| CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS
U.S. Navy Diving Manual
Please note: The books are listed for interest only, and not offered for sale. |
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See also (General, and British, European) Military operations; also US Military. See also Royal Navy Diving Manual. |
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1905 - MANUAL FOR DIVERS
- HANDBOOK FOR SEAMEN GUNNERS
Prepared at the Naval Torpedo Station. (Printed in) Washington, D.C. (Reprint cover, blue, top left). Reprint: Sundiver Productions Company of Crystal River, Florida, prepared a new edition compiled and edited by Joe Strykowski in 1997. This is a 66-page, A5 size, perfect bound softcover book with several mono photographs and drawings. I'm not sure if the 22 pages of photographs and drawings, relevant to the time of the original publication, were part of the 1905 book, or added later; I think they were added for this reprint. (See comment below) Of the original (a;s0 see comments below): there is no indication of the original format, perhaps as per the reprint. Of the seven chapters, the following subjects are presented: Requirement of divers; Description of Diving Apparatus; Accidents That May Happen; Rules for Resuscitation; Signals; Duties of the Person in Charge of the Diver and of the Divers Tenders and Assistants; Preparation and Operation of App[aratus; Method of Instruction; Care and Preservation of Apparatus; Diving Outfit; Pressure at Different Depths. As with the reprint of diver J.B.Green's "Diving With and Without Armour", perhaps there should be a warning printed not to ‘try this at home' - not to use the procedures and directive mentioned. Some are so ludicrous by today's standards that no one in their right mind would use this small booklet as a modern day diving manual, but you never know! Most of the advise is relevent anyway - but not all. It is nevertheless a superb book from the point of entertainment, and giving a first hand indication of what the novice diver had to go through. The most humourous chapter is the first, the physical and mental attributes of a diver. He must first of all be of a phlegmatic temperament - my dictionary defines this as 1. sluggish, dull, 2. calm, cool. Do they go together? He must not be short-necked, full-blooded or with a strong tendency to nosebleed. I guess if he was short-necked, he would not be able to see out of the front glass - but at least he could play rugby. Of course, he must not perspire freely, andnot to be a hard drinker, nor to have suffered frequently or severely from venereal disease. Men who have long trunks with well developed chest and loins generally make good divers. So far, I would have made it, especially as I have been told I have great loins! [[ps-reprint] Also located:
Further comment from ps: From pt's description, it does appear that the HDS (USA) edition is a faithful reproduction in being, apparently, a direct 'copy' of the original. The photographic images are of poor quality, much less than those of the Sundiver Productions edition of 1997. Note also that the Sundiver edition has 22 pages of photographs, whilst the HDS(USA) edition has just the twelve. The Sundiver edition also has a full dress diver illustration on the inside front cover, and a photo of a full dress diver on a platformk on the inslide back cover. The Sundiver edition also has a stylized ephoto of a seated standard drewss diver on the back cover. It is not likely that these would have been in the original. Somewhat confirming that the Sundiver edition does not contain the original photographs is given by the acknowledgement that the photos are courtesy of the U.S.Navy. And note also that there are no common photos between the two editions. Was there a jump of over a decade to the next edition of the Diving Manual? |
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(U.S.NAVY) REPORT ON
DEEP DIVING TESTS
By Gunner G.D.Stillson, U.S.Navy. Under the Direction of the Bureau of Construction and Repair, Navy Department, Washington D.C. Washington Government Printing Office, 1915. Hardcover, 252 pages. The Preface: The following report was prepared by Gunner G. D. Stillson, United States Navy, under the direction of the Bureau of Construction and Repair of the .Navy .Department. In December 1912, a report was submitted by Gunner Stillson stating that our methods of diving were obsolete and our diving apparatus capable of great improvement. In this report he suggested that a series of experiments be made, .calling .attention to the procedure of diving adopted in the English Navy as a result of the long series of tests carried out by the English Admiralty in 1906-7, the result of those tests having been to make diving in great depths of water practical and safe. Desiring to make an advance in all matters pertaining to diving, as to which there had been little improvement in our service for many years, the Bureau of Construction and Repair took this opportunity of investigating the whole subject. To this end an exhaustive series of tests experiments were undertaken, these comprising, first, a series of tests in a high-pressure diving tank ashore and later a number of tests in actual deep diving from the torpedo boat destroyer Walke in Long Island Sound, ' The tank used was one in the works of A. Schrader's Sons (Inc.), in Brooklyn, and by the use of this tank, and the equipment furnished therewith the work of the tests was greatly facilitated. The results of the experiments have been most satisfactory. Many changes have been .shown to be desirable in our diving equipment and apparatus, and practical rules for safe diving in. water of great depths have bean formulated. The Bureau desires to express its appreciation of the excellent work .of Gunner Stillson in carrying .out these tests, and the valuable assistance of Passed Asst. Surg. George B. W. French, United States Navy, together withe the good work of the chief gunner's mates whose work assisted in attaining the valuable results. It is expected to supplement this report with a “Diving Manual” which will serve as a work of ready reference and instruction for diving procedure and care of diving apparatus. This volume, however, gives a full record of the experiments undertaken and results obtained. It is hoped that it will be of interest and value to those having to do with the diving in the United States Navy. It should be carefully studied by such persons, as it will make clear the reasons for departures from previouss practices and appliances and enable them to undertake diving in the future with a cleaer apprehension of the principles of the art. Bureau of Construction and Repair. [fs] |
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1916 - U.S.
