CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS

    Foreign Language - Italian
    Please note: The books are listed for interest only, and not offered for sale. 

    		 FOR OUR LIST OF FRENCH TITLES

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    TO MASTER LIST

     
    We are grateful for the participation of Italian collector Massimo Bertoni [mbe] who is sending details of diving classics in the Italian language, and also books by English-language authors that have been translated into Italian. Together with the title from my good friend Albert Romeo, this should be a very intersting section and of value to the collector. Many thanks Massimo, we appreciate your interest and contribution. See above for another (external) website of Italian-language dive books. 

    Please note: Not all of these titles are listed on the Master List. 

     
     
    3 MILIARDI NELLA BAIA DI VIGO.
    (Three Billion in the Bay of Vigo).
    Carlo Iberti
    Ulrico Hoepli, Milano, 1942.
    Hardcover,  dustjacket, 365 pages with many maps and photos. 
    It is a beautiful book; the author has studied for forty years the battle of Vigo and the treasure
    galleons sunk there in the bay. There are detailed maps of the battle and the location of
    sunken ships. Many people have searched for the sunken treasure (including Robert Stenuit). 
    There was a second edition of the book published in 2002.  [mbe]
    A FACCIA A FACCIA CON GLI SQUALI
    (Face to Face with Sharks)
    Gilbert Doukan
    Published in 1957 by Longanesi. 
    Italian translate of the French title ‘Face aux requins de la Mer Rouge’, (Faced with the Sharks in the Red Sea).
    Hard cover, dustjacket,  224 pages.
    [mbe]
    ABC DEL SUB
    Sonja Geyer and Werner Dehass. 
    Published in 1968 by Edizione Mediterranee.
    Soft cover, 95 pages, 12.5x18.5 cm with some monodrawings.
    It is the Italian translation of the German book  Tauchschulung – Tauchtraining (Dive Training - Diver Training). The book explains the technique of diving.
     

     
    ALLA RICERCA DELLE NAVI SCOMPARSE.
    Paul Johnstone
    Published in 1978 by Newton ragazzi.
    Soft cover, 143 pages with few mono photoraphs. It’s the italian translation of “The Archeology of ships”. (Google translaation of the title is, In Search of the Missing Ships. [mbe]
    ALLA SCOPERTA DEI TSORI SOMMERSI
    (The Discovery of Sunken Treasure).
    Hans Roden.
    Published in 1970, by Mursia; 182 pages, some b/w photos. 
    Note: the orginal German edition is named SCHATZUCHER.
    The English edition is Treasure Seekers. [mbe]
    ANDREA DORIA - 74
    Stefano Carletti 
    Gherardo Casini Editore. Published in 1968. 
    Hard cover end dust jacket, 187 pages with black and white, and colors photos. 
    The book is about the first Italian expedition to the wreck of the “Andrea Doria” made in 1968. Three divers, Bruno Vailati, Stefano Carletti and Al Giddings and, on the boat, Arnaldo MatteiI  and Mimi Dies.  The expedition made a video documentary with the same title. The book is not rare but hard to find. [mbe]
    ATLANTE DEI TESORI SOMMERSI
    Nigel Pickford
    Published in 1996 by Mondadori.
    Hardcover and dust jacket, 200 pages with many photos. 
    (It’s the italian translation of “” The atlas of ship wreck and treasure” )
    [mbe]

     
    ARCHEOLOGIA SUBAQUEA
    Piero Alfredo Gianfrotta e Patrice Pomey
    Published in 1981 by Arnoldo Mondadori editore.
    Hard cover and dust jacket, 375 pages.
    260 colored and b/n photos and 125 drawings and maps. 
    [mbe]

    .
    		AVVENTURA NEL SESTO CONTINETE 
    (Literally: Adventure in the Sixxth Continent).   [Italian Language, also English edition]
    Folco Quilici.
    Published in 1954 from Casini.
    She soft cover is red with a shark photo and hardcover is blue with another shark; 261 pages 85 photos b/w and color. Includes maps. The book describes the Italian red sea expedition in 1952/1953 with the ship Formica; the expedition . Those on the expedition included famous Italian divers at that time, Folco Quilici , Bruno Vailati (expediotion leader), Raimondo Bucher, Gianni Roghi, Luigi Stuart Tovini, Massimo Manuza, Alberto Grazioli, Giorgio Ravelli, Silverio Zecca, and two woman, Enza Bucher (Raimondo Bucher wife) an a journalist Priscilla Hasting. In the Red Sea have done a lot of pictures and movies and captured some fish from Italian University. Folco Quilici is an important journalist and documentary film maker and has written several books. http://www.folcoquilici.com/index.html.  [mbe]

    Note: This was published in the English language by Weidenfled and Nicolson, London in 1954 as The Blue Continent.

    Top: Blue, hardcover. 
    Bottom with shark is the dustjacket. 
    BLU ESTREMO
    D'aquino – Lucarini - Perozzi 
    The English translation is Extreme Blue. 
    Published in 2012 by Magenes.
    Soft cover, 288 pages with many photos. It is an interesting book about very deep diving and cave exploration. Much of the book is devoted to techniques and equipment, with interviews of expert technical divers in Italy, Europe and USA: including Mark Ellyatt, Rick Stanton, Luigi Casati, Roberto Rinaldi, Pascal Bernabe and others. 
    BLU PROFONDO L'ULTIMA IMMERSIONE
    Google translation: Deep Blue Sea Last Dive.
    Bernie Chowdhury.
    Published in 2001, by Sperling & Kupfer.
    Hardcover and dustjacket, 351 pages with some colors photos. 
    This is the Italian translation of “THE LAST DIVE” . 
    Note that in Italy this book is rare because few copies were printed. [mbe]

