Books

[Jim Lapenta]

US Navy Dive Manual which you can download for free.
NOAA Dive Manual
Tom Mount's IANTD Exploration and mixed Gas Encyclopedia aka The Tao of Underwater Survival
Gary Gentile's Technical Diver Encyclopedia

All of these are a bit on the advanced side but except for the Navy Manual which being a govt publication has to be a bit wordy are full of useful info for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge in clear, concise, no BS ways. They are written with the assumption that divers are intelligent, educated, and have developed some judgment.

 

[seaducer]

The Essentials of Deeper Sport Diving, by John Lippmann
Solo Diving, by Robert von Maier, even you never want to solo...
Complete Wreck Diving, by Henry Keatts and Brian Skerry

All good books, in addition to the ones posted above.

 

[TSandM]

Clay Coleman's The Certified Diver's Handbook is another good one. Although in some places a bit dated (and I don't always agree with the writer's opinions) the book is chock full of advice to help a new diver become an independent, active diver.

 

[Straegen]

Agreed with the above recommendation. I really like that book and it is very up-to-date.

 

[SeahorseDeb]

Dive Training magazine is always full of useful information. Some diveshops give them out for free. You can also read some online at Dive Training Magazine — Scuba's magazine for new divers and their instructors.

Shoot, how did I miss mentioning that one. It's fantastic and on-going!

 

[MuddyRubberDuck]

Thank guys that's great. I think I'll go snag a couple of them.

 

[RU4SKUBA]

GUE Fundamentals is a fantastic book that gives you a great look at sharpening your dive skills, drills for air sharing, and a preview of technical gear. There is also a decent video they put out showing the various kicks, air sharing, deploying safety sausage, etc.

I highly recommend them both, and the Encyclopedia if you don't have it.

 

[Rhone Man]

Surprised no one has mentioned Jarrod Jablonski's Fundamentals of Better Diving. Even a DIR-atheist like myself admits it is pretty useful to the uninitiated.

Plus one on recommendations for Mike Ange's Diver Down and Mark Powell's Deco for Divers.

EDIT: If you do decide to buy Jablonski's book, buy it direct from the GUE website (where it is about $15) rather than from Amazon (where it is about $50).

 

[parkerco]

Everyone's made some great suggestions here, but since you didn't specify just instructional sources a few other suggestions. Personally I think reading stories about diving will help you find your own path a lot more than reading a dry instructional manual, but that's me. One thing I would suggest as far as post-OW certification is that if you buy the PADI Adventures in Diving book for a specific specialty it's got chapters for every specialty -- nothing wrong with reading the rest o' the book while you're at it =)

• Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die by Chris Santella.
• Diving into Darkness by Philip Finch.
• Last Dive by Bernie Chowdhurry.
• Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson.
• Deep Descent by Kevin McMurray.
• Fatal Depth by Joe Haberstroh.
• Caverns Measureless to Man by Sheck Exley.
• Neutral Buoyancy by Tim Ecott.

 

[knowone]

Scuba Diving. WOMAN'S Guide. Claire Walter. Women's point of view for both sexes... page 14... "Of course women should dive. After all, half of the creatures underwater are female." Dr Sylvia Earle, marine biologist, author and National Geographic Society explorer-in-residence...page 31...Jennifer King, Instructor, spearheaded the Womens Equipment Test Team (WETT) to combat the SAP Principle-Small and Pink. Companies would take a piece of low end equipment, make it small and pink and call it a woman's model... page 57..."Women take to diving because thay are patient enough to learn the concepts, and you have to grasp the concepts before you get around to the rest." Diane Richards, Rec Diving, Royal Oak, Michigan...page 69... "My first buddy on my first dive trip was a muscle man. He wanted to poke around in every hole and get personal with every fish. It made me nervous. On the next day's dive, I got buddied with another woman who was certified just a few months earlier. We took it easy and looked at a lot of little stuff close-up and kept out of holes. I had a great time, and she told me afterwards that she was happy to be showing someone the ropes." Lee Gardner, Fayetteville, North Carolina.
So. Great book with excellent glossary and resources sections. One issue not covered is how the girlies go about getting a fill or a service at a shop they haven't bought from. That is covered in Diving on the Edge by Michael Bane. My fingers hurt.