NAVY DIVING MANUAL
Navy Department, Washington Government Printing Office, 1916. --
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| 1924 - U.S.NAVY DIVING MANUAL | |||||||
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1943 - U.S. NAVY DIVING
MANUAL
Navy Department, Bureau of Ships. Supersedes the 1924 Diving Manual
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1952 - U.S. NAVY DIVING
MANUAL (NAVSHIPS 250-880)
U S Navy Department, Bureau of Ships. Supersedes 1943 Diving Manual Soft tan cover, glued and black tape to spine with 160 printed pages. Dimensions 26 cms tall by 20 cms wide. This version of the manual has increased in size but reduced in pages from the previous version in 1943 however, it is still well illustrated with 137 B?W photographs and diagrams, one of which folds out. Now on glossy paper, the manual is divided into 9 parts: 1 History and Development of Diving. 2 Basic Principles of Diving. 3 Diving Equipment. 4 Diving Procedures. 5 Medical Aspects of Diving. 6 Diving with Helium-Oxygen Mixtures. 7 Summary of Safety Precautions. 8 Diving Accidents. 9 Component Parts of Standard Diving Equipment. |
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1959 - U. S. NAVY DIVING
MANUAL (NAVSHIPS 250-538)
U S Navy Department, Bureau of Ships Supersedes 1952 Diving Manual (NAVSHIPS 250-880) Soft tan cover, loose leaf with a metal sliding clip for removing leaves. Dimensions 26 cms tall by 20 cms wide. The same dimensions as the 1952 manual but now a lot more pages. There are 4 parts to the manual and each part is divided into chapters, each of which is extremely well illustrated: Part 1 General Principles of Diving 249 - pages. Illustrated with 61 plates and 34 tables. Part 2 Surface Supplied Diving – 99 pages. Illustrated with 84 plates and 1 table. Part 3 Self Contained Diving – 72 pages. Illustrated with 54 plates and 5 tables Part 4 Diving Accessories – 13 pages. No plates or illustrations. Part 3 sees the introduction of SCUBA open circuits regulatorsand re-breathers are discussed; models like the Lambertson Amphibious Respiratory Apparatus, Pirelli Model LS901, Drager Model Lt Lund II and the British Clearance Diver Breathing Apparatus (CDBA) Replaced by 1963 U S Navy Diving Manual (NAVSHIPS 250-538) |
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July 1963
- U.S. NAVY DIVING MANUAL (NAVSHIPS 250-538)
Heavy board covers, single quarto size sheets, bound with two (perhaps also three), flat wire springs through punched holes; 454 pages, many drawings, chart, mono photographs. Part 1 - General Principles od Diving: Introduction to diving; Underwater Physics; Underwater Physiology; Basic Diving Procedure; Diving Tables: Diving Hazards; General Safety Precautions; Selection, Qualification and Training (for Navy divers); Reporting; Technical Information. (Total 248 pages). Part 2 - Surface Suplied Diving: History; Equipment; Diving Communications; Diver's Air Suply; Boats and Floats; Diving Procedures; Dressing the Diover; Descent; Working the Bottom. It will be appreciated that this section refers to standard dress ‘hard-hat' diving. The section also includes the use of Helium-Oxygen mixtures. (Total 99 pages). Part 3 - Self Contained Diving: Introduction; Techniques; Equipment; Open-Circuit Scuba; Closed-Circuit Scuba; Semiclosed-Circuit Scuba; Safety Precautions; Emergency Procedures. (Total 77 pages). [ps] |
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1970 US NAVY DIVING MANUAL
(NAVSHIPS 0994-001-9010)
Navy Department, Washington DC 20350. Supersedes 1963 Diving Manual (NAVSHIPS 250-538) Pale blue cover, loose leaf with a metal sliding clip for removing leaves. Dimensions 26 cms tall by 20 cms wide. Same size and format to the 1963 manual but nearly double its size (in pages) now and extremely well illustrated with photographs, diagrams and tables, some of which fold out to at least double the size. On the front cover, it now appears that this manual went on general sale as it states “This document has been approved for public release and sale; it’s distribution is unlimited” although there is no indication how much it sold for. The manual is now divided into 3 parts and has 6 appendix's, labelled “A” to “F”, details as follows: 1. General Principles of Diving: 223 pages with 39 diagrams and 34 tables 2. Surface Supplied Diving: 76 pages with 60 diagrams. 3. Self Contained Diving: 62 pages with 36 diagrams. A. First Aid and Emergency Procedures: 97 pages with 90 diagrams and 1 table. B. Technical Information, Gas Mixing, Gas Analysis and High Pressure Systems: 36 pages with 11 diagrams. C. Technical Information on Surface Demand Diving: 23 pages with 15 diagrams and 3 tables. D. SCUBA Technical Manuals and Information: 92 Pages with 62 diagrams and 9 tables. E. Marine Life: 17 Pages with 12 diagrams and 2 tables F. Selection, Qualification and Training Personnel: 32 Pages but no diagrams or tables. Everything seems to have expanded now although many of the photographs appeared in previous versions of the manual. In appendix “D”, there are even full instructions to service the “Aqua Lung DA Aqua Master” regulator.This manual is absolutely huge. I didn't realise until I looked at it closer, there are deatils for servicing and care of scuba stuff as well. [pt],[ps] |