     
    CACCIA SUBACQUEA
    Gianni Roghi
    Published in 1948 by Sperling e Kupfer – Milano.
    Soft cover 189 pages with  mono photos. 
    This is one of the first books on Italian spearfishing, can not miss in your collection. Explain how to go underwater. hunting, and much more. Gianni Roghi was very important in the Italian underwater. Here you can find information.
    [mbe]
    CACCIA SUBACQUEA
    (Hunting Underwater)
    Alessandro Olschki
    Published in 1962 by Edizioni Mediterranee.
    Soft cover no dust jacket, with some black and white photos and drawings; 201 pages. 
    This book is about spearfishing.
    [mbe]
    CACCIA SUBACQUEA CON LA MACCHINA FOTOGRAFICA
    (Underwater Hunting with Camera).
    Ludwig Sillner
    Published in 1970 by Calderini.
    It's the Italian translation of the German “Mitder kamera auf unterwasser jagd”. 
    (With the Camera on Underwater Hunting).
    Hard cover, no dust jacket, with b/n photos; ” 360 pages.
    [mbe]
    CON I PALOMBARI DELL'ARTIGLIO
    (Divers With Claw)
    David Scott
    Published in 1931 from Treves Treccani Tuminelli. 
    Hardcover, dustjacket  264 pages. 
    It's the Italian translation of ‘Seventy Fathoms Deep’ with the divers of the salvage ship Artiglio. This books it's wonderful but hard to find. The second edition in 2004 is hard to find too. 
    [mbe]
    DA O A -100 METRI
    Cristina Freghieri
    Published in 2003 by La Mandragola.
    Soft cover, 196 pages. 
    In this book the author tells of the underwater life and the road to becoming a technical diver to go under one hundred metres. 
    DA SOLO NEL RELITTO
    Marcello Polacchini
    Published in 2009 by Magenes.
    Soft cover, 172 pages. In this book the author tells of the underwater life and the incident in which he got stuck inside a wreck for a long time.
    DEEP DIVING. 
    Guida Avanzata Alla Fisiologia Alle Procure Ed ai Sistemi.
    (The Advanced Guide to Physiology At Procure And Systems)
    Bret Gilliam, con al collaborazione di Robert Von Maier e John Crea..
    Published in 2002 by North Eastern Divers.
    Soft cover, 448 pages with many mono photos. 
    It is the Italian edition of the popular American title. In Italy it has been very successful and in 2007 there is a second edition published by Magenes.

    First and second editions shown.
    DIMENSIONE REB
    D'aquino – Lucarini - Perozzi 
    Published in 2015 by Magenes.
    Soft cover, 194 pages. 
    with many photos and one DVD.
    It is an interesting book about rebreathers  with interviews of expert technical divers in Italy and Europe.
    DISPOSITIVO AMPLATZER
    Giacinto Marchionni.
    Published in 2009 by Tracce.
    Soft cover 192 pages. The author recounts his diving and a heart problem, cured by surgery.  [mbe]
    DOVE NEL MARE LUNGO LE COSTE D'ITALIA
    Google translation: 'Where In the Sea Along the Coast of Italy.'
    Hardcover 152 pages.  [mbe]

    This book was sold with "SUB ENCICLOPEDIA DEL SUBACQUEO".
     
    FOTO SUB
    Gert Krienke
    Published in 1966 by Bietti.
    Hard cover, 144 pages,  18x11 cm with many mono and color photos. 
    (It’s the Italian edition of the German book “ Mit der Kamera in Meer” . [mbe]
    FOTOSUB. Fotografia e caccia fotografica.
    Alberto Romeo and Stefano Lo Presti.
    Pubished 1980 by Editoriale Olimpia, Italy. 
    Hardcover (laminated boards), 136 pages, many mono prints, a few colour plates. 
    The authors were pioneers in underater photography in Italy. 
    The text is Italian - I don't believe there was an English edition printed. 
    (Copy courtesy of Dr Alberto Romeo, with much appreciation). [pjs]
    GIU NELLE NAVI IN FONDO AL MARE
    Harry Grossett
    Published in 2015 by Magenes.
    Soft cover, 294 pages.
    It is the Italian edition of Grossett’s famous Down to the Ships in the Sea..
     .
    GLI AFFASCINANTI ENIGMI DEI TESORI SCOMPARSI.
    (Surprising the Puzzles of Missing Treasures)
    Paul Ulrich
    Published in 1972 by Edizioni Ferni - Ginevra.
    Soft cover , 244 pages 12x18 cm with some drawings.  The book is very good looking but not particularly interesting. It takes legends and stories of missing treasures.
    GUIDA AI MISTERI DEL MONDO SOMMERSO
    The Italian translation of Le mysteres du monde submergè, in turn meaning Guide to the Mysteries of the Underwater World. 
    Jean Albert Foex
    Published in 1969 Sugar Editore.
    Hard cover and dust jacket , 227 pages  with some mono photos. 
    [mbe]
    GRAND BAHAMA
    Enrico Cappelletti
    Published in 2006 by Magenes.
    Soft cover , 214 pages with  mono photos, drawings and maps. 
    This is a good treasure and adventure book. 
    The author, a famous italian diver has worked in Grand Bahama for 60 years and tells of the discovery of a wreck full of Spanish coins. 
    [mbe]
    I GUERRIERI DEGLI ABISSI
    Paul Kemp
    Published in 1998 by Longanesi,
    Hard cover and dust jacket, 361 pages 
    This is the Italian edition of ‘Underwater Warriors.

     
    I SEGRETI DEL MARE
    Raimondo Bucher.
    Published in 1959, by Centro Internazionale del Libro- Firenze.
    Hardcover, 139 pages many color photographs. The book is quite rare and has special: photos are not printed on the pages but are attached with glue. . In this book he wrote his story of  the first marine exploration as a consultant and talks about experiment equipment. Bucher was born in 1912 and died in 2008 and has been diver up to 90 years. In the World War 2 he was a fighter pilot was awarded the silver medal for value. He was the first to use the o-ring for an underwater camera housing;  he was record-diving and spearfishing, with his wife, and lived on a boat in Sardinia. There is much more to write but other information can be found on the Internet.  [mbe]    		 ......................................
    I SUB MARINA NAZIONALE FRANCESE
    Published in 1970 by Longanesi.
    Hardcover and dust jachet, 272 pages with b/w photos. 
    (It’s the italian translation of “La Plongee” ). Google translation: National French Navy Divers. 
    [mbe]

