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HISTORY of DIVING ..
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. 

See also NARRATIVES page for the following, and others:
NEW RELEASES.
THE "PORPOISE" - Australian Diving Technology the World Copied.
Des Walters, Des Williams, Melven Brown and Tony Gregory.
Forget about that French chap Cousteau - what about our own true-blue Aussie Ted Eldred, the man behind the Porpoise regulator, the world's first single-hose regulator, its uniqueness of the single hose resulting in the design of the two-stage pressure reduction system that is now in common use with standard compressed-air sport divers. Ted commenced building his unit in Melbourne in 1948, built the first prototype a year later, registered the ‘Porpoise' name a year after that and set to marketing the unit in 1952. One could say, the rest is history, but there were of course many design changes. Early models are of course a collectors item - no wonder that the authors, members of the Historic Diving Society - South-East Asia-Pacific, took it on themselves to record the development of the Porpoise with biographic details on Ted Eldred and the development of diving in Australia. The book is exceptionally well researched, a fascinating read especially for those of a technical and inquisitive mind - an exceptional contribution to the preservation of our diving history. It is well illustrated with mono photographs, drawings and charts - including some fascinating early advertisements. Softcover, A4 size, mono photographs. $55.00
Note: sadly, Ted Eldred died in 2005 and did not see the book to which he contributed so generously. The Historic Diving Society has created the Ted Eldred Award to be presented to a member of the organisation who meets specific criteria regarding their contribution to the presentation and preservation of our diving history. 
THE HISTORY OF UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY AND CINEMATOGRAPHY IN ITALY.
Storia della Fotografia e Cinematografia Subacquea Italiana.
Alberto Romeo.
We know of the French contribution to recreational diving - Cousteau made sure of that - but few of us have bothered to appreciate the contribution of the Italians, especially in underwater photography and cinematography. They have been at it since 1932, with weird and bulky homemade and later commercial equipment housing the Rolleimarin and Praktiflex, and the Elmo cinecamera. Names such as Raimondo Bucher, Roberto Rossellini, Victor de Sanctis and the author himself are not familiar to us, but they should be for their contribution to the development of underwater photography. And where did the Nikonos system originate? We are however familiar, or should be if we have an interest in the history of diving, with Folco Quilici, Fosco Maraini, Bruno Vailati, Dimitri Rebikoff, and Louis Boutan, all significant players in the development of underwater photographer. The book takes a chronological look at this development, from 1932 to 1989, the latter years mentioning contributions from Hass and Cousteau as well as our Aussies Cropp and Taylor. The diving gear is an interest in itself, whereas the photographic equipment seems to have stabilised in development after a decade or so, its use divided between housings and the self-contained Nikonos system. A very interesting book and a great contribution by Alberto Romeo to the historical record of diving. By the way, has anyone got a copy of the first issue of the Italian Fotosub magazine, published in 1977; look, it is an artistic cover, thats why I want it!
Special foldout plastic cover bound, 430 pages, hundreds of mono photographs, index, bibliography, text and captions in Italian and English. 
Published with the support of the Historical Diving Society of Italy. $78.00 
DIVING PIONEERS AND INNOVATORS.
Link to Narratives.

 
NEW RELEASE
THE HISTORY OF OILFIELD DIVING  - An Industrial Adventure. Christopher Swann.
What a superb book, exceptionally well researched and fascinating to read. The original oilfield divers demonstrated exceptional courage, which remains a requirement to this day. Author Christopher Swann knows his subject as a saturation diver himself. The History of Oilfield Diving chronicles one of the greatest adventures of the 20th Century. A story of human endeavour, physical danger and breakneck technological development, this is the most comprehensive account of oilfield diving ever written. Until the 1950s there was no oilfield diving industry. The few men who dived for a living fished for abalone or plied their trade in harbours and dockyards, on civil engineering projects and on the occasional salvage project. Nearly all the work was in shallow water. As a result, there was little innovation in either equipment or techniques. As oil was found at greater depths, all that changed. In the early 1960s, the oil companies drilling off the coast of California were pushing the limits of traditional commercial diving. All their exploratory wells were in 200-250 feet of water, a depth at which nitrogen narcosis becomes a serious limitation. Progress into still deeper water was about to come to a halt.Until, that is, a former US Marine, who made a precariouss living diving for abalone, mounted a scuba regulator in an abalone helmet, bought some helium from a hospital supply company and dived - to 400 feet. Oilfield diving was about to take off. 
Hardcover, dustjacket, 845 pages, many many money photographs, several colour plates, index, appendicies, maps, bibliography for each chapter. $155.00.
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
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
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
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 
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
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.
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
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 
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
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
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. 
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
 
Oceans Enterprises, 303 Commercial Road, Yarram, Vic 3971, Australia.