| Arthur C.Clarke is best
known for his brilliant science fiction and futuristic ideas, his knowledge
of astronomy and science, and all aspects of space travel. I had the pleasure
of meeting him personally in Sri lanka in the early 1980s, and did so simply
because we were both divers. His interest in diving is not prticularly
well known, yet he has written several excellent non-fiction books related
to diving off Sri Lanka, and also on the Great Barrier Reef.
[I took photo of Arthur C.
Clarke when I met him in Colombo in the 1980s.]
For a history of diving in
Ceylon/ Sri Lanka where Arthur C. lived, visit http://www.rexdesilva.org/sri-lanka---history-of-diving
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THE REEFS OF TAPROBANE - Underwater Adventures Around
Ceylon.
(photographs by Mike Wilson)
Frederick Muller Limited, London, 1957. (Cover, palmtree
top, far left). [ps]
Hardcover, dustjacket, 232 pages, mono and colour plates.
Harper & Brothers, New York, 1957. (Cover, palmtree
bottom, left) [ps]
Hardcover, dustjacket, 205 pages, mono and colour photographs
- slightly larger book than the British edition.
From the back-cover blurb on another Frederick Muller
publication: "Lookingfor fresh underwater worlds to conquer, Arthur Clarke
and Mike Wilson followed up their successful expedition to the Great Barrier
Reef by exploring the romantic seas of Ceylon. The Reefs of T aprobane
is
an exciting chronicle of drowned galleons and sunken temples, of dynamiters,
pearl divers and Buddhist monks, of the fantastic life of tropical reefs,
of dangerous and beautiful marine creatures, and of the many wonders Clarke
and Wilson encountered during their expedition to the ancient and exotic
island of Ceylon and the waters round it." |
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INDIAN OCEAN ADVENTURE. (photographs
by Mike Wilson)
Arthur Barker Limited, London. 1962.
Hardcover, dustjacket, 98 pages, mono photographs.
Living in, and diving around, the Great Basses Lighthouse,
off Ceylon. [ps] |
THE TREASURE OF THE GREAT REEF.
A thrilling account of a successful treasure hunt in
the dangerous waters of the Indin Ocean.
Arthur Barker Limited, London. 1964.
Hardcover, dustjacket, 195 pages, mono photographs.
Based on the discovery and excavation of a wreck found
by Wilson and two others on Great Basses reef off Ceylon. Cannon, pistols
and coins made in 1702 for the Mogul emperor Aurangzeb were found and raised.
[ps]
THE TREASURE OF THE GREAT REEF.
Arthur C. Clarke.
First published in 1964. Revised printing 1974, Ballantine
Books, New York.
(I have a copy of this revised edition, dedicated and
signed when I met the author in Sri Lanka in 1983).
Revised edition: Softcover, 275 pages, mono and colour
plates.
The prolific science fiction author had a fascination
for the world beneath the sea, and dived off Sri Lanka on many occasions.
This title covers shipwrecks off Sri Lanka, and the finding of treasure
ships.
Arthur Barker Ltd.
London, 1964 |
Scientific Book Club
edition, London.
[ps] |
U.S.Edition perhaps. |
Ballantyn Books, NY,
1973.
[ps] |
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INDIAN OCEAN TREASURE. With Mike
Wilson.
Harper and Row Publishers, New York. 1964.
Hardcover, dustjacket, 147 pages, mono photographs.
This is the abridged, USA edition, of The Treasure
of the Great Reef. (See above) |
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THE COAST OF CORAL. Photographs by
Mike Wilson and Arthur C.Clarke.
Frederick Muller Limited, London. 1956
Hardcover, dustjacket, 208 pages, mono and colour
photographs.
Harper and Brothers, New York. (Copyright) 1955.
Hardcover, possibly dustjacket, 208 pages, mono and colour
photographs.
Diving on the Great Barrier Reef, prticularly around
Heron island and the Capricorn Group, and off Thursday Island in Torres
Strait. How different the diving was in those day - a real expedition,
with no diveshop facilities and air stations. It is all surface-supplied
diving, with standard dress (hard hat helmets) or hooker arrangements.
A great read and one of the most important of the early Australin diving
books.
Dust jacket far left, blue fish: probably USA edition.
[ps-no dj]
Dust jacket left, yellow: Frederick Muller, Londen, 1956.
[ps] |
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THE FIRST FIVE FATHOMS - A GUIDE TO UNDERWATER ADVENTURE
Arthur C. Clarke, photographs by Mike Wilson. Introduction
by Captain Jaques-Yves Cousteau .
Harper & Brothers, New York, 1960. Hard cover, 80
pages plus appendix.
In splendid pictures and text the authors show young
skin divers how they may become masters of the first five fathoms, the
most fascinating and beautiful part of the sea. They direct the reader's
first steps to the sea, and explain the use of snorkel, mask, and fins.The
photos are fascinating vintage black and white pictures. This may be a
first edition, although no edition is stated. [ps] |
VOICE ACROSS THE SEA
Arthur C. Clarke
William Luscombe, London. 1974. Originally published in 1958 (maybe
by William Luscombe).
Then completely revised edition, 1974. Hardcover, 228 pages, plus 16
pages with 32 b/w photos. Map of the Transatlantic Telephone Cable Route.
Map of the Hawaiian Telephone Cable Route. A complete though non-technical
account of the underwater cables used for telegraphic signals and telephone,
then followed by communications satellites.
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