     
    IL GIRO DEL MONDO SOTT’ACQUA.
    Roberto Merlo 
    Published in 1974 by Fratelli Fabbri editore.
    Hard cover , 176 pages, 28x24 cm with many  colors photos. 
    Is a book with great pictures made in many parts of the world. 
    The translation is ‘Around The World Underwater.’ [mbe]

    It saddens me to see this. Why on Earth kill a hammerhead shark as a trophy? [ps]

    		 ...............................................
    IL PALOMBARO SPORTIVO 
    (Google Translation: The Sports Diver) 
    Faustolo Rambelli 
    Subtitle: La Storia, La Tecnica, le attrezzature (Google translation: the story, the techniques, the equipment) 
    Published in Italy by Editoriale Olimpia in 1996. Printed soft covers - 142 printed pages.
    Totally published in Italian language covering the development of diving and diving equipment.  Extremely well illustrated with diagrams, tables and photographs of lots of equipment.  History goes back to the Deane brothers and earlier.  [pt]
    IL RITROVAMENTO DEL TITANIC
    Robert D. Ballard
    Published in 1987 by Giorgio Mondadori.
    Hard back with dustjacket; 230 pages. 
    It is the Italian edition of ‘The Discovery of the Titanic’.)
    [mbe]
     
     
     
     

     
    IL RITROVAMENTO DELLA BISMARCK
    Robert D. Ballard
    Published in 1990 by Giorgio Mondadori.
    Hard back with dustjacket; 232 pages.
    It is the Italian edition of  “The Discovery of the Bismarck.
    [mbe]
    IL SOLE SOTTO IL MARE
    Jacques Piccard
    Published in 1974 by Mursia. 
    Hard cover and dust jacket,  317 pages with b/n photos. 
    The Italian edition of “The Sun Beneath the Sea”
    IL TESORO
    Robert Daley
    The Story of the Most Successful and Most Tragic Treasure Hunt of Modern Times. 
    Based on the treasure of the Spanish ship Atocha.
    Published in 1982 by  Narrativa Club
    Hard cover, dust jacket, 299 pages.
    It is the Italian edition of the Randon House ‘Treasure’ published in 1977. 
    The second edition in 1982 is from the publisher Sperling&Kupfer.

    Far left: First editio. Left: Second edition.
    [mbe]
    IL TESORO DEL VANLINDEN
    Enrico  Capelletti
    Published in 2003 by Ireco.
    Soft cover, 192 pages, with photos. It is the same book  of ‘Gran Bahama’ I already sent you, but published by another publisher with a different title.
    IL TESORO DELLA GRANDE SCOGIERA
    Arthur C. Clarke
    Published in 1970 by Rizzoli.
    Hardcover and dustjacket, 223 pages with b/n photos 
    (It’s the italian translation of “The treasure of Great Reef”).
    [mbe]
    IL TESORO SOMMERSO
    Robert Stenuit.
    Published in 1978 by Longanesi.
    Soft cover, 179 pages with few mono photos. 
    Italian translation of the French ‘Les Epaves de L'Aeoro.  [mbe]
    I VERI EROI DEGLI ABISSI MARINI
    Desmond Young
    Published in 1968 by Longanesi.
    Hard cover and dust jacket, 322 pages. 
    It’s the Italian translation of  “The Man in the Helmet”
    [mbe]
    IL PERICOLO È IL MIO MESTIERE
    John D. Craig.
    Published in 2012 by Magenes.
    Soft cover, 255 pages. 
    It’s the Italian translation of the American publication ‘Danger is My Business”
    [mbe]
    IL RELITTO DELLA CORAZZATA SANTO STEFANO
    Fabio Ruberti
    Published in 2016 by Magenes.
    Soft cover 206 pages  with many photographs,  maps and drawings. 
    It's a very interesting book about the wreck of Austro Hungarian battleship ‘Santo Stefano’ 
    and the story of the sinking in WW 2. 
    The book tells of the three archaeological expeditions made by IANTD Italia. 
    The expeditions also produced a fine documentary on DVD where it was made a splendid 3D reconstruction of the wreck.

    ,
     
    IMMERSIONE NEL PASSATO.  (Diving Into the Past).
    Hanns Wolf Rackl.
    Published in 1967 by La Scuola Editrice.
    Hard cover, dust jacket, 274 pages with many mono and color photos. 
    It is the Italian edition of the German book  “ Tauchfahrt in die Vergangenheit”. The book tells of the archaeology underwater discoveries in the world. [mbe]

    		.
    IMMERSIONE SU RELITTI
    (Diving on Wrecks)
     Mario Arena and Leonardo L. Laneve
    Published in 1999 by North Eastern Divers.
    Soft cover  with mono photos and drawings; 476 pages.
    This is a very good book, not rare but hard to find. It's the first Italian wreck book where you can find all the techniques for searching and exploration wrecks and for the preservation of the finds. Some of the diving techniques are ‘vintage’ but it remains a fundamental text. [mbe]
    IMMERSIONE SUBACQUEA
    Raimondo Bucher.
    Published in 1967 by Mondador.
    Hard cover 157 pages 16 x 11 with colors  photos and drawings. 
    It 'a very small book that explains diving. On the internet it is very expensive.
    [mbe]
     

     
    INCUBI DECOMPRESSIVI
    Stefano Di Cagno.
    Published in 2006 by Hettemarks.
    Soft cover, 240 pages with some mono photographs. This book tells above all the work done to recover a sunken ship. (Google transltes literally to, Nightmore Decompression.) [mbe]
    IO SUB.
    Carlo Fabiani.
    Published in 1974 by Fratelli Fabbri editori. 
    Hard cover, 232 pages, 24x20 with some mono and colors photos. 
    This book talks about the history of diving, equipment and how to learn to dive.  [mbe]
    		...........................................
    IO SUB
    Gaetano Cafiero

    Left: Forst edition.
    Above: Second edition.
    Right: Ludovico Mares
     

    		 Published in 1977 by Società Editrice Internazionale.
    Hard cover, dust jacket,  263 pages  with mono and colours photos.  This book is wonderful, speaks of born of underwater fishing and diving in Italy, unique photos and documents. Among those who are included is Ludovico Mares, a young helmet diver at the end of WWI . He established the very successful company diving equipment of Mares. 
    Second edition with soft cover was published in 2000 by Mursia Editore. [mbe]
    ITALIA SOMMERSA
    By Rossi-Osmida.
    Published in 1973 by Longanesi.

