Candice LandauLast Updated on October 8, 2024 by Candice Landau
If there’s one thing I’m glad I got my teeth hooked into early in my diving career, it’s non-fiction books about scuba diving based on real events. Not only did they feed the flame for a hobby I was rapidly falling in love with, but they also introduced me to aspects of diving I might never have known about.
Through books like “Shadow Divers” and “The Last Dive” I learned about the world of deep diving, wreck diving, technical diving and cave diving. I also learned about the earlier days of diving through others, like Jacques Cousteau’s “The Silent World.”
Though this is by no means a comprehensive list, it’s a great list for those who are looking for a good read or a good listen. So strap on your adventure glasses and get reading!
1. “Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II” by Robert Kurson
An enthralling tale of discovery and obsession.
This book recounts the journey of two wreck divers who discover a sunken German U-boat off the coast of New Jersey. Their quest to identify the submarine leads them through dangerous dives and historical detective work.
Buy the book on Amazon here | Buy the audiobook on Audible here
Read my review of this book here.
2. “Deep Descent: Adventure and Death Diving the Andrea Doria” by Kevin F. McMurray
An intense exploration of the infamous Andrea Doria wreck.
McMurray chronicles the perilous dives to the “Mount Everest of diving,” detailing the challenges and fatal attractions that have claimed several divers’ lives.
Buy the book on Amazon here | Buy the audiobook on Audible here
3. “The Last Dive: A Father and Son’s Fatal Descent into the Ocean’s Depths” by Bernie Chowdhury
A poignant tale of adventure and tragedy.
This book tells the story of Chris and Chrissy Rouse, a father-son diving team whose deep wreck dives led to a tragic end, highlighting the risks of technical diving.
Buy the book on Amazon here | Buy the audiobook on Audible here
4. “Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver” by Jill Heinerth
An intimate memoir from a world-renowned cave diver.
Jill Heinerth shares her extraordinary experiences exploring underwater caves—the planet’s most remote and dangerous environments. Her story is both inspiring and enthralling.
Buy the book on Amazon here | Buy the audiobook on Audible here
5. “Neutral Buoyancy: Adventures in a Liquid World” by Tim Ecott
A journey through the history and allure of diving.
Ecott combines personal anecdotes with historical narratives, exploring humanity’s fascination with the underwater world from ancient breath-hold divers to modern scuba enthusiasts.
Buy the book on Amazon here | Buy the audiobook on Audible here
6. “Blind Descent: The Quest to Discover the Deepest Place on Earth” by James M. Tabor
An expedition into the world of extreme cave diving.
Tabor follows two teams as they race to explore the deepest known caves, facing life-threatening challenges in the pursuit of scientific discovery.
Buy the book on Amazon here | Buy the audiobook on Audible here
7. “Diving into Darkness: A True Story of Death and Survival” by Phillip Finch
A harrowing account of a deep cave dive gone wrong.
The book recounts the Bushman’s Hole tragedy in South Africa, where a diver perished, and another risked his life to recover the body, delving into the psychology of extreme diving.
Read my review of this book here.
8. “Submerged: Adventures of America’s Most Elite Underwater Archaeology Team” by Daniel Lenihan
Insights from the founder of the National Park Service’s Submerged Resources Center.
Lenihan shares thrilling stories of underwater archaeology, from preserving shipwrecks to exploring submerged caves and mining pits.
9. “The Cave Divers” by Robert F. Burgess
An exploration of the pioneers of cave diving.
Burgess documents the stories of early cave divers, their discoveries, innovations, and the evolution of safety protocols in one of the most dangerous forms of diving.
10. “Fatal Depth: Deep Sea Diving, China Fever, and the Wreck of the Andrea Doria” by Joe Haberstroh
Another gripping account of the dangers associated with the Andrea Doria wreck.
Haberstroh delves into the obsession surrounding the Andrea Doria, detailing the risks divers take in pursuit of treasure and adventure.
11. “The Silent World” by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Frédéric Dumas
The classic that opened the oceans to the world.
Cousteau’s pioneering work shares his early underwater explorations and the development of the Aqua-Lung, inspiring generations of divers.
12. “Fatally Flawed: The Quest to be Deepest” by Verna van Schaik
A harrowing account of what it takes to be a trailblazer.
This story reveals how Verna van Schaik overcame incredible challenges and pushed the limits of human endurance to become the deepest woman in one of the world’s most dangerous and extreme sports: cave diving.
Have I forgotten any of your favorite books about scuba diving based on real events? Leave a comment!
