Is there an Ultimate Dive Manual?

[ektess1]

When I cerified back in the 70's, there was one book for the course. It covered the basics on most everything. Today there are so many courses offered by so many agencies. Each course has it's own manual. Now I am back into diving. I have recertified. I have been a long time out of the water and needed to learn how to use the modern equipment ie. we didn't have an alternate air source or a BCD.
I would like to find a single source of receational diving information. I do not want a dozen little books that could have been combined into one easy to use manual.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[The Chairman]

You're reading it! Now it's interactive!

 

[ektess1]

I think you are correct, but I am looking for hardcopy.

 

[trtldvr]

The US Navy dive manual, but for recreational diving I recomend 2 books that cover the general info: 1. NAUI Master diver Manual and 2. PADI Encyclopedia to Recreational Diving. (Yes, I actually suggest a PADI product). There are many more but these will answer most questions.

Safe Dives
trtldvr
www.divealive.org

 

[The Chairman]

The NOAA probably is the most respected book out their.

 

[don Francisco]

Given the types of diving, equipment, breathing gasses, number of agencies, specialized decompression tables, etc., etc., any comprehensive manual would probably end up as big as the O.E.D. Even then, there would be endless posts here about omissions, and errors. Probably the best thing you could do is get with an instructer for a refresher/update course suited to your individual needs.

 

[texdiveguy]

No one book will cover it all....you are just going to have to pony up for several.

 

[shellbackdiver1]

The NOAA probably is the most respected book out their.

I agree that NOAA would be the best resource as well. I have the 4th edition and it's my 'coffee table' book. The only thing it lacks is updated equipment descriptions.

 

[kidspot]

I've heard the NOAA is pretty comprehensive, but the Navy manual is a free download

 

[ScubaSarus]

Fred Roberts "Scuba Diving" is a good guide IMO