Classic dive books, underwater books, diving, marine sciences, shipwrecks, salvage & treasure. 

    Please note: The books are listed for collectors interest only, and not offered for sale. (See note below).

    Use the data base search engine to seek a specific title or author, or use the category lists below: 

    FULL ALPHABETIC INDEX - A LIST FOR COLLECTORS External Links:
    FOR A LIST OF FRENCH TITLES
    FOR A LIST OF FINNISH TITLES
    FOR A LIST OF SUNKEN TREASURE BOOKS 

    Please note: original design of this website was based on the display size of the smaller vacuum tube computer monitors (screens). Current screens are flat, and at least 21-inch (angle). Changes may gradually be made to reflect the greater screen width, which may then be awkward when viewed with smaller screens - apologies for that. 

    Note also that I have recently added a few more categories, for ease of browsing and to reduce download times. I have also expanded the time period, considering more recent publications if they warrant consideration as exceptional books. This is particularly applicable to the History of Diving category. 

    The way this website has expanded over the years, perhaps I should call it CLASSIC UNDERWATER BOOKS PLUS OTHER RELEVENT INTERESTS PERTAINING TO THE OCEANS !
    Many divers, especially those interested in shipwrecks, also take an interest in ships, shipping and sailors, and other aspects of the oceans. However, you will find nothing on land or boat fishing (although spearfishing is included here); nor is there anything on yachting. 

    A special thankyou to Phil Thurtle in the UK who has added a wealth of information to the website - and hopefully more to come. It is contributions like this that make the site so useful.

    NEW WEBPAGE FOR COLLECTORS - TO ENQUIRE AND TO SELL. 
     


     
    INDEX BY
    COUNTRY:

    These are generally for 
    early recreational diving books, that
    do not list in the categories on the
    right.

    AUSTRALIA
    See also SHIPS and SHIPWECKS ---->
    BRITAIN
        -SCAPA FLOW
        - UK LOCATIONS
        - UK WRECKS
    EUROPE
    USA

    REST of the WORLD
     

    ON THE SEA and OCEANS:

    EXPLOITING THE SEA
    OCEANOGRAPHY AND EXPLORATION
    PIRACY
    SAILORS AND SEA TRAVEL
    THE SEA - IN GENERAL
    SEAMANSHIP
     

    ON SPECIFIC DIVERS

    JOHNNO JOHNSTONE
    WILLIAM WALKER
     

    GENERAL:

    19th CENTURY BOOKS
    PRE 19th CENTURY BOOKS

    MAGAZINES: FAWCETT, TREND,
    POPULAR MECHANICS etc.

    FOREIGN LANGUAGE

    CATALOGS

    INSTRUCTION MANUALS

    COMPENDIUMS, COLLECTIONS

    EPHEMERAL

    POSTAGE STAMPS

    NEWSPAPERS

    GENERAL BOOKS CONTAINING
    SOME DIVING

    SELECTED DEALERS IN 
    SECOND-HAND 
    UNDERWATER BOOKS

    CORRESPONDENCE
    Links, Letters & Conversation

    SPECIFIC BOOKS:

    BSAC MANUAL
    FULL FATHOM FIVE
    DEEP DIVING AND 
        SUBMARINE ACTIVITIES
    ROYAL NAVY DIVING MANUAL
    US NAVY DIVING MANUAL

     

    INDEX BY SPECIAL SUBJECT:

    ADOLESCENT - CHILDREN
    BIOGRAPHIES
    CAVES, BLUES HOLES, FRESHWATER
    COMMERCIAL DIVING
    DEEP WATER EXPLORATION
    DIVE TRAVEL, LOCATIONS 
    DIVE EXPERIENCES
    EQUIPMENT
    FICTION - NOVELS - DOUBTFUL TALES
    FROGMEN
    GREAT BARRIER REEF
    HABITATS
    HARDHAT (Standard Dress)
    HISTORY OF DIVING
    HYPERBARIC MEDICINE & HEALTH
    JUVENILE
    LOCALITY
    MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY
    MARINE NATURAL SCIENCES
    MARINE SCIENCES - AUSTRALIAN 
    MILITARY and NAVY
    MILITARY and NAVY (USA)
    MYSTERY AND CRIME
    NARRATIVES-BIOGRAPHY
    OIL RIG DIVING
    POLICE AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS
    PEARL and SPONGE DIVING
    PRE-HISTORY, ANTHROPOLOGY
    RECREATIONAL DIVING
    SALVAGE
    SHARKS - ELASMOBRANCH
    SUBMARINES AND SUBMERSIBLES
    TECHNICAL & SCIENTIFIC
    TREASURE & HISTORICAL SALVAGE
    U/W PHOTOGRAPHY - TECHNIQUE
    U/W PHOTOGRAPHY - ESSAYS
    U/W WORK, CAISON PROJECTS
    WHALES AND WHALING
    .

    REPRODUCTIONS 
    of historic diving books.

    SHIPS and SHIPWRECKS

    AUSTRALIA'S SHIPWRECKS
       - DIVING AUSSIE WRECKS
    THE WORLD'S SHIPWRECKS
        - DIVING WORLD WRECKS

    NEW ZEALAND SHIPWRECKS
    SCAPA FLOW
    TRUK LAGOON (Micronesia)
    UNITED KINGDOM

    SPECIFIC SHIPWRECKS (AUSTRALIA)
       LOCH ARD (Victoria)
       THE DUTCH WRECKS (WA)

    SPECIFIC SHIPS (WORLD):
       ANDREA DORIA
       EMPRESS of IRELAND
       LUSITANIA
       NIAGARA
       ROYAL OAK
       THE QUEENS, MARY & ELIZABETH
       TITANIC
       WOLF

    SPECIFIC SHIPWRECK SUBJECTS:
       CLASSIC WRECKS
       HISTORY OF SHIPS & SHIPPING
       MILITARY AND NAVAL LOSSES
       NAVAL RAIDERS
       OIL TANKERS
       SALVAGE
       SHIP, SHIPPING LINE HANDBOOKS
       SPECIAL SHIPS OF INTEREST

     

    AUTHORS:

    ROBERT BALLARD
    WILLIAM BEEBE
    ROBERT BURGESS
    LLOYD BRIDGES
    ARTHUR C. CLARKE
    JACQUES COUSTEAU
    ROBERT H. DAVIS
    PHILIPPE DIOLE
    EDWARD DU CROS
    HUGH EDWARDS
    EDWARD ELLSBERG
    GUY GILPATRIC
    HANS HASS
    VANE IVANOVIC
    PETER KEEBLE
    LEY KENYON
    JOE MACINNIS
    ROBERT MARX
    DAVID MASTERS
    KENDALL McDONALD
    ALEXANDER McKEE
    FRANK MEIER
    NOEL MONKMAN
    HARRY RIESEBERG
    HILBERT SCHENCK
    ROBERT STENUIT
    PHILIPPE TAILLIEZ
    PERCY F. WESTERMAN
    DESMOND YOUNG
    .


     
    Link to  FULL ALPHABETIC INDEX - A LIST FOR COLLECTORS for individual book titles.

     
    Classic dive book? 
    Who is to pass such judgement? Only the greater public can do so, and typical of the attitudes of today, the classic book will, unfortunately, be determined by its monetary value. If you are prepared to pay big money, then it must be classic, right? I think not, but who am I to judge. I would hope that a 'classic' book, on any theme, would be one with merit in its prose, its interest, its facts, its encouragement. It may also be old, but that should not be a sole criteria, even though I have used age in the determination of some of the books chosen to be included. No doubt, many of you may judge otherwise. 
    An update to such thinking: I am now including more recent titles that are of interst, no doubt, to readers and collectors of 'underwater' material. It is perhaps rather pretentious of me to suggest which contemporay books in print or recently out of print will become classics, but then, its my website!!! I have particularly enjoyed the books listed, both for their content and literary competence (such as I am able to judge), and for these reasons, they will remain important works on their subject matter even if they are not granted 'classic' status in the years to come. In mentioning literary merit, I must admit that many old and some recent books which lack such merit are now collectors items if price is any criteria. So, who am I to judge. 

