CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS

    AUSTRALIA - Recreational diving.
    Please note: The books are listed for interest only, and not offered for sale. 

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    AUSTRALIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
    Kevin Deacon. 
    Simon & Shuster, Australia. 1989.  ISBN 0 7318 0004 4.
    Brilliant photographs. Covers the major diving regions in Australia, and also Papua New Guinea, Solomons, Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands.  (And some photographs and chapters written by yours truly).
    Hardcover, 247 pages, large A4 format, full colour.
    [ps]
    A few copies still available from Oceans Enterprises.
    AUSTRALIA DOWN UNDER
    Christine Deacon & Kevin Deacon. 
    Doubleday Australia Pty Ltd, 1986, reprinted 1987. Second edition 1988. ISBN 0 86824 241 1.
    Great photos. The finest colour publication of Australian dive locations. Covers all states, cave-diving, coral diving and shipwrecks. But what about Bass Strait? Arguably the best book on Australia's diving divided into sections on marine life, shipwrecks, temperate and tropical water diving. Many full page colour photos, many photographically aesthetic, others descriptive.
    Hardcover, 272 pages, large A4 format, full colour. 
    [ps]
    Copies still available from Oceans Enterprises.
    CAVE DIVING IN AUSTRALIA
    Ian Lewis and Peter Stace. 
    Self published, South Australia
    First edition 1980, second edition 1982.  ISBN 0 9594963 0 0
    A most valuable book and sadly outof print for many years. 
    Provides a detailed description of the many freshwater caves and sinkholes in the Mount Gambier district of south-east South Australia, one of the famous freshwater caving regions in the world. 
    Softcover, 174 pages, sketches of cave and sinkhole profiles, history, level of expertise required, equipment, access.
    [ps]
    DIVE
    AUSTRALIA
    		 .....
    DIVE AUSTRALIA. Peter Stone.
    First published in 1978 as a small pocket directory of dive shops and air-fil stations around Australia, it grew to a much larger directory in 1980, and then into a full book Dive Australia in 1982, published by Oceans Enterprises, Melbourne. Four editions up to 1999, with a fifth edition in preparation 2009.  First edition (of the book) , softcover, 268 pages, mono photos and maps - it has grown to over 600 pages and many photographs and maps with the latest edition.  First edition subtitled: A Directory of Dive Locations, Dive Shops and Services in Australia compiled by Peter Stone. It was the first book in Australia to publish services and locations throughout the island continent. Fourth edition is called Peter Stone's Dive Australia - A Handbook for Scuba Divers. First edition contains advertisements of many of the dive shops operating at the time. The early edition is of some historic value, whilst the latest edition is of great practical value. [ps]
    DIVERS DIRECTORY
    Scuba Divers Federation of Australia.
    This was the second edition of the directory of clubs and services, published April 1980. It was produced for the SDFAS by its then Administration Manager Peter Stone.
    Saddle stapled, 86 pages. A5 format. 
    The Dive Directory resulted in Peter Stone publishing Dive Australia in 1982, and subsequent editions. 
    [ps]
    DIVERS IN TIME.  Australia's Untold History.
    Jeff Maynard. 
    The author is well known for his many well researchedand fascinating articles on diving history that appear regularly in thediving magazines, as well as his book ‘Niagara's Gold'. The first thingI checked out was to see if there was any mention of Noel and Kitty Monkman- and there was, indeed a very good tribute to these pioneer Australianfilm-makers. The seven major chapters cover: The Standard Dress Divers,The Pearl Divers, The Inventors, The Salvage Divers, Divers at Work, TheNavy Divers, The Scuba Divers. Thus the book covers commercial and militaryoperations, police, pearl and navy divers, and the introduction of recreationalscuba into Autralia. A great read, educational and entertaining. And didyou know - the single-hose regulator, now used by divers worldwide, wasinvented in Melbourne?  Softcover, 158 pages, large A4 size, mono prints. 
    Currently available from Oceans Enterprises.
    DIVER'S LUCK.
    A Story of Pearling Days.
    Clarence Benham.
    First published 1949. reprinted 1951.
    Angus and Robertson, Syndey, London.
    Hardcover, dustjacket, 258 pages, some mono prints. 
    Tells of diving for pearl in Torres Strait and the Solomon Islands - and a fight to the death with a Japanese diver. 
