Must Read Book for All Divers, esp NOOBs

[Cruisin Home]

I probably wont change your mind but you just might find yourself in a position one day , like they were, outside of all documented boundaries, and have to respond like they did.

And you are wrong about Benz, if you are really into the designs of cars, then you most certainly would study his work. Again speaking more from a technical perspective. But it is funny how many people on this scuba board will recommend brands of equipment without knowing the slightest bit of how they are desinged or surviced, most importantly regulators. Would be an interesting thing to know which companies had certain patents on robust designs that others have to get around with unreliable complexity.

Are you agianst history being taught in school? Did you have a real mean history teacher once? Just light kidding here , not meaning to incite a flaming match over history!


Any other good diving books folks would recommend?

 

[Cruisin Home]

BTW Blackwood, you have some very good photos on your profile. I bet even JC himself would like them!!!

 

[Blackwood]

And you are wrong about Benz, if you are really into the designs of cars, then you most certainly would study his work.

Sure. But most of us aren't designing cars or dive equipment; we're using it.

(for the record, I too am an engineer)

Again speaking more from a technical perspective. But it is funny how many people on this scuba board will recommend brands of equipment without knowing the slightest bit of how they are desinged or surviced, most importantly regulators. Would be an interesting thing to know which companies had certain patents on robust designs that others have to get around with unreliable complexity.

Hmm... I think that's a bit of a mixed bag. I think I'd be more swayed by a bunch of people who've had good results with a particular make and model of regulator than a technician who's certified to service a few of them or a guy who designed one.

But this is getting way off the topic of your thread (sorry for that :blinking

Are you agianst history being taught in school? Did you have a real mean history teacher once? Just light kidding here , not meaning to incite a flaming match over history!

LOL you had me there.

Any other good diving books folks would recommend?

The standard recommendations are Diver Down, Shadow Divers and The Last Dive. Deco For Divers has been getting a lot of buzz (and I mentioned to take it down on a couple of short flights).

BTW Blackwood, you have some very good photos on your profile. I bet even JC himself would like them!!!

Thanks! Clear, shallow water helps.

 

[bracko]

it depends on your interest.

as a [design?] engineer he is probably interested in the design process, the problems and how they were overcome.

and your statement regarding Karl Benz is partially correct, in engineering design (and especially industrial design) it's not uncommon to study inventors or key people in development of ideas. All students don't intend to (or can) study in that field, so why bother reading about them at all.

just like physicists study Newton or Einstein.

 

[knowone]

There is a paperback version also? I looked it up on Amazon and it was published in 1973. Correct?

Amazon.com: The Silent World (9780345235701): Jacques; Dumas…

First published in GB, hardcover by Hamish Hamilton, numerous impressions every month or two, 1953.

Published in GB, softcover by Penguin Books in association with Hamish Hamilton, 1958.

 

[TartanFrog]

As a total noob diver, thanks for the book recommendations and the interesting exchange. It always amazes me how communications on the internet can get totally misconstrued due to the lack of human interaction. It happens all the time with my team of engineers. We interact mainly through emails, chats and teleconferencing with some members of the team and it is very easy to miss the meaning of something transmitted.

I suppose it is the inner geek in me. I read just about everything I can on anything I find interesting. I have multiple hobbies/interests and read historical and modern works on each of them. I have books on early gun design and modern weapon manufacturing processes. I have read historical information regarding ancient edged weapons and modern techniques for creating similar items. I have also read books on early kayak design, modern materials and how to build one at home. I am currently reading several historical documents, including one recently translated from Chinese, that discusses the original history of what is now called karate.

So why read something like these? For me it is both interesting and enlightening. I find it highly interesting to see where things started and how far they have come. And for one subject area, karate, it is very enlightening to read about how the martial arts were before the crass commercialism of today.

 

[bygolly]

A reference book of compilations authored and edited by Jacques Cousteau along with the Cousteau Society is "The Cousteau Almanac - An Inventory of Life on our Water Planet" Great reading for any diver or human being. It covers environmental issues from abalone to zooxanthellae.

 

[TartanFrog]

Busy travel day today and I was waiting for a delayed flight in Milwaukee. Went into a used book store in the airport and stumbled onto a 1953, 2nd edition of Jacques Cousteau's "The Silent World." It was definitely a different diving world 60 plus years ago. Amazing! But I guess the amazing part is true for virtually all of the explorers that are on the forefront.

 

[Cruisin Home]

I am glad Tartabn Frog. If I have helped expose one human being to this book I consider a good deed done. Great luck on getting the 2nd ed.