commercial and militaryoperations, police, pearl and navy
divers, and the introduction of recreationalscuba into Autralia. A great
read, educational and entertaining. And didyou know - the single-hose regulator,
now used by divers worldwide, wasinvented in Melbourne?
Softcover,
158 pages, large A4 size, mono prints. $38.00 |
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DIVING WITH
& WITHOUT ARMOUR
Containing the Submarine
Exploits of J.B.Green the Celebrated Submarine Diver.
J.B. Green.
Faxton's Steam Power Press,
Buffalo, USA, 1859.
Reproduction by Atlantic
Diving Equip. Co. Inc.1990.
Softcover, saddle stiched,
84 pages, mono drawings.
This is quite a remarkable
autobiography, rare in that not too many divers of the mid 19th century
had the verbal skills to elucidate their techniques an adventures. Mr.
Green notes that his career made him a cripple for life. A wonderful read.
$26 |
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HISTORY
OF SPEARFISHING AND SCUBA DIVING IN AUSTRALIA.
(The
First 80 years 1917 to 1997).
Tom
Byron.
This
was certainly worth waiting for. It is unusuallypresented in that it departs
from the normal continuous text concept andrelies instead on hundreds of
newspaper-style headings and stories, someindeed condensed directly from
newspaper and magazine articles. It is thereforeand eminently readable
book as you can skip from article to article asthe interest warrants -
from death to treasure, failures and achievements,early equipment and technique,
and the pioneers of our sport. A most valuablebook and a must for all divers.
Hardcover
(laminated boards), A4 size,311 pages, index, many fascinating mono photographs.
$42.00 |
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MAN
AND THE UNDERWATER WORLD.
Pierre
de Latil and Jean Rivoire. Translated from the French by Edward Fitzgerald.
First
published in France, 1954 as A la Recherche du Monde Marin. First published
in Great Britain 1956,
Jarrolds,
London. In my humble opinion, this is the best book written
on the development of diving from the early ancient myths of the
Greek Gods to the development of scuba, and submersible exploration. A
brilliant book, a most significant contribution to our knowledge
of the underwater world, superbly researched and written. Of great historical
value for its content and being relatively rare.
Hardcover,
dust jacket, 400 pages, mono prints throughout.
Second
hand. We occasionally have a second-hand copy: price range to $100. |
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MANUAL
FOR DIVERS 1905
Prepared
at the Naval Torpedo Station, Washington D.C.1905
(Issued
to Seamen Gunners in the US Navy).
This
is a wonderful reprint of a most historic and fascinatingmanual. The seven
chapters include ‘requirements for divers', ‘ descriptionof diving apparatus',
accidents', ‘rules for resuscitation' (do not standthe diver on his head),
‘signals', ‘preparation and care of equipment',‘pressure at depth'.
Softcover,
44 pages plus 22 mono plates.
$35.00 |
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THE SCHRADER COLLECTION
An historic collection of
material from the A. Schrader Diving Equipment Co. Of New York, manufactures
of diving helmets.
The collection consists
of several items, provided in clear plastic protective sheets A4 size in
a four-ring D binder.
Included:
* An 8-page A4 size history
of August Schrader and his company.
* Forty (40) exclusive diving
prints on archival paper suitable for framing, or retaining as is, each
in its own plastic protective sheet
* An 8-page A4 size full
colour booklet of Schrder and Craftswell Equipment Corp helmets.
Within the collection you
will find a complete set of 10 MkV drawings; Helium Hat; 1916 Schrader
MkV Prototype photo and drawing; 1898, 1912 and 1917 Schrader Knives; Early
Schrader Air Pumps; Many Schrader helmets from 1898 to 1941 including 4
& 5 bolt helmets.
Note: Only the Australian
released edition from Oceans Enterprises contains the collection in a ring-binder
and plastic protective sheets. (The US edition contains loose booklets
and sheets in a cardboard folder).
$98.00 |
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SOLID
BRASS.
A
true account of commercial hard hat diving, from theauthor who took UDT/SEAL
training , Navy diving, abalone diving and hardhat diving over a 45 year
career taking him from Mexico to Alaska. ‘Eachexciting story is an uncensored
version of the life and adventures of thesegutsy divers.