    [ps]
    DIVING SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
    A Guide to 40 of the Top Dive Sites from Heron Island to Byron Bay.
    John Wright. First published in 1990 by the Division of Information, Department of Lands (Queensland Government). 
    It would appear that the 'entries' in this book were at one time published 'serially' in the Courier-Mail newspaper, issued in Brisbane. (John Wright was a journalist with the newspaper). With an introudction by Col McKenzie who was Presaident of trhe Queensland Tourism Assoiaation of Australia, its purpose was, apparently, to encourage tourism. 
    Softcover, A4 size, 86 paages, mono photographs and detailed drawings of dive locations, 16 pages of colour plates. Detail includes visuaal markings via photographs. The detail of description is particularly useful, a personal account of the sites as actually experienceed by the author. Despite having written Dive Australia, I was not aware of the book until 2009 when I saw it listed on the internet. I have no idea of the print run but it would have been relatively small I would suggest, and only distributed in Queensland, probably just through the dive shops. [ps] 
    DOWN UNDER/DOWNUNDER
    Barry Lines.
    Horwitz Publications, Sydney, 1970.
    Second impression (revised) November 1981.
    Hardcover, dustjacket, 143 pages, mono and colour photographs. 
    Revised edition printed on better quality semi-gloss paper. If indeed it was 'revised' I can see no evidence of it. 
    Would have been a most useful book in its day, covering all aspects of diver trining and diver activity, including marine life, and underwater photography.
    [ps]
    ESCAPE TO ADVENTURE
    Noel Monkman
    First published 1956, Angus and Robertson, Sydney and Melbourne.
    Hardcover, dust jacket, 182 pages, mono and colour plates throughout.
    I swear I will read this book one day. The author was an adventurer, and his escape to adventure included land activities as well as ‘diving with an aqualung and camera'. He was one of the first in Australia to shoot cinematography, and did so with Australian actors Charles Tingwell and Chips Refferty. His speciality was macro and micro photography, shooting much of the sequences for the American film The Sea Around Us.  We don't hear much of Monkman within diving circles but he is worthy of a place as one of Australia'ss pioneer divers. The book is not rare, and crops up in most second-hand stores. [ps]
     
    FROM QUEENSLAND TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF - A Naturalist's Adventures in Australia.
    Noel Monkman.
    Doubleday and Company, Inc. Garden Cuty, New York 1958.
    Hardcover, dustjacket, 182 pages, mainly mono photographs, a few colour plates. 
    This book is identical in every respect except for the placement of the photographs. 
    [ps]
    FORTY FATHOMS DEEP. 
    Pearl Divers and Sea Rovers in Australian Seas. Ion L. Idriess. 
    First published 1937, the second edition the same year (which I have), Angus & Roberston Limited, Sydney.
    Hard cover, no dust jacket, 343 pages, mono plates throughout. 
    A first edition of this book would be nice - a collectors item and quite valuable, from the stable of a prolific and well respected author. It is a wonderful book, superbly writen of course, and of great historicc value as it documents the pearl divers of, predominantly, Broome in Western Australia. A ',must read' for all recreational and commercial divers.
    [ps]
    GODS AND LITTLE FISHES
    Hugh Edwards.
    First published 1962. Peter davies, London.
    Hardcover, dustjacket, 238 pages, 24 mono plates centrally placed.
    The author is no doubt the doyen of writers of underwater material in Australia, and a most expereinced diver. This book was obviously published for the British market, looking for some excitement in the undersea of the Mediterranean and Australian waters. I think this is the first of his several books which included the award winning Islands of Angry Ghosts. Of limited historical interest but a very good read.
    [ps]
    See authors webpage.
    HANDBOOK 
    FOR 
    SKINDIVERS
    Ben Cropp
    		 ....,
    HANDBOOK FOR SKINDIVERS  Ben Cropp
    First published 1962, Afco Pty Ltd, Sydney. Continued into many editions through fifteen years.
    By the fifth printing in 1971, it had changed publishers to Pollard Publishing, NSW; in 1974 it was completely ‘revised and enlarged'; in 1977 Jack Pollard managed to get hold of the copyright, and the book was publisshed by Rigby Limited, Melbourne as Australian Skindivers Handbook.