    Flumi, laghi, marl custodiscono iI nostro passato Per riscoprirlo, i mezzi, le tecniche, le leggi dell'archeotogia subacquea. Con le avventure e i ritrovamenti del Club Muscariello.
    Google trtanslation:River, lakes, seas iI preserve our past 
    To rediscover it, means, techniques, laws 
    dell'archeotogia underwater. The adventures 
    and the findings of Muscariello Club. 

    Hardcover and dustjacket, 179 pages  many photos b/w and colors. 
    This book tells the archaeological explorations made by a diving club in Milan, a club very popular in those years, especially for their diving in rivers, large lakes and in the the Alps mountains. There are pictures on the history of diving and how to recover and preserve archaeological remains.  [mbe]
    .
    L'ABISSO BLU
    Jacques Mayol
    Published in 1977 by Giunti Marzocco.
    Hardcover, 217 with  b/w and color photos. 
    Jacques Mayol was a record man of apnea (breath) and was among the first to use yoga to prepare the record. Is famous for his rivalry with italian Enzo Maiorca (inspired the film “Le Grand Bleu” in 1988 by Luc Besson with famous actor Jean Reno) .More information can find in internet. [mbe]
    L'ARTIGLIO E L'ORO DELL'EGYPT
    (The Claw and Gold of Egypt)
    David Scott
    Published in 1933 by Mondadori.
    Soft cover, 303 pages. 
    It's the Italian translation of “The Egypt's Gold”. 
    This books it's wonderful but hard to find. The second edition in 2004 it's hard to find too. Some historical video can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8en6aFnogg
    [mbe]
    L'AVVENTURA SOTTOMARINA
    Philippi Diole.
    Published in 1953 by Einaudi editore.
    Hard cover and dust jacket, 247 pages with many black and white and color photos. 
    It is the Italian edition of the French book ‘ L'aventoure sous-marine. 
    I love this book written in the early years of Scuba. The author writes "I saw another world in which the action is the sister of the dream" .
    [mbe]
    .
    L'ARCHIVIO DELLA SORIMA
    Google translation: An archive of Sorima
    Carlo de Riso.
    Published in 1994, by Rivista Marittima.
    Hardcover, 92 pages with b/w photos. The book is a small but very interesting. It gives a brief SO.RI.MA (Società ricuperi marittimi), adventures with the ship “Artiglio” and others, but the importance of the book is moreso that you can find the archives of the society which shows the sunken ships with treasures that the SORIMA  would recover. [mbe]
    L'EQUIPAGGIO AL COMPLETO
    Is the italian translation of 'L’equipage au complet', in turn tramslates as 'The Entire Crew'.
    Robert Mallet
    Published in 1960 by Morcelliana.
    Soft cover 146 pages.
    It’s a particularly interesting  book because  talk about the sinking of the battleship "Valiant"  during the Second World War from Italians divers through dialogue between the British officers and the Italians captured. 
    [mbe]
    L'ESPLORAZIONE DEL LUSITANIA
    Robert D. Ballard
    Published in 1995 by Fenice 2000.
    Hard back with dustjacket , 228 pages.
    It is the Italian edition of ‘Exploring the Lusitania’.
    [mbe]

     

     
    L'ESPLORAZIONE DEGLI OCEANI
    (Exploring the Oceans)
    Robert D. Ballard
    Published in 2002 by White Star srl. 
    Hard back with dustjacket; 288 pages, a large book  26,5 x 34cm.
    I think it’s the Italian edition of ‘Adventures in Ocean Exploration’. 
    [mbe]
    L'ESPLORAZIONE SOTTOMARINA
    Ken Roscoe.
    Published in 1972 by Mondadori.
    Soft cover, 155 pages with many colors designs. 
    Italian translation of ‘Undersea exploration'. [mbe]
    L'EXPLORAZIONE SUBACQUEA.
    Google translation: Explore the Underwater.
    Ruth Brindze.
    Published in 1966, by Zanichelli.
    Hardcover, 151 pages  some b/w photos.
    This is the Italian translation of ALL ABOUT UNDERSEA EXPLORATION.
    [mbe]
    L'IMMERSIONE IN MISCELA
    Corrado Bonuccelli.
    Published in 2004 by “La Mandragola”.
    Hardcover, 396 pages  many pictures and drawings. Is a very interesting manual for trimix and rebreather diver. 
    Google translation of name: Diving in Mixture. [mbe]
    L'ISOLA DEL TESORO
    (Island of Treasure)
    Roland Morris.
    Published in 1973 by Mursia.
    Hardcover and dustjacket, 205 pages  with  b/w photos.

    Edition 2002 on right. 

    		 ...........................................................................................................
    L' ORO DEL DIAVOLO
    Google translation: The Gold of the Devil. 
    Ted Falcon-Barker.
    Published in 1971, Mursia.
    Hardcover and dustjacket, 169 pages,  with 25 b/w photos. 
    This is the Italian translation of “THE DEVIL’S GOLD”).  [mbe]

     
    L'ORO DELL'ELBA OPELARIORE POLLUCE
    Gianluca Mirto,  Enrico Cappelletti 
    English translatetion is The Elba Gold – Polluce Operation.
    Published in 2004 by Magenes.
    Soft cover, 365 pages  with photos and drawings.  It is a  special book which tells of the sinking of the steamer ‘Polluce’ in 1841, loaded with gold and precious stones . The wreck was found by British hunters ( I would call them pirates !! ) in 2002 who stole a lot of the load. The English and the Italian police have recovered a lot but not everything.  An expedition of archaeologists has also recovered a lot of material on the wreck which is at one hundred meters deep near the island of  Elba . Also the sinking is wrapped in mystery . Polluce was hit by another ship of a rival company . It is suspected that the gold was destined for North Italy to finance the war against the South dominated by the Bourbon dynasty. 
    Here you can find a very well documentary:
    http://www.subarchives.org/video/L%2526%2523039%253Benigma-del-Polluce/4ba9195e477609df5c45964ca9329180
    LO SFOGLIAMARE -  GUIDA AI FONDALI LUNGO LE COSTE ITALIANE 
    (Browse the Sea - Guide to Italian Background Along Coasts) Google translation. 
     Alberico Di Meo
    Published in 1972 and then 1976 by Mursia.
    There are many photos and maps;. 278 pages. 
    It is an Italian diving guide with great detail for that time.
    L’UOMO E IL MONDO SOTTOMARINO
    Raymond Vaissiere.
    Published in 1970 from Mursia.
    Hardcover and dust jacket 386 pages with many photos.
    (It’ s the Italian translation of “L’homme et le monde sous-marin” .
    The Google translation of the title is The Man and the Underwater World. 
    [mbe]

