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Submerged: Adventures of America's Most Elite Underwater Archeology Team
Adventure nonfiction at its best by the co-author, with Gene Hackman, of W ake of the Perdido Star . Submerged is Daniel Lenihan's remarkable story of 25 years as founder and head of the Submerged Cultural Resource Unit (SCRU)—ranging from ancient ruins covered by reservoirs in the desert Southwest to a World War II submarine off the Alaskan coast; from the Isle Royale shipwrecks in the frigid Lake Superior to the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor; from the HL Hunley , the first submarine in history to sink an enemy ship, in Charleston Harbor to the ships sunk by atomic bombs at Bikini Atoll, and much more.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 25, 2002
96 people are currently reading
920 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Lenihan
16 books7 followersUnderwater archaeologist. Dan was the founding chief of what is now the Submerged Resources Center of the US National Park Service. He also co-authored three novels with Hollywood actor Gene Hackman.
Also publishes under Daniel J. Lenihan
Also publishes under Daniel J. Lenihan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 28, 2017
I enjoyed this book very much. Tales of and Elite Underwater Archeology Dive Team for the National Park Service. Talks about cave diving, body retrieval, ship wrecks, diving in Hawaii, Florida, Great Lakes, Pearl Harbor, Aleutian Islands, Bikini, etc. Gave a glimpse of how this dive team helps to protect our nation's history. Engrossing.
For MMD 2017 Reading Challenge #1, Reading for Fun #7 - a book in a genre you usually avoid.
For MMD 2017 Reading Challenge #1, Reading for Fun #7 - a book in a genre you usually avoid.
April 13, 2011
When he's talking about the actual dive adventures, it's fantastic. However everything else is kind of boring and he comes off as an asshole with an overinflated sense of self worth.
September 28, 2015
I was looking forward to this book since I've enjoyed many others about diving/shipwrecks and am a pretty big history fan. However, I could barely get through this book. I kept waiting for some amazing discovery or exciting dive but nothing much ever happens. They usually just dive, look at an old boat, map it and leave. For example, they trek deep into a site in Hawaii to explore a lake no one's ever dived. They look around, have some trouble getting stuff back up a helicopter and leave finding nothing, just vegetation. I'm still trying to figure out the purpose of that trip and a couple others the author recounts.
While the formation and purpose of the NPS's SCRU unit is interesting to some extent and learning about how cave diving developed in the 60s and 70s is as well, it didn't add up for holding one's attention through the long book. There's a couple pieces of somewhat interesting history told but nothing earth shattering.
Sorry to have to say this, but this book doesn't offer much for anyone looking for a lot of historical education or an exciting story.
While the formation and purpose of the NPS's SCRU unit is interesting to some extent and learning about how cave diving developed in the 60s and 70s is as well, it didn't add up for holding one's attention through the long book. There's a couple pieces of somewhat interesting history told but nothing earth shattering.
Sorry to have to say this, but this book doesn't offer much for anyone looking for a lot of historical education or an exciting story.
October 7, 2023
Excellent first hand account of preservation diving. Writing style maybe not for everyone as the narrative moves slowly. However, there is a good amount of drama and several interesting personalities.
Finishing up some reading and research into ship wrecks. This is a good finale.
Recommend strongly.
Finishing up some reading and research into ship wrecks. This is a good finale.
Recommend strongly.
October 1, 2015
This is a book I read carefully from cover to cover - no skimming or scanning - because I wanted to catch every word and detail. How interesting it was to learn about the efforts to preserve underwater archaeological sites through the National Parks Service. How touching and informative to read about the Arizona in Pearl Harbor, and the respect these people have for her and the bodies that went down with her and still remain there. Places like Nan Madol, and the caves in Florida, and the towns covered by the formation of dams in the Southwest - every incident was related with knowledge and professionalism. These people work in SO many underwater areas - even doing first-hand research in how to rescue people who back their cars off of boat docks! What a fascinating and captivating and dangerous way to make a living! I truly enjoyed this book.
June 8, 2018
I'm never going to do this myself - dive in caves and underwater buildings and shipwrecks of pirate ships and warships. So I'll just read books like this. This is a book about a life's work written by an archaeologist who headed a special diving unit that was part of the National Park Service. The book is largely in chronological order, which can be a little disjointed, as they skip around geographically, and sometimes visit the same wreck several chapters apart. Despite the lack of literary structure and stylings, he's a good writer, able to convey history without lecturing and paint visual pictures of what the divers actually saw down there. I loved the chapters on the USS Arizona in Hawaii.
August 11, 2016
Loved this book - anyone who's interested in the preservation of historical sites should read this book. The author has the ability to weave history throughout his modern narrative so that we never forget the importance of the dive sites. If you don't normally read non-fiction I would say make an exception for this book.
December 26, 2008
My review at LibraryThing.
March 3, 2010
This was an interesting read. Made me wish that I could go diving right now!
March 30, 2011
This was an excellent read. I found the book both informative and interesting as Dan Lenihan gives his personal perspective on the creation and operations of the NPS SCRU team.
July 2, 2011
Fascinating - I had no idea that the National Park System employes underwater archeologists.
June 28, 2016
I reviewed this book here: http://www.learntodivetoday.co.za/blo...
December 5, 2016
Very enjoyable. If you like 'procedural' shows, Pirates, adventure, the occasional grim reminder and are a diver or an aspirational diver this book will be a joy for you.
March 21, 2017
3.5 stars. Very readable nonfiction. Exciting at times; too detailed and in the weeds at others.
March 10, 2018
This book was a real eye opener to underwater world
I would never had imagined existed. To bad so many are unaware
of the beauty and the mystery that exists .
I would never had imagined existed. To bad so many are unaware
of the beauty and the mystery that exists .