    Original 1962 edition (photo, left), softcover, 148 pages, mono photographs throughout, drawings and charts, ten pages of advertisements;1971 edition, hardcover, dust jacket, 169 pages, plus 4 pages colour plates; 1977 Rigby edition, softcover, 256 pages.
    Ben Cropp rates with the Taylors as one of Australia's greatest pioneers of recreational diving, a great spearfisherman , cinematographer, documentary maker, wreck diver, and adventurer. Whereas the content now is rather passe, it was a good read in its day and no doubt encouraged many a diver. The early Afco editions are scarce, and the firstedition a collectors item.
    HISTORY OF SPEARFISHING AND SCUBA DIVING IN AUSTRALIA.
    (The First 80 years 1917 to 1997). 
     Tom Byron.  Tom Byron Publishers, Sydney, No date but presume 1998.
     It is unusuallypresented in that it departs from the normal continuous text concept andrelies instead on hundreds of newspaper-style headings and stories, someindeed condensed directly from newspaper and magazine  articles. It is thereforeand eminently readable book as you can skip from article to article asthe interest warrants - from death to treasure, failures and achievements,early  equipment and technique, and the pioneers of our sport. A most valuablebook and a  must for all Aussie divers and anyone interested in sport diving history.   Hardcover (laminated boards), A4 size,311 pages, index, many fascinating mono  photographs. 
    Not a classic book as such - at the moment - but a most valuable reference. 
    Currently available from Oceans Enterprises.
    MY CEILING THE WAVES
    Geoff Nayler
    Possibly mid-1970s. No publisher indicated - possibly Australia Sports Publications, Melbourne.
    Softcover, 88 pages, mono photos throughout, several colour plates.
    Still a very interesting book by one of Australia's most experienced divers. Nayler still lives near Geelong, and hence his ‘territory' was the Port Phillip entrance and western Victorian coastline. Part biography and part location description, the book also covers the sinkholes at Mount Gambier, the submarines, and the ship's graveyard. An important record of early diving in Victoria.
    See also by Nayler, 'Wrecks and Relics'. 
    [ps]

    .
    		MY WORLD
    David Burchell. Published by the author, 1988. ISBN 0 7316 4757 2.
    Hardcover, justjacket, 252 pags, mono prints.  From the fly:
    David Burchell had just turned sixteen when he lost a leg in a train accident. 'My World' traces his story from this rather dramatic beginning to the present day. It covers the initial despair of a young boy who has to face up to a life with one leg - his convalescence and rehabilitation - the unsuccessful attempt to join the Navy in World War II and his final acceptance by the Air Force.  After the war the author worked on catde and sheep stations in the Australian outback and glimpses into this lifestyle are described. After returning to the city he took up the sport of high diving and for fifteen years perfonned with the South Australian Diving Troupe. As a country representative with the Shell Co. he was sent to a remote area and this chapter describes insights into life in an Australian outback town. During this period (1951) he started skin diving and in 1960 he left Shell and founded the Adelaide Skin Diving Centre. For the next twepty years he was one of the pioneers 'of diving in Australia, and trained hundreds of sport and commercial divers. H~ was involved in many stunts and projects - deep dives off the Continen- tal Shelf - exploring flooded gold- mines and the vast flooded underground volcanic systems of Mount Gambier - Para Scuba, when he parachuted from an aircraft in full diving gear and after landing in the sea continued on down and met up with a submarine - World record underwater tow, etc., etc. He has also dived Truk Lagoon in the East Carolines, where over sixty Japanese ships are on the bottom - The Great Barrier Reef - Fiji - The Aegean - and most of the Pacific Islands including the Louisiades, the Solomons and Tahiti. His most important dive was during the search for HMAS Perth which was lost during World War II along with the USS Houston in the Batde of Sunda Strait. The Perth '5 bell, the object of his search, is now in the Australian War Museum in Canberra. Burchell has been described by the New York Times as Australia's James Bond, in Texas he was made an Honorary Citizen of the City of Hous- ton and in Djakarta they called him 007 Dave. The Queen awarded him the British Empire Medal and he was the first South Australian to be fea- tured in the National TV program 'This is Your Life'. 'My World' is a story told with humour about interesting people and situations with the final chapter devoted to the physically and mentally handicapped and all those close to them. 
    See also One Foot in the Grave, The Bells of Sunda Strait. 