     
    LA CACCIA SUBACQUEA - Tutte le Prede del Mediterraneo.
    Google translation: HUNTING DIVING - All the Prey of the Mediterranean.
    Daniele Olschki.
    Published in 1975 by "La Kelasa".
    173 pages witn b/w drawings. 
    Describes techniques for underwater hunting, the best fish to catch and spear underwater guns  to use. [mbe]
    LA CALYPSO DI JACQUES COUSTEAU
    Jacques Cousteau and Alexis Sivirine.
    Published in 1984 by Fabbri editore.
    Hard cover and dust jacket, 192 pages with many color photographs. The story of the famous ship used by Cousteau for his explorations. [mbe]
    LA LAGUNA DI TRUK
    Enrico Cappelletti
    Published in 2007, by Longanesi.
    Hardcover and dustjacket, 270 pages  many b/w photos. 
    The author is a renowned underwater photographer and adventurer. 
    He was at Truk in 1972 and was one of the first to search the wrecks of the lagoon with  a U.S. Army Officially. 
    Also covers the Truk battle in II World War  and some mysteries surrounding the islands. [mbe]
    LA NAVE DEI GUERRIERI.
    Giuseppe Bufalari. 
    Published in 1976 by Fratelli Fabbri publishers 
    Hard cover, 152 pages with many colour and mono photos. The first half of the book is about a sponge fisherman who finds a ship wreck. The rest speaks of archaeological excavations in Turkey by George Bass and Peter Throckmorton. Beautifully illustrated and overall a good book. (Google translation is literally, The Ship of the Warriors. [mbe]
    LA PESCA SUBACQUEA IN 12 LEZIONI
    By Gilberto Nanetti.
    Published in 1966 vby “De Vecchi editore”.
    Hardcover, 184 pages  many b/w and color photos. In twelve lessons explaining the basics of diving and how to hunt and fish. Interesting photos of the equipment available in 1966. 
    [mbe]
    LA SPERANZA
    (The Hope)
    Maria Lucia De Nicolo.
    Published in 2006 by  La Pieve Poligrafia Editore.
    Hard cover, 348 well illustrated. 
    The book is little known but very well done and the result of a study very hard and long. The author found in old archives  the story made by survivors of 250 shipwrecks in the Adriatic Sea between 1600 and 1700. In the book there are photos of paintings which were represented the facts; the paintings were placed in churches as thanks for surviving. [mbe]
    .
    LA STORIA SOMMERSA
    Marco D'Agostino
     Published in 1992 by Nuova ERI edizioni RAI.
    Soft cover, 160 pages,  with photos and drawings. It is an archeology book. 
    LA TOSCANA SOTT'ACQUA
    (Tuscany Under Water)
    Rodolfo Betti
    Published in 1968 by Nistri-Lischi.
    Soft cover, with some  drawings; 293 pages 
    This book is about spearfishing in Tuscany.
    [mbe]
    L’ARCHEOLOGO
    (The Archaeologist)
    Gianni Roghi
    Vallecchi editorem pub;lishers.1961.
    Soft cover, 186 pages. 
    Covers the field of They have low pay, and those who work as marine archaeologists on wrecks ship wrecks are not as well appreciated, perhaps because in Italy there is much  to search in surface. [mbe]
    LA SUBACQUEA DI CARTA
    (Google Translation: Paper Diving) 
    Published by The HDS Italy in 2002. Printed soft covers - 111 printed pages. Dimensions: 24 cms tall by 17 cms wide 
    This interesting Italian book is published in English as well as Italian.  It covers divers in publications and cartoon strips, going back as far as the drawings done by Leonardo di Vinchi.  There's drawings from various publications and comic strips including Tin Tin and Micky Mouse, plus many more, possibly best known within Italy. [pt]

     
    LO STRANO NAUFRAGIO DEL PIROSCAFO SANTA LUCIA
    Nino Codagnone
     English translation is ‘The Strange Sinking of Ship Santa Lucia.
    Published in 2011 by Mursia.
    Soft cover, 78 pages . 
    It's a little book about the sinking in 1943 of Santa Lucia, a small ferry, by British Bristol Beaufigther aircraft. 
    On internet you can see some photos of the wreck: www.relitti.it/relitti/generale/relitto.asp?IDRelitto=243

     
    MANUALE DI PESCA SUBACQUEA
    (Manual Spearfishing)
    Dr. A. Beckn.
    Published in 1953 by “Edizioni Mediterranee - Roma”.
    Soft cover , 193 pages 13x19.5 with many mono photos.
    It is the Italian translation of the German title “”Die tauchkunst”.
    Google translates Die tauchkunst as 'The Dip-Art'. I can only presume that thisloosly translates as the 'art of diving'.     		 .
     
    MANUALE DI SPELEOLOGIA SUBACQUEA
    Luigi Casati.
    Published in 2007 by Editoriale Olimpia.
    Soft cover, 298 pages, with photos and drawings. 
    It is an interesting cave diving book. The author is an expert technical diver. 
    This is a link to his website: http://www.prometeoricerche.eu/GIGI/
    MATEA MORA IL SIGNORE DEI PESCECANI
    Google translation: "Matea Mora Lord of the Sharks"
    Franco Prosperi
    Published in 1953 by Garzanti.
    Hardcover, with dustjacket (not shown this example), 281 pages with 29 mono photos and 8 colors photos. 
    This is the English version in “LORD OF THE SHARKS”. The autor tells of his expedition in 1952 in Ceylon (in the Indian Ocean) to study the sharks. With two component of expedition captures many sharks and so the  island people called them "Matea Mora".  [mbe]

    See English language edition.