    And who am I?
    I am Peter Stone, ex recreational diver, ex photo-journalist,  author, and proprietor of Oceans Enterprises, a publishing and book distribution company specialising in underwater books, based in south-east Australia. I believe I have a pretty good knowledge of what sustains a good diving book, but I am always open to suggestions. Generally the reviews and comments on this site are my own - others are indicated as such - so feel free to comment and criticise, and certainly add your knowledge so that others may enjoy. Contact Peter.

    Do you have an old diving book but without a dust jacket?
    Check out the listings and if there is an image of the cover, Oceans Enterprises may be able to provide a computer-generated copy of an original dust jacket complete with special archive clear plastic covering. They look better than an old and torn original. Also ideal to put over an original cover for protection. Increases the value of the book, and certainly makes it look and feel a whole lot better. Cost $25.00 (Australian dollars).

    Did you enjoy this site, and found it useful?
    Please email me if you have found this website to be useful. And thank you to the many people who have done so with kind comment - much appreciated. 

    Interested in the history of diving?
    Of course you are, otherwise you would not be on this website. Then why not consider joining your local chapter of an Historic Diving Society. There are independent societies in the UK, USA, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Canada, France, Russia, Mexico, Germany, Italy and Poland. Perhaps others? Of course, you need not be living in a particular country to join that country's society. If you live in a country where there is no society, perhaps you would consider forming one. To find relevant addresses from those countries listed, see the Australian website http://www.classicdiver.org.

    Books for sale? Or an enquiry? 
    Please note - the specific books listed on this Classic Dive Books website are NOT OFFERED FOR SALE. They are listed here for the convenience of collectors and anyone interested in diving literature. If you are after a particular book, or have a book for sale, by all means contact Peter - I may be able to help. I am not a qualified book valuer so please do not contact me for a specific evaluation. You may like to post your book offer or enquiry on the new webpage for such purposes. Link here. There is no charge. 

    Looking for second-hand diving books?
    As indicated on the many websites, the specific books used for this compilation are not for sale - details are from personal collections and are listed as an aid to the collector.  Link to Dealers and Collectors for possible sale sources. Contact me if you are after a particular book, or have books for sale. And feel free to contact me with any suggestions, criticisms, and new books to be listed. 

    Recent acknowledgements:
    To Chris and Cathy Deane, once again many thanks for your hospitality and friendship - and thanks Chris for giving me carte blanche access to your collection where I photographed and documented a dozen books that were not listed on this site. Thankyou Geoff Clark from New Zealand for images and details of three 'treasure' books that were not previously listed. A special thankyou to David Fenton, a Scottish diver now living in California, for some two hundred and fifty dust jacket images that I have including on the site. I am sure this is very much appreciated by anyone who visits this site - and makes me very envious of David's collection. Thankyou also to Mario Bertora in New Zealand for several excellent images and information. 

    Contributors:
    Stephan Aldebert SA
    Bob Bamford BB
    Mario Bertora MB
    Geoff Clark GC
    David Crooks DC
    Chris Deane CD
    Abel Domenech AB
    David Fenton DF
    Gordon Graham GG
    Robert Marx RM
    Richard Meier RM
    Sam Miller SM
    Vincent O'Donnell VO
    Bob Rieseberg BR
    Loren Rieseberg LR
    Darren Smith DS
    Phil Thurtle PT
    Des Williams DW

    This CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS site is sponsored by:

    For
    OCEANS ENTERPRISES
    homepage, link on graphic.
    OCEANS ENTERPRISES
    Publishers and Distributors
    303 Commercial Road, Yarram, Vic 3971, Australia
    Phone (03) 5182 5108   International  61 3 5182 5108
    Email: peter@oceans.com.au