    A LIFE DOWUNDER
    An Autobiography by David Burchell 
    Published by: F A Thorpe (Publishing) Ltd, Astey, UK in 1999. 
    First published in Australia in 1988 under title "My World" . Hard printed cover - 398 printed pages. Dimensions: 25.5 cms tall by 17.5 cms wide. 
    This is the British Edition. 
    Australia's OCEAN OF LIFE. Stephen  Parish. 
    Published in 1974 by Wedneil Publications, Victoria, Australia.
    Hardcover, dust jacket, 128 pages, full colour throughoput.
    The author is now virtually known throughout Australia - Steve Parish Publishing produce a wide range of travel and educational material of iutstanding quality, based predominantly on the huge photographic library shot by Parish since he 'retired' from the Navy. He was one of Australia's pioneer underwater photographers, and has since extended his expertise into location and wildlife photography, the basis of his company. Ocean of Life stands on its on merit, one of the first colour pubications on Australian marine life (shot mainly in the temperate waters of Jervis Bay). In spite of many more recent publications on Australian marine life, Ocean of Life is still an excellent book, with superb photographs. 
    [ps]
    ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE
    An autobiography by Dave Burchell.
    First published 1967, Heinemann, Melbourne.
    Hardcover, dust jacket, 136 pages, mono photographs throughout.
    Burchell would have been an incredible man even if a childhood prank with a train didn't cause him to lose a leg. Nothing would have stopped this South Australian venturer from enjoying life at the fullest, and his biography is an inspiring piece of literature. Not only a man of remarkable achievements but also a delightful man to meet. A valuable book in the history of Australian diving.
    [ps]
    PERTH DIVE GUIDE
    Dick Beilby.
    Herperian Press, Perth, Western Australia, 1988. ISBN 0 85905 113 7. 
    From Quinns down to Penguin Island, including Rottnest. Excellent, detailed guide. 
    Softcover, 128 pages, colour plates, diagrams, index.
    A most useful guide. 
    Still in print. Obtain from Oceans Enterprises.
    [ps]
    QUEST FOR THE CURLY-TAILED HORSES. Noel Monkman.
    An autobiography. First published 1962, Angus and Robertson Ltd, Sydney.
    Hardcover, dust jacket, 212 pages, mono and colour plates throughout.
    I confess to having opened the pages of this book for the first time a few seconds ago for this ‘review'. So let me repeat what is on the back fly: ‘This is a warmly personal story, charmingly told by a scientist with an artist'ss eye for natural beauty. As readers of Escape to Adventure will know, Noel Monkman's vast curiosity and enthusiasm for the onders shown by the microscope enliven all that he writes about them.' It goes on to suggest that this iss a rewarding and entertaining book. I'll take their word for it as it is way down on my list of priority reading. But Monkman was a pioneer, so it deserves to be read. The book is far less scarce than Escape to Adventure. 
    [ps]
    SHARK HUNTERS
    Ben Cropp. 
    First published 1964, Rigby Limited, Adelaide etc.
    Hardcover, dust jacket, 192 pages, mono prints.
    Part biographical, part adventure, part biology. How things have changed. As I write this, there is an enthusiastic campaigne to save the Grey Nurse shark. Longer is it 'cool' to kill a shark just for the macho pleasure. But things were different forty years ago, and with the filkms and books by Cropp, we have marnt much about the marine environment and the need to preserve its oft-fragile life. 
    This title has been reprinted several times, and is available as a 'two books in one' paperback, with 'Whale of a Shark', Seal Books, a division of Lansdowne Publishing, Sydney 1995.
    [ps]
    SHARKS AND SHIPWRECKS
    Hugh Edwards.
    Landsowne Press, Melbourne, 1975. Reprinted in 'limp ewdition', ie softcover, also in 1975.
    Hardcover, dustjacket, landscape format, 128 paages, full colour throughout, and mono photographs. 