     
    MILLE METRI SOTT’ ACQUA
    Google translattion: (A) 'Thousand Metres Under Water'. 
    William Beebe. 
    Published by Bompiani in 1935. Also a second edition in 1950 by Bompiani.
    Hardcover, 383 pages, some b/w photos and color drawings. [mbe]

    This is probably
    HALF MILE DOWN, by William Beebe. 
    Published in May 1935 by John Lane The Bodley Head. (First reprint July 1935). 
    The author was director of the Department of Tropical Research at the New York Zoological Society. 
    Covers the famous decents into the depths in several bathysphere's up to 1934. A most important work. 
    See William Beebe other titles.

     
    MIXED GAS DIVING - IMMERSIONE A MISCELE
    Tom Mount and Bret Gilliam
    Published in 2002 by North Estern Divers.
    Soft cover, 495 pages with many mono photos. 
    This is the Italian edition. In Italy it has been very successful and in 2007 there is a second edition published by Magenes.
    [mbe]

    Far left: 2002 edition
    Left: 2007 edition.
     
    MONDO SUB  (Google translation: World Sub).
     
    Translation of sub heading: Technical knowledge and practical for diving fishing and exploration subaques
    Robert Stenuit
    Bietti, publishers. 1967
    Soft cover, 172 pages with some drawings. 
    This is the Italian edition of Vacances chez Neptune (Holidays at Neptune)”. 
    There are a second Italian edition in 1969. [mbe]    		 ......................................................................
    MORIRE QUASSOTTO SAREBBE DARVI UNA SODDISFAZIONE
    By  Stefano Di Cagno.
    Published in 2004 by Hettemarks.
    Soft cover, 115 pages with some mono photos. I think the author, Stefano Di Cagno, is the most hated person in the Italian underwater world. He spent most of his youth in prison then he dedicated himself to using mixtures and doing some diving depth records with the girlfriend. For a period he published a underwater magazine called "Captain Nemo". It is more famous for offending anyone who thought differently from him. Now he is back in prison. In this book tells some of his diving adventures and his diving accident. (The translation of the book's title could be : “my death underwater would make you happy”. Google translation is literally, Would Give You A Die Quassotto Satisfaction– which doesn’t help much. [mbe]
    PS comment: I hope he is not in jail for speaking his mind. 

    Above: Hardcover, 1971.
    Right (blue), 
    softcover 2007.
     

    		 NAUMACHOS - Avventure subacquee.
    Stefano Carletti 
    Published in 1971, by Mursia.
    Hardcover  with dust jacket,  185 pages 17 b/w photos.  Seconmd editioon came out in 2007 as a softcover).
    In this book he writes of his experiences diving especially in the Italian islands Lampedusa and Pantelleria, and the 1968 Italian expedition to the wreck of the 'Andrea Doria' with Bruno Vailati, Mimi Dies, Arnaldo Mattei, and Al Giddings. [mbe]

    .Diving the Andrea Doria.

    		 .
    NAVI MERCANTILI PERDUTE.
    Ufficio storico Marina Militare. (Navy Historical Office).
    Published in 1997 by Stabilimento grafico militare. (Mititary Graphics Factory).
    Hard cover and dust jacket, over 587 pages, many mono photographs. Chronicles, with pictures, all Italian merchant ships sunk in II WW with coordinates. It is a fundamental book for research and study. This is the III Edition ( the other 1946 – 1977). (Google treanslation of title is literally, Merchant ships lost.  [mbe]
    		.
    NAVI E BATTAGLIE DI GUADALCANAL
    Robert D. Ballard
    Published in 1993 by Giorgio Mondadori.
    Hard back with dustjacket; 228 pages.
    It is the Italian edition of  'The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal'.
    [mbe]
    NAVI E CIVILTÀ
    George F. Bass
    Published in 1974 by Fratelli Fabbri editore.
    Hard cover and dust jacket , 320 pages.
    It’s the Italian translation of  “A History of Seafaring, Based on Underwater Archeology”.
    [mbe]

     
    OLTRE IL RELITTO
    D'aquino – Lucarini - Perozzi 
    English translation is Beyond the Wreck.
    Published in 2014 By Magenes. 
    Soft cover, 235 pages  with a many photos and one DVD. 
    It is an interesting book about very deep wreck diving: on the Viminale, Britannic, HMS Victoria, Wilhelm Gustloff – 
    and more. Includes many interview with expert technical divers in Italy and Europe.
    OLTRE LA SCOGLIERA
    William Travis
    Published in 1963 by Rizzoli.
    Soft cover, 320 pages.
    This is the Italian edition of  Beyond the Reefs.  .
     

     
    OPERAZIONE BALTICO
    Lorenzo Del Veneziano
    English translation is ‘Baltic Mission’
    Published in 2016 by Magenes.
    Soft cover , 160 pages with many photos. 
    It is a beautifull illustrated book of the World War 2 wrecks in the Baltic sea. 
    Beginning of the book are many pages are devoted to the history of the battle.    		 . 
    OPERAZIONE HAILSTONE
    Lorenzo Del Veneziano
    Published in 2014 by Magenes.
    Soft cover , 255 pages with many photos. 
    It is a beautifull illustrated book of the wrecks of Truk lagoon in Micronesia. 
    At the beginning of the book are many pages devoted to the history of the battle.
     

     
    PAGURO.  IMMAGINI DI UN RELITTO
    Published in 1994 by Calderini.
    Hard cover end dust jacket 152 pages  with  many photos and drawings. 
    This is a good book on this offshore wreck, sunk after a gas explosion in Adriatic Sea in 1965. [mbe]
    .

