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 FOR A LIST OF FRENCH TITLES
    FOR A LIST OF FINNISH TITLES
    FOR A COMPREHENSIVE 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 (spearfishing is included), nor on yachting. 


     
    GENERAL

    CORRESPONDENCE
    Links, Letters & Conversation

    19th CENTURY BOOKS
    PRE 19th CENTURY BOOKS

    FAWCETT, TREND,
    POPULAR MECHANICS

    POTENTIAL CLASSICS

    FOREIGN LANGUAGE

    COMPENDIUMS,
    COLLECTIONS

    SELECTED DEALERS IN 
    SECOND-HAND 
    UNDERWATER BOOKS
     
     

    ODD LISTINGS!!!

    Book - FULL FATHOM FIVE
     
     
     

     

    INDEX BY
    COUNTRY:

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

    AUSTRALIA
    BRITAIN
    EUROPE
    USA

    REST of
    the WORLD

    INDEX BY SPECIAL SUBJECT:
    ADOLESCENT - CHILDREN
    CAVES, BLUES HOLES, FRESHWATER
    COMMERCIAL DIVING
    DEEP WATER EXPLORATION
    DIVE TRAVEL, LOCATIONS 
    DIVE EXPERIENCES
    FICTION - NOVELS
      - DOUBTFUL STORIES
    GREAT BARRIER REEF
    HABITATS
    HARDHAT (Standard Dress)
    HISTORY OF DIVING
    HYPERBARIC MEDICINE & HEALTH
    MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY
    MARINE NATURAL SCIENCES
    MARINE SCIENCES - AUSTRALIAN 
    MILITARY and NAVY
    OCEANOGRAPHY AND EXPLORATION
    OIL RIG DIVING
    POLICE AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS
    PEARL and SPONGE DIVING
    PRE-HISTORY, ANTHROPOLOGY
    SAILORS AND SEA TRAVEL
    SALVAGE
    SHARKS - ELASMOBRANCH
    SUBMARINES AND SUBMERSIBLES
    TECHNICAL & SCIENTIFIC
    TREASURE & HISTORICAL SALVAGE
    U/W PHOTOGRAPHY - TECHNIQUE
    U/W PHOTOGRAPHY - ESSAYS
    U/W WORK, CAISON PROJECTS
    SHIPS and SHIPWRECKS
    AUSTRALIA
       - DIVING AUSSIE WRECKS
    THE WORLD
        - DIVING WORLD WRECKS

    NEW ZEALAND
    SCAPA FLOW
    TRUK LAGOON (Micronesia)

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

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

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

     

    AUTHORS:
    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
    ROBERT MARX
    DAVID MASTERS
    KENDALL McDONALD
    ALEXANDER McKEE
    FRANK MEIER
    NOEL MONKMAN
    HARRY RIESEBERG
    HILBERT SCHENCK
    ROBERT STENUIT
    PHILIPPE TAILLIEZ
    DESMOND YOUNG

     
     
    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. 

    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 classic 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. 

    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. 

    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
    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
    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