    The author is an icon of Australian diving and an award-winning author. This very interesting book is a collection of essays from other authors also. The full list of chapters:  the Great White Shark, Ron Taylor; The Pieces of Eight, Hugh Edwards; A Shark Took My Leg, Henri Bource; The Niagra Gold, Johnno Johnstone; An Eel Named Harry, Valerie Taylor; The Shark Fisherman, Hugh Edwards; At the Bottom of Sunda Strait: HMAS Perth, Dave Burchell; A Fragment of Lace, Marilyn Edwards; Riding the Whale Shark,  Ben Cropp; The Great Shark of Jurien Bay, Hugh Edwards; Putl:ing the Pieces Together,  Jeremy Green; The Elingamite Treasure, Wade Doak; The South Australian Shark Attacks; Brian Rodger and  Rodney Fox; Swimming with Sea Snakes, Eva Cropp; A Year of Whales, John Harding; The First Zuytdorp Dive, Max Cramer; The Invisible Invaders, Neville Coleman.
    As you will note from the contributors, the book covers the interests of maritime archaeology, the marine sciences, sharks of course, treasure diving, shipwrecks and cinematography. A great read. I personally like it as it includes so many good friends that I have had the honour to meet over the past four decades. [ps]
    See also authors page.
    SKIN DIVING
    Hugh Edwards
    First published 1975, Paul Hamlyn Pty Ltd, Sydney.
    Hardcover, dustjacket, 96 pages, A4 size, mono photographs throughout, several colour plates.
    Despite Hugh Edwards being arguably the doyen of Australia's diving authors (see Islands of Angry Ghosts), this is a fairly superficial book, covering a n umber of topics including technique, ‘sharks and other sea creatures', photography, ‘diving for treasure' etc - a ‘popular' book by a mainstream publisher for the popular market. Of no great historic value.
    [ps]
    See also authors page.
    SKIN-DIVING : START HERE IF YOU WANT TO GO SKINDIVING
    Peter Little and David English. Adapted for Australi by Peter Stone.
    First published in 1981 by Puffin Books, in Britain. Australian adaptation printed by Penguin Books, 1982.
    Softcover, 34 pages, spot-colour lin drawings throughout. 
    Indulge me, please! This was my first book. It was most fortunate that the editors at Penguin realised that the British edition of a book on skin-diving may not be so appropriate for Australia, so they asked me to edit it. I had to re-write a great deal as some of the items mentioned were not appropriate. Still, I couldn't get thepublishers to delete 'flippers' and insert 'fins'. Anyway, it was great fun.
    [ps]
    SKIN DIVING IN AUSTRALIA
    Edward Du Cros.
    Angus and Robertson (Publishers) 
    Pty Ltd, Sydney.
    First published 1960. No other editions.
    Full REVIEW of book.
    [ps]
    SKINDIVERS AND SHIPWRECKS
    Doug Denmead.
    Preface is dated 1973. No published date, no publisher list - possibly Australian Sports Publications, Melbourne.
    Softcover, 96 pages, mono photographs throughout, hand-drawn charts.
    The author was another enthusiastic and experienced Geelong-based diver who roamed the Port Phillip Heads and western Victorian coastline seeking shipwrecks - ‘my interest in writing this book was to record some of the events of the past few years, perhaps taking the non-divving public into the submarine world of the wreck diver'. Denmead has achieved his objective. The book is still very readable today, and deserves a place as an historical record of events. Copys are generally scarce.
    [ps]
    Andrewartha
    SPEAR
    FISHING
    		 ...

    Barry Andrewartha was the first to publish a book specifically on spearfishing in Australian waters. He went on to produce the magazine Skindiving in Australia in 1971, which led on to the current Sport Diving magazine. 
    SPEARFISHING IN VICTORIA.  Barry Andrewartha. Published 1967.
    SPEARFISHING FOR SPORT AND PLEASURE. Barry Andrewartha and Lindsay Stewart
    Early 1968. Wedneil Publications, Newport, Victoria.
    Softcover, 96 pages, mono photos throughout.
    The fourth Spearfishing book in a series, with Andrewartha as principle author. Whereas the other books centre on locations, this one includes diving technique, species identification, skindiver's transport, dangerous marine animals, clubs and competitions. [ps]
    SPEARFISHING IN SOUTHERN N.S.W.  Barry Andrewartha and Robin Montcalm. Published 1969.
    SPEARFISHING IN NORTHERN N.S.W.  Barry Andrewartha and Peter Kemp. Published 1969.
    All three above: Softcover, 68 to 88 pages, mono photyos throughout, hand-drawn coastal chaarts.
    Early 1970s. Wedneil Publications, Newport, Victoria.
    These books are now in great demand by those who like to take a fish or two, are the first in Australia to describe specific diving destinations.