    Don't forget to link on
    image to enlarge.    		 PALOMBARI DELLA MARINA MILITAIRE ITALINANA 1849-2009 
    (Divers of the Italian Navy 1849 to 2009) 
    160 anni storia dei Subacquei della Marina Militare Italiana dalla nascita della Scuola Palombari.
    (One hundred and sixty years of the history of the Italian Navy Divers from the birth of the School Divers).
    Author: Fabio Vitale & Gianfranco Betro. Published in 2009 
     
    Hardcover, blue cloth, dustjacket, karge format 31 cms tall by 22 cms wide;  453 printed pages, many photographs. 
    This is a really tremendous publication that is well worth owning just for the photographs, many of which I have not seen before.  Unfortunately the book is entirely published in Italian.  Having 453 pages, one can only imagine just how big the book would be if it was published in more than one language.  It is divided into 12 chapters and 3 appendix’s each one very will illustrated with photographs, prints and diagrams, most of which are in colour.  The early equipment covered includes Siebe Gorman, Charles Pettit, Rouquayrol & Denayrouze, Drager and Heinke as well as Italian equipment from Galeazzi, Giuseppe Bosi, Francesco Longobardo plus many other Italian manufacturers.  It also covers the World War II exploits of the Italian charioteers.  Equipment continues with development to modern scuba, re-breathers and Kirby Morgans.  The book also covers Italian use of atmospheric suits and Observation chambers.  Suits documented and photographed include “Neufelt & Huhnke”, Galeazzi, Giuseppi Gabanna and modern Ocean Works.  Finally there is a section on the development of submarine escape.  [pt]
    PAOLOMBARI DORICI
    Luigi Borsini.
    Published in 2004, by Litografia bottega grafica.
    Hardcover, 336 pages, 25.5 x 27.5 cm,  fully illustrated.
    The book tells the story of divers of Ancona, an Italian city that overlooks the Adriatic Sea.  They did a great deal of work with limited resources but with great results, such as the recovery of two submarines sunk during the war. [mbe]
    PESCICANI DA VENDERE
    William Travis
    Published in 1964 by Rizzoli.
    Soft cover, 255 pages
    It is the Italian edition of  Shark for Sale .
    PESCI E FUCILI
    (Fish and Gun)
    Gianni Roghi
    Published in 1951 by Sperling & Kupfer.
    Soft cover, no dust jacket, with some b/w photos and drawings; 203 pages. 
    This book is hard to find and expensive.
    [mbe]
    PESCA SUBACQUEA
    Raniero Maltini.
    Published in 1970 BY De Agostini.
    Hard cover, 64 pages,  23x31 with color photos.
    PICCOLO MANUALE DEL PALOMBARO SPORTIVO
    The Historical Diving Society Italia. 
    PROFONDITA 11000 METRI
    Google translation, literally: "Depth Metres 11000:.
    Jacques Piccard.
    Published around 1960 by Mondo Sommerso;  187 pages, many photos. 
    This is a famous book so I have not much to say. 
    The original English edition is “Seven Miles Down”.  [mbe]
    PROFONDITÀ FATALE
    (Fatal Depth)
    Joe Harbertroh
    Published in 2011 by Nutrimenti.
    Soft cover, 246 pages, 15x21 cm with color photos. 
    It is the Italian translation of the USA title Fatal Depth. [mbe] 
    QUESTO È LO SPORT SUB
    (Google translation: This is the Sport Sub)
    Duilio Marcante 
    Mursia publishers. 1976.
    Hard cover,  146 pages with color photos and drawings. . 
    Covers the techniques of diving.

    .
     