Hardcover,
laminated boardss, 238 pages, illustrated drawingsand mono photographs
throughout.
$54.00 |
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STARS
BENEATH THE SEA.
'The
Extraordinary Lives of The Pioneers of Diving.'
Trevor
Norton.
Who
are our underwater heroes? Cousteau and Hass comereadily to mind, and to
the historically educated, no doubt Gagnan, Dumasand Taillez, Siebe and
Davis, Rouquayrol and Denayrouze But what of theman who gave Hans Hass
his first lessons in diving, Guy Gilpatrick, orthe incredible naturalists
Henri Edwards and Roy Miner, the depth-defyingCharles William Beebe, or
the remarkable English marine biologist and educatorJack Alwyne Kitching?
These were truly remarkable pioneers of diving, settingstandards and procedures
for divers to follow, opening the underwater worldto the closed minds of
the university academics who could not comprehendwhat they could not see.
Of Haldane, father and son, we, perhaps, knowa little, for they set the
standards for breathing air at high pressuresresulting in the development
of decompression tables, and the use of ahelium-oxygen breathing mix.
That it should have become a best-sellerand acclaimed by all who read it,
Stars Beneath the Sea owes its appealnot only in its remarkable subject
matter but more so on the succinct andeloquent style of the author, peppered
with humour and anecdote. I foundit to be one of the most rewarding books
on diving I have ever read, providingrelaxed entertainment with a wealth
of knowledge - a most remarkable book.
Softcover,
282 pages, mono prints.
$28.00
Review |
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THE AMERICAN
DIVE CATALOG COLLECTION.
Ray Mathieson.
From the 1870's.
Over 400 pages of very rare
American catalogs:
Alfred Hale Co.;A.Schrader
Diving Equip. Co. (3) catalogs;
A.J.Morse &Son (3);
D.E.S.Co.;
Miller Dunn Co. (3);
Batteryless Telephone Equip.
Co.;
Craftsweld Co.;
John Date Co. (2);
M.&E. Marine Supply
Co.;
Buie ww2 Helium Helmet;
Ohio Rubber Co. (maker of
the Victor Berge mask);
Thompson Eng. Co. (maker
of the T.E.Co. full face mask);
E.J. Willis Co. (distributor
of the Snead Shallow water helmets and air pump).
Hard cover with leatherette
finish, A4 size, limited to 1500 un-numbered copies.
$155 ex Australia.
If in USA US$100.00 |
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THE SILENT WORLD.
Captain J.Y. Cousteau with
Frederic Dumas.
First published in Great
Britain, 1953, Hamish Hamilton, London. (It went through at least seven
impressions in its first year - thats shows either a remarkable acceptance
or bad planning - no doubt both). Was this book the making of Cousteau?
Of course not, but it helped to consolidate his place in the public mind
as a remarkable pioneer of diving. I have heard ot said that it should
be prescribed reading for all divers but frankly, I find Cousteau
had to read - but then I find Cousteau hard to bear - but thats just
me. Perhaps its because
he is just so damned skinny!!! There is nothing about the historic development
of scuba (is Gagnan even mentioned?), centering rather on the diving exploits
of the French Navy's Underwater Research Group and the Calypso. It is however
an important work as it was perhaps the first ‘popular' book to bring attention
of the general public to the underwater world.
Hardcover, dust jacket,
148 pages, mono plates throughout, sixteen colour plates (from National
Geographic).
Second hand only. Well out
of print. We do have copies most times in stock. Cost is about $40-$60
with an original dust jacket or computer generated jacket based on the
original. |
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U.S. NAVY
1916 MANUAL
This is the jewel of all
U.S. Navy manuals! Professionaly reproduced, softcover, square-back bound,
172 pages, including 42 illustrations. Limited to 2,000 un-numbered copies.
This year, 1916, was the transitional period when the US Navy greatly improved
the divrng equipment, after several years of testing, and co-incides with
the time the Mark 5 diving helmet was first introduced.
$32.00 |
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