    A Guide to SKINDIVING AND SPEARFISHING. Barry Andrewartha.
    Australian Sport Publications. 1970 (maybe 1971). ISBN 86895 024 6. Softcover, 128 pages, mono prints.
    This was a reprint of Spearfishing in Victoria and Spearfishing for Sport and Pleasure. 
    [ps]
    SURF, SHARK AND SCUBA.
    T.V.Cook, BA.
    Reed Education, a division of A.H. & A.W. Reed Pty Ltd, Sydney, Wellington, London, 1973.
    Book 1 in the Threesomes Series. Softcover, 64 pages, mono prints, some drawings.
    For the English Teachers' Association of New South Wales. A rather strange book in that it does not seem to have a purpose, but I guess it has something to do with the teaching of English at school level, apparently primary, and the basic teaching of the subjects of the three units -'The Beckoing Surf', 'Demons of the Deep', and 'Adventures Under Water'. Only one section, the latter, is on scuba. It is rather basic, with a 'chapter' on 'Ben Cropp - Shark Hunter', and 'Treasure from the Sea', 'Treasure from Wrecked Ships', and 'Farming the Sea'. The units include questions for the reader on each of the units studied.
    [cd]
    THE DOWN UNDER SCUBA DIVER. 
    Bill Silvester. 
    First edition August 1974, Ian McNiel (publisher). It continued to at least five editions up to 1979.
    Softcover, 160 pages, a few mono photographs, several charts and drawings.
    Most Aussie divers in the 1970s and 80s, like me, regarded this book as the veritable bible. It was our textbook, our lifeline to supplement the meagre practical instruction given at the time by the many self-claimed experts who saw instruction as a means to supplement the income. It has to rate as the most important dive manual for Australians ever published. And it was a sensible book - concise yet covering  more than the basics of physiology, technique, equipment - it even went into (briefly) marine life, underwater photography, and dive locations around Australia. God bless you Bill wherever you are now.
    See below for Magic of Scuba Diving
    [ps]
    Bill has been in touch recently (late 2004) and I am pleased to report he is well and living comfortably in northern New South Wales. 
    THE MAGIC OF SCUBA
    A Complete Introductional Guide for the Australian Diver.
    Bill Silvester, with Dave Perry and Greg Blackburn.
    Wedneil Publications, Melbourne 1987. ISBN 909853 15 0. 
    Softcover, 442 pages, mono prints and drawings. 
    In some respects this is a larger must updated version of The Down Under Scuba Diver, covring virrtually all there is to know about scuba diving and diving activity - well, nearly everything. It is a superb book, but it did no sell well for a number of reasons, foremost being that at the time of release the dive training associations were issuing their own 'diver manual'. The Magic of Scuba would have been a great addition to th bsic instruction given at the time, but the demise of the publisher and problems with distribution at the time did not do the book the justice it deserved. Even today it is a most useful book. 
    [ps]

    ..    		 THE PEARL SEEKERS
    Norman Bartlett.
    First published March 1954. Andrew Melrose Limited, London.
    Hardcover, dust jacket, 312 pages, many mono prints throughout, slight tinge of green.
    This is the full faactual story of the Australasian pearling industry, filled with drama, adventure and fascinating tales. Murder, rape, theft, brutality and treachery are found side by side with ccourage, honesty, and pioneering vision. A valuable historical record.
    [ps]

    Note: The two divers on the cover of the hardcover jacket (far left) are Dr. Graeme Shortis and reserach diver Ron Collins, using an experimental diver phone.
    (Info courtesy of Dr Shortis, UK).
    THE SKINDIVER'S UNDERWATER WORLD
    Graeme R. Dodd.
    First published September 1974, Fin-sport Publications, Gawler, South Australia.
    Softcover, 91 pages, mono plates and several colour plates.
    ‘Skindivers around Australia will welcome this book which presents a balanced view-point acceptable to both the spearfisherman and the conservationist'. Thats nice to know. During the mid-seventies there was great debate as to the destruction and mindless killing of spearfishing competitions. Dodd's book does not dwell on any argument, and simply gives instruction on spearfishing and ‘real-life' experiences. The content is not of any historic value, but the book is one of the first on Australian spearfishing.
    [ps]
    THE SPONGE DIVERS. 
