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Clive Cussler & the Doxa Sub watch book
CLIVE CUSSLER- the author
THE BOOK....The DOXA SUB, forty years. 1967-2007
THE AUTHOR...Dr. Pete Millar
The Swiss made DOXA watch was introduced by US Divers of Santa Ana, California in their 1968 catalog. These models were the only models to feature the US Diver Logo with a US divers double hose regulator and tank with "Aqua Lung" printed horizontally across the tank. Sadly they were produced for only a short period of time and currently demanding premium, prices on the used watch market.
The watch was marketed in only one model the "DOXA sub" which was offered in 3 faces, black,Silver and bright Orange. The black faced one was listed as part number #7269 aka "Shark Hunter," silver, part number #7270 aka "Sea Rambler," and the popular orange faced model as part number 7268 "The Professional" and retailed for $150.00 hard earned California dollars.
A few years later the original Doxa models were followed by other Doxa models such as the Doxa Chronograph, retail $250.00 the smaller mini Doxa retail $170.00 and the Conquistador listed at retail $175.00 in the US Divers commercial catalog of that era.
It is the original Orange faced Doxa watch that made an immediate impact on the diving world. Prior to its introduction the majority of the diving watches were smaller in size, often the bezel rotated both left and right, most were black faced making them difficult, if not almost impossible to read in low light conditions, therefore most were difficult to use as an effective diving decompression tool, and guaranteed to eventually leak- (Before the Doxa I never owned a dive watch I couldn't flood)
The Orange faced model has been made even more famous by the diving adventure author Clive Cussler whose main fictional character Dirk Pitt, always wears an orange faced original DOXA as does Clive in the pictures of him and Dirk's autos on the back of his numerous books.
Clive was introduced to the orange faced DOXA while employed at the Aquatic Center on Harbor Boulevard in Santa Ana, California were, between customers, he collected information to do character studies and wrote the his first two of his many diving based novels, "Ice Berg" and "Raise the Titanic." During this era there were only a few active Underwater Instructors for all of Orange county; All certified by LA County; a few had crossed over LA county to NAUI which had just recently been established but no PADI which was not even a dream of the future in the minds of Chicagoans Cronin, Erikson and Chow.
The late Ron Merker and I often team taught diving classes. Clive was one of our students so Clive carries Ron's LA County basic diver certification and my NAUI basic diver certification
LA Co Instructor and US Diver's PR Tommy Thompson made an offer to the active LA County Certified instructors residing in Orange County for the Orange faced Doxas that they could not refuse. Jobber price- The lowest the watch could possibly be sold
It was in this setting that Clive Cussler was exposed to the magic glow of the orange faced Doxa sub; it was the sign the symbol of the OC instructors and on occasion, since diver ranking had been established but rejected by LA Co and NAUI, also the sign of what was then refereed to as a "serious diver."
Clive's first book "Ice berg" received an equally cold reception only 5000 were printed in hard cover and immediately went to soft cover trade paper back. A some time later "Raise the Titanic" was printed and became a run away best seller and Clive was on his way to literary immortality.
With income from his books Clive could now devote his life to research and writing books, so he gave notice to the Aquatic Center that he was terminating his employment. As a going away present the owners of the Aquatic Center presented Clive with his very own orange faced US Divers Doxa sub. Clive in turn immortalized the owners in Raise the Titanic, the late Dick Spencer aka "Spence," Al "O" Woods aka "Woodson" and Sam Merker was a complation of two of Clive's major antagonist as "Sam Merker." (aka SAM Miller and Ron MERKER.- (Dr Bills basic Instructor ) Clive who is 86 has continued to write to this day with the very same Orange faced Doxa on his and his fictional hero Dirk Pitt's wrist and has continued to include his major antagonist buried within his many published books.
The book "The DOXA sub, forty years 1967-2007," Was introduced in May 2007 to the diving bibliophile and diving watch collecting world in a hard cover, jacketed edition. As should befitting a DOXA watch the book was printed on very high grade glossy paper, it measures 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches by 1 inch thick. Between the bright orange covers are 278 information filled pages loaded with photographs and descriptions of the of the various models. The book "DOXA sub" is the first and only book printed to accurately document the origins of a diving watch and has immediately became a diving book classic upon its release. It is the definitive book on this historic watch.
It is predicted that the book "The Doxa sub" will escalate in value many times over in a record time. It will no doubt be as collectable and desirable as Leon Lyons definitive book "Helmets of the deep," It retailed for $300.00 upon release, now 12 years after its printing is selling for in excess of $4000.00 and Torrance Parker's "20,000 Jobs under the sea," which originally sold for $85.00 are currently selling for around $800.00 and is on its way to $1000 a copy. So it will be with the new book on the market "Doxa sub;forty years, 1967-2007."
The author, Dr. Pete Millar, is a well known medical doctor in Aurora,Illinois enthusastic diver a world renown expert on Doxa watches. Dr Millar spent many years collecting, overhauling and cataloging Doxas watches and untold dollars researching and publishing this monumental book.
With its publication DOXA sub-forty years 1967-2007 Dr. Millar has created a great book and a created a lasting tribute to diving world.
Interested in the book? It may be still be ordered through the Doxa web site for $79.00 +$20.00 Shipping with in the US. But you better hurry, it is a limited edition book and the supply is very limit.