    QUI "CALYPSO" CRONACA AVVENTUROSA DI UN CAPO SOMMOZZATORE
    Philippe Diole and Albert Falco. 
    Published in 1977 from Rusconi; hardcover and dust jacket 293 pages with many photos. 
    (It is the Italian translation of “Les memoires de Falco chef plongeur de la Calypso”. 
    The Google translation of the Italian title is:
    HERE "CALYPSO" CHRONICLE OF AN ADVENTUROUS CHAPTER DIVERS.
    [mbe]
    RELITTI DI STORIA
    (Wreck of History)
    Mariagrazia Celuzza and Paola Rendini.
    Published in 1991/1992 by  Nuova Imagine Editrice.
    Soft cover , 150 pages. Size  21 x 22.5 cm with mono photos and drawings. 
     This is an archeology book about the wrecks of Maremma’ which is an area of Tuscany. [mbe]
    RELITTI IMMERSIONI NELLA STORIA
    (Wreck Diving in History)
    Gaetano Cafiero
    Published in 1992 by White Star.
    Soft cover , 144 pages full of colors photos. It's a big book (36 x 26.5cm) with very nice photos of wrecks; about thirty wrecks around the world. For example you can find images from Atocha - Truk Lagoon - Andrea Doria – Emdem - Scapa Flow - Batavia, ecc.
    [mbe]
    RECUPERI NAVALI IN BASSO FONDALE
    Armando Andri
    Published in 1979 by Edizioni dell’ Ateneo & Bizzarri.
    Soft cover, 205 pages  with some b/wphotos and drawings. 
    The book talks about the recovery of sunken ships during the World Wars, in particular, the battleships "Leonardo da Vinci" - "Duilio" and “Corazziere”. [mbe]
    SCENDETE SOTT'ACQUA CON ME
    (Go Down Under With Me) 
    (Also: Get Off Underwater With Me - more interesting!!!)
    Duilio Marcante
    Published in 1959 by Ceschina Editore.
    Hardcover and dustjacket,  482 pages with some photos. 
    Probably the first Italian book on training dives. The author was the first to teach diving; he came from the military - the training required was very intense.  Many later editions. 
    Some historical video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsgnTH9KRY8
    [mbe]
    SOTTO SETTE MARI
    Roberto Merlo
    The English translation is ‘Under Seven Seas’.
    Published in 1982 by BBE - Torino.
    Hard cover and dust jacket, 120 pages with nice photos from around the world.
    SUB ENCICLOPEDIA DEL SUBACQUEO
    Google translation: 'Sub Encyclopedia of Underwater'
    Alessandro Olschki. 
    Published in 1968, by Sadea editore – Firenze.
    Consists of two volumes with a total of 640 pages 24.5 x 31.5 fully illustrated, hardcover and dustjacket. [mbe]
    SUB IL LIBRO DEGLI ABISSI
    Lino PELLEGRINI 
    Hardcover, dustjacket, 319 pages,  many b/w photographs. 
    Today I am sending you this book for which I have great affection, if you want to recommend an Italian book to someone tell him to take this. Lino Pellegrini is a great journalist and has traveled the world, has made unique and unforgettable adventures told in this book. For example, after the end of II World War he worked with the Italians divers in the Mediterranean to recover the wrecks of ships sunk during the war. The remains of the sailors of all nations were recovered (photo) with full military honors and delivered to their home countries. He sought  in Lake Como the Mussolini treasure with a German soldier who was with Mussolini in the 1945, but have only found weapons (photo). There is a second edition of 1964 added a few photos. Many of his adventures he has done with the wife, also a diver.  [mbe]    		 .
    TESORI DEGLI ABISSI.
    (Treasures of the Abyss)
    Harry E. Riesberg
    Published in 1953 by Bompiani.
    It's the Italian translation of “ I Dive for Treasure”. 
    Hard cover, dust jacket, 360 pages. 
    [mbe]
    TESORI IN FONDO AL MARE
    George F. Bass
    Published in 1981 by Sonzogno.
    Hardcover, 206 pages with b/n illustration. 
    (It’s the italian translation of “” Archeology Beneath the sea” )
    [mbe]
    THE HISTORY OF UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY AND CINEMATOGRAPHY IN ITALY.  [English and Italian language]
    Storia della Fotografia e Cinematografia Subacqquea Italiana.
    Alberto Romeo.
    Published by Editrice La Mandragora s.r.l., Imola, Italy. 2009. Published with the support of the Historical Diving Society of Italy. 
    Special foldout plastic cover bound, 430 pages, hundreds of mono photographs, index, bibliography, text and captions in Italian and English. 
    We know of the French contribution to recreational diving - Cousteau made sure of that - but few of us have bothered to appreciate the contribution of the Italians, especially in underwater photography and cinematography. They have been at it since 1932, with weird and bulky homemade and later commercial equipment housing the Rolleimarin and Praktiflex, and the Elmo cinecamera. Names such as Raimondo Bucher, Roberto Rossellini, Victor de Sanctis and the author himself are not familiar to us, but they should be for their contribution to the development of underwater photography. And where did the Nikonos system originate? We are however familiar, or should be if we have an interest in the history of diving, with Folco Quilici, Fosco Maraini, Bruno Vailati, Dimitri Rebikoff, and Louis Boutan, all significant players in the development of underwater photographer. The book takes a chronological look at this development, from 1932 to 1989, the latter mentioning contributions from Hass and Cousteau as well as our Aussies Cropp and Taylor. The diving gear is an interest in itself, whereas the photographic equipment seems to have stabulised in development after a decade or so, its use divided between housings and the self-contained Nikonos system. A very interesting book and a great contribution by Alberto Romeo to the historical record of diving. By the way, has anyone got a copy of the first issue of the Italian Fotosub magazine, published in 1977; look, it is an artistic cover, thats why I want it. [ps]
    TESORI DEGLI ABISSI
    (Men and Fish)
    Gianni Roghi
    Published in 1955 by Sperling & Kupfer.
    Soft cover, no dust jacket, with some b/n photos and drawings; 229 pages.
    This book is about spearfishing. 
    [mbe]
    U-BOOT 455 - IL SOTTOMARINO DELLA LEGGENDA
    Lorenzo Del Veneziano
    Published in 2010 by Azienda Grafica Busco - Rapallo.
    Soft cover 160 pages.  full of photos. 
    It's an interesting book about 30 wrecks near Genova. 
    A lot of space is given to the discovery made by the author in 2005 of the German submarine U455 sunk in World War 2 in 120 meters deep. It was an exceptional discovery because everyone thought the submarine was just a legend.
    UOMINI E PESCI
    (Men and Fish)
    Gianni Roghi
    Published in 1955 by Sperling & Kupfer.
    Soft cover, no dust jacket, with some b/n photos and drawings; 229 pages.
    This book is about spearfishing. 
    [mbe]
    VACANZE NELLA STORIA.
    Enrico Scandurra.
    Published in 2004 by Alberti & C. Editori.
    Translates as 'Holidays in History')
    Soft cover, 477 pages, 29.5x20 with mono drawings, color photos an documents. It is a beautiful book, written in a simple way. The author speaks of his seven expeditions to search for underwater wrecks (between 1958 – 1990). It also explains how to organize an expedition and how to involve your family in these adventures. In particular, he found Turkish guns in Tremiti Islands (Adriatic Sea), an ancient Venetian warship in Garda Lake, immersed himself in the waters of Lepanto where in 1571 there was a great naval battle between Christians and Muslims. He found ‘Alfredo Cappellini’ wreck (photo) sank in 1917 during the WW1 in the Adriatic Sea, the wreck of the Austrian battleship “ Szent Istvan” (photo) sunk during the WW1. He tried unsuccessfully to find two warships in Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda. [mbe]
    .
    VADEMECUM DEL CACCIATORE SUBACQUEO
    (Handbook of Underwater Hunter)
    Bruno Malossi
    Published in 1965 by K2 Edizioni.
    Hard cover no dust jacket, with some  drawings; 65 pages.
    This little book 12 x 17cm is about spearfishing. 
    [mbe]
    VERSO I FONDALI
    Carlo Fabiani.
    Published in 1967 by Edizioni Calderini,(second edition 1971).
    Hard cover, 239 pages  with some mono photos and drawings. 
    This book talks about diving, equipment and how you learn to dive. 
    [mbe]
    VIAGGI NEL MONDO SOMMERSO (AVVENTURE DI PALOMBARI)  [Italian language]
    (UNDERWATER WORLD TRAVEL - DIVING HELMETS ADVENTURE.)
    Ulderico Tegani
    Published 1931 from Mondadori
    Hardcover 247 pages with 65 b/w photos. It is a very beautiful book where the descriptions are of  Italian diving helmets adventure, especially the finding  and recovery of wrecks. For example you can find information from the Egypt gold recovery with the divers of the salvage ship Artiglio. [mbe]

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
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