    Charmian Clift and George Johnston. 
    First published 1956, Collins, London
    Hardcover, no dust jacket my copy, 314 pages, no photographs.
    The authors are no strangers to the Australian literary scene of the mid 20th century, having several books between them, and he a respected journlaist also. They claim the book to be fiction, based on the island of Kalymnos in Greece, where they lived for many years, but no doubt there is ameasure of authenticity in their tales. 
    [ps]
    See also The Pearl and Sponge Divers.
    UNDER THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
    Richard Lurie.
    First published in 1966, Jarrold Publishers (london) Ltd.
    Hardcover, dust jacket, 191 pages.
    A biography by an Englishman diving the Great Barrier Reef in the 1960s. He certainly covers a lot of ground. Part travel documentary, part marine observation, part personal observation and opinion, it is of  limited historic interest except for the occasional annecdote. 
    UNDERWATER AUSTRALIA
    Irvin Rockman.
    Introduction by Hans Hass. Text by Ken Pulley. 
    First published 1974 by Lansdowne Press, Melbourne. Hardcover, dust jacket, 112 pages, full page colour plates throughout. Whether this book becomes an Australian classic simply because the author was once the Lord Mayor of Melbourne only history will tell, but it is the first of its kind to publih full size colour underwater photographs in Australian waters by an Australian photographer.
    Compared to today's imaginative underwater photography, Rockman's work is rather bland, but they do adequately illustrate the undersea world. That this book is not a joint authorship means that the emphasis is on the photography, but overall, with Ken Pulley's writing,  it is an interesting book covering the marine animals in Australian waters.
    [ps]
    UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY
    Walter Deas and Richard Rice.
    Ure Smith, Sydney, 1977.  Octavo Size. Hardcover, dustjacket, 94 pages, colour and mono photographs.
    Provides the basics of underwater photography. Of particcular historic interest is the five pages of photographs of thirty underwater housings and the Nikonos III and III, and the three pages of strobes. Walt Deas was (is?) one of Australia's most respected underwater photographewrs and cinematogrphers. Born in Scotland he has travelled and dived the world with wife Jean, and at one time both were thew dive leaders on Heron Island, in the seventies when this book was published. He is also a prolifdic writer. In more recent years he has worked extensively on the underwater scenes for David Attenborough's excellent nature documentaries. 
    WHALE OF A SHARK
    Ben Cropp.
    Rigby Limited,Adelaide, Sydney etc. 1969.
    Hardcover, dustjacket. 128 pages, mono prints. 
    "If you think that adventure has vanished from the world, this book gives hair-raising proof to the contrary. Ben Cropp and his team. of  men and women will take on anything that swims, from the gigantic whale shark to salt water crocodiles. Their explorations of the underwater world, from Sydney Heads to the lonely seas beyond the Barrier Reef, brought them into contact with sharks of all sorts and sizes, savage moray eels, venomous sea-snakes, manta rays, and many other marine creatures. In this mysterious world where mercy is unknown, they actually managed to make friends with some of the most dangerous fish, though they had narrow escapes with others. The object of their adventure was to photograph under-water life and to explore wrecks which lie
    off the coast, and some of the most fascinating chapters describe how they salvaged relics from sailing-ships which had been sunk for a century or more. From the sea, Ben Cropp turned to the land-but only to dive into a billabong in which a crocodile was trapped, and to explore the eerily beautiful depths of Piccaninny Ponds. The book is as fresh and brisk as the sea itself, and besides the excitement of underwater adventure it gives many colourful descriptions of the strange world of the ocean depths."
    WRECKS AND RELICS
    Geoff Nayler.
    No publisher listed (probably self-published), printed by Quadricolor, Melbourne. No date. ISBN 0 909853 78 2. (I first saw this sometime in th 1970s.)
    Wreck diving in Victoria predominantly off Port Phillip heads and western coast. 
    Provides brief historical information, location (general, no GPS of coure), wreck and sit conditions, access, known relics. Nayler was one of the top sport divers in Victoia during the 1970s and 80s, and lived at Geelong giving him ready ccess to the Port Phillip Heads and the west coast of Victoria. 
    See also by Nayler, 'My Ceiling the Waves'. 
    A book for the diver rather than the historian. 
    Softcover, 64 pages, mono prints.  [ps]

     
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