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| 1973 US NAVY DIVING MANUAL
(NAVSHIPS 0994-001-9010)
See comment below. From a dealer's description: Published by U.S.Government Printing Office, Washington DC, in 1973, in two volumes; no dustjacket. Volume 1 Air Diving is in a 3-ring binder; Volume 2, Mixed Gas Diving is a small book of 9 x 11 inches. |
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1975 US NAVY
DIVING MANUAL (NAVSEA 0994-LP-001-9010) (Image left is of front
page of Part 1).
Published by (United States) Naval Sea Systems Command, Navy Department, Washington; December 1975. Plain blue plastic covered three-ring binder; 270mm wide by 310mm. Each sheet 215 x 280mm. In two parts: Air Diving; Mixed-Gas Diving. Each section has a tabulated divider. Many hundreds of pages. Note the registration numbers of this 1975 edition, and previous 1973 edition. This is explained on a single sheet at the beginning of the manual, as follows. The U.S. Navy Diving Manual NANSHIPS 0994-001-9010, September 1973, has been in circulation for over a year. During this time, comments and recommendations for change have been received from the fleet and from other activities, military and civilian. Additionally, advaancements in diving technology have necessitated updating certain information so that the manual remains a current, useful tool for the diver. The recent consolidation of the Naval Ship Systems Command and the Naval Ordnance Systems Command to form the Naval Sea Systems Command necessitated a changee in the Diving Manual's designation. Note that the U.S.Navy Diving Manual is now designated NAVSEA 0994-LP-001-9010. [ps] |
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1990s
US NAVY MANUAL (Revision 4)
Published by Best Publishing Company, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA. Comprised two separate volumes, loose leafed in three-ring binder 25cm (vert), x 23 cm. US NAVY VOLUME 1 Retail $110. Wholesale $89.00 US NAVY VOLUME 2 Retail $95. Wholesale $79.00. It would appear that this was the 4th Revision - according to the publishers and ..... contains the most up to date decompression tables, and techniques for avoiding decompression sickness. This manual is a must for all serious divers. (Cover image left, blue, gold,black). |
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2000s U.S.NAVY
DIVING MANUAL (Revisions 5 ? 6)
U.S.NAVY DIVING MANUAL Now published (at least by 2008) by Aqua Press, Essex, UK. Www.aquapress.co.uk It appears that AquaPress first published 'Revision 5', then in 2008 published 'Revision 6'. Both revisions were available in looseleaf or caebound (hardcover). Hardback, 950 pages. "For many decades the US Navy Diving Manual has been the ultimate reference source for the diver. It is now available for the first time as a complete book. Potential readers may feel challenged by the sheer size of the work. At over 950 A4 pages the book is unsurpassed in technical detail and depth. As the ultimate diving reference work the book contains everything you ever wanted to know about diving and many aspects that you could never imagine! The manual is however surprisingly easy to read. The volumes contained in this one book are as follows:- Volume 1: Diving Principles and Policies Volume 2: Air Diving Operations Volume 3: Mixed Gas Surface Supplied Diving Operations Volume 4: Closed Circuit and Semiclosed Circuit Diving Operations Volume 5: Diving Medicine and Recompression Chamber Operations These volumes mean that despite the books size the individual volumes make for user friendly reading. Each section has been extensively researched and is widely regarded as the technical standard for diving information and procedures. The manual is easily referenced and used internationally by recreational, commercial, and military divers because of its authoritative and approved procedures. " Also: United States Navy
Diving Manual, Revision 6 (ISBN: 1598044818 / 1-59804-481-8)
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