Yes, I have and am currently wearing a\the same 1968 US Divers logo Orange faced Doxa sub and Dr. Millar was kind enough to send me an inscribed DOXA SUB -Forty Years -1967-2007. The watch ad the book have already become family heirlooms to be passed down to future generations of my diving family
Sam Miller,111
CLIVE CUSSLER- the author
THE BOOK....The DOXA SUB, forty years. 1967-2007
THE AUTHOR...Dr. Pete Millar
The Swiss made DOXA watch was introduced by US Divers of Santa Ana, California in their 1968 catalog. These models were the only models to feature the US Diver Logo with a US divers double hose regulator and tank with "Aqua Lung" printed horizontally across the tank. Sadly they were produced for only a short period of time and currently demanding premium, prices on the used watch market.
The watch was marketed in only one model the "DOXA sub" which was offered in 3 faces, black,Silver and bright Orange. The black faced one was listed as part number #7269 aka "Shark Hunter," silver, part number #7270 aka "Sea Rambler," and the popular orange faced model as part number 7268 "The Professional" and retailed for $150.00 hard earned California dollars.
A few years later the original Doxa models were followed by other Doxa models such as the Doxa Chronograph, retail $250.00 the smaller mini Doxa retail $170.00 and the Conquistador listed at retail $175.00 in the US Divers commercial catalog of that era.
It is the original Orange faced Doxa watch that made an immediate impact on the diving world. Prior to its introduction the majority of the diving watches were smaller in size, often the bezel rotated both left and right, most were black faced making them difficult, if not almost impossible to read in low light conditions, therefore most were difficult to use as an effective diving decompression tool, and guaranteed to eventually leak- (Before the Doxa I never owned a dive watch I couldn't flood)
The Orange faced model has been made even more famous by the diving adventure author Clive Cussler whose main fictional character Dirk Pitt, always wears an orange faced original DOXA as does Clive in the pictures of him and Dirk's autos on the back of his numerous books.
Clive was introduced to the orange faced DOXA while employed at the Aquatic Center on Harbor Boulevard in Santa Ana, California were, between customers, he collected information to do character studies and wrote the his first two of his many diving based novels, "Ice Berg" and "Raise the Titanic." During this era there were only a few active Underwater Instructors for all of Orange county; All certified by LA County; a few had crossed over LA county to NAUI which had just recently been established but no PADI which was not even a dream of the future in the minds of Chicagoans Cronin, Erikson and Chow.
The late Ron Merker and I often team taught diving classes. Clive was one of our students so Clive carries Ron's LA County basic diver certification and my NAUI basic diver certification
LA Co Instructor and US Diver's PR Tommy Thompson made an offer to the active LA County Certified instructors residing in Orange County for the Orange faced Doxas that they could not refuse. Jobber price- The lowest the watch could possibly be sold
It was in this setting that Clive Cussler was exposed to the magic glow of the orange faced Doxa sub; it was the sign the symbol of the OC instructors and on occasion, since diver ranking had been established but rejected by LA Co and NAUI, also the sign of what was then refereed to as a "serious diver."
Clive's first book "Ice berg" received an equally cold reception only 5000 were printed in hard cover and immediately went to soft cover trade paper back. A some time later "Raise the Titanic" was printed and became a run away best seller and Clive was on his way to literary immortality.
With income from his books Clive could now devote his life to research and writing books, so he gave notice to the Aquatic Center that he was terminating his employment. As a going away present the owners of the Aquatic Center presented Clive with his very own orange faced US Divers Doxa sub. Clive in turn immortalized the owners in Raise the Titanic, the late Dick Spencer aka "Spence," Al "O" Woods aka "Woodson" and Sam Merker was a complation of two of Clive's major antagonist as "Sam Merker." (aka SAM Miller and Ron MERKER.- (Dr Bills basic Instructor ) Clive who is 86 has continued to write to this day with the very same Orange faced Doxa on his and his fictional hero Dirk Pitt's wrist and has continued to include his major antagonist buried within his many published books.
The book "The DOXA sub, forty years 1967-2007," Was introduced in May 2007 to the diving bibliophile and diving watch collecting world in a hard cover, jacketed edition. As should befitting a DOXA watch the book was printed on very high grade glossy paper, it measures 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches by 1 inch thick. Between the bright orange covers are 278 information filled pages loaded with photographs and descriptions of the of the various models. The book "DOXA sub" is the first and only book printed to accurately document the origins of a diving watch and has immediately became a diving book classic upon its release. It is the definitive book on this historic watch.
It is predicted that the book "The Doxa sub" will escalate in value many times over in a record time. It will no doubt be as collectable and desirable as Leon Lyons definitive book "Helmets of the deep," It retailed for $300.00 upon release, now 12 years after its printing is selling for in excess of $4000.00 and Torrance Parker's "20,000 Jobs under the sea," which originally sold for $85.00 are currently selling for around $800.00 and is on its way to $1000 a copy. So it will be with the new book on the market "Doxa sub;forty years, 1967-2007."
The author, Dr. Pete Millar, is a well known medical doctor in Aurora,Illinois enthusastic diver a world renown expert on Doxa watches. Dr Millar spent many years collecting, overhauling and cataloging Doxas watches and untold dollars researching and publishing this monumental book.
With its publication DOXA sub-forty years 1967-2007 Dr. Millar has created a great book and a created a lasting tribute to diving world.
Interested in the book? It may be still be ordered through the Doxa web site for $79.00 +$20.00 Shipping with in the US. But you better hurry, it is a limited edition book and the supply is very limit.
Yes, I have and am currently wearing a\the same 1968 US Divers logo Orange faced Doxa sub and Dr. Millar was kind enough to send me an inscribed DOXA SUB -Forty Years -1967-2007. The watch ad the book have already become family heirlooms to be passed down to future generations of my diving family
Sam Miller,111
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