June 7, 2019
Several years ago, I went diving alone to check my gear and clear my head. (That's a big no-no, by the way, don't do it.) There was a yellow school bus in the lake that had been stripped of its benches and windows: a fun place to hang out. The roof was right at 30-feet or so. I lay there on my back—tank removed and resting upside down beside me—watching my bubbles rise while focusing on my breathing and, based on the sound—the only noise down there—make adjustments for Yoga-style adjustments.
A bright red Autumn leaf floated on the surface and, high up from there, three big fluffy white clouds seemed hung like pictures on a bright blue sky.
The water and air were so crisp and still... then a small bass swam over and, next to it (but high up, of course), I noticed the thin chalk line of a jet. On its way ...to where?
A few years later an injury sidelined my scuba diving hobby. I gave my tank and regulator to my roommate in lieu of rent but kept the fins, mask and snorkel for sightseeing, retrieving a lost tool at the dock or cleaning the hull of my sailboat.
Why am I telling you all this before telling you about this book? Because my diving experience, though limited as it was, provided a "sights and sounds" foundation to fascination with Daniel Lenihan's Submerged.
It's the only book about underwater archeology that's ever made me hold my breath.
Subtitled Adventures of America's Most Elite Underwater Archeology Team, it tells the true story of his career and exploits developing a new program within the National Park Service: a thoughtful/scientific approach to surveying, preserving and sharing sunken assets while, when needed, also recovering bodies from very dangerous, hard to reach places.
The emotional insights related to risk and death are as captivating as the adventures going deep and dark.
In addition to navigating creepy death traps such as caves, wrecks and the rooms of a sunken power turbine, Lenihan and his people successfully navigate a labyrinth of governmental policy, funding red tape and politics. This peek behind-the-scenes enables an even greater appreciation for what they were able to achieve—with their lives literally "on the line" the whole way.
This one's absolutely a keeper for the beach, boat or hammock.
Not just for divers but also for riders of pool floats in blue rubber pools.
A bright red Autumn leaf floated on the surface and, high up from there, three big fluffy white clouds seemed hung like pictures on a bright blue sky.
The water and air were so crisp and still... then a small bass swam over and, next to it (but high up, of course), I noticed the thin chalk line of a jet. On its way ...to where?
A few years later an injury sidelined my scuba diving hobby. I gave my tank and regulator to my roommate in lieu of rent but kept the fins, mask and snorkel for sightseeing, retrieving a lost tool at the dock or cleaning the hull of my sailboat.
Why am I telling you all this before telling you about this book? Because my diving experience, though limited as it was, provided a "sights and sounds" foundation to fascination with Daniel Lenihan's Submerged.
It's the only book about underwater archeology that's ever made me hold my breath.
Subtitled Adventures of America's Most Elite Underwater Archeology Team, it tells the true story of his career and exploits developing a new program within the National Park Service: a thoughtful/scientific approach to surveying, preserving and sharing sunken assets while, when needed, also recovering bodies from very dangerous, hard to reach places.
The emotional insights related to risk and death are as captivating as the adventures going deep and dark.
In addition to navigating creepy death traps such as caves, wrecks and the rooms of a sunken power turbine, Lenihan and his people successfully navigate a labyrinth of governmental policy, funding red tape and politics. This peek behind-the-scenes enables an even greater appreciation for what they were able to achieve—with their lives literally "on the line" the whole way.
This one's absolutely a keeper for the beach, boat or hammock.
Not just for divers but also for riders of pool floats in blue rubber pools.
December 18, 2025
As a scuba diver, I was very much looking forward to reading this book and it did not disappoint.
Lenihan does a great job of laying out the history, trials and tribulations of how he got to the point of starting up SCRU. He also points out how that is the greatest acronym in government history which I completely agree with.
The book is definitely not about Lenihan and how awesome he thinks he is. The author comes across as humble, right time right place kinda guy. He continually acknowledges the roles that others played in the formation of the team and its work in the years since.
The fascinating part of the book is the vivid descriptions of the dives and their respective surveys. Add the history and you have the makings of great reading. That Lenihan included the bad with the good just lends that much more credibility to the book.
This is a great book for anyone who is a scuba diver, has an interest in the underwater realm or even just history as it adds a new element not normally included.
Lenihan does a great job of laying out the history, trials and tribulations of how he got to the point of starting up SCRU. He also points out how that is the greatest acronym in government history which I completely agree with.
The book is definitely not about Lenihan and how awesome he thinks he is. The author comes across as humble, right time right place kinda guy. He continually acknowledges the roles that others played in the formation of the team and its work in the years since.
The fascinating part of the book is the vivid descriptions of the dives and their respective surveys. Add the history and you have the makings of great reading. That Lenihan included the bad with the good just lends that much more credibility to the book.
This is a great book for anyone who is a scuba diver, has an interest in the underwater realm or even just history as it adds a new element not normally included.
October 24, 2020
This is one of those books where the subject content carries what is otherwise an unremarkable book. The writing is fine, the editing was suspect, and the write was a little too "old boys club" NPS for my personal comfort, but I love learning about things, and the story of the NPS Submerged Cultural Resources Unit is one of those stories that should not be missed!
I didn't even know that the National Park Service had a unit devoted to underwater archaeology, and learning about it was a joy. I would love to know more about what it looks like today, as we have more underwater areas and I imagine the ecological studies have become part of the mission, but this was a great primer.
I didn't even know that the National Park Service had a unit devoted to underwater archaeology, and learning about it was a joy. I would love to know more about what it looks like today, as we have more underwater areas and I imagine the ecological studies have become part of the mission, but this was a great primer.
January 13, 2024
A little editing would have helped this one quite a bit. The pacing and the organization of the sites visited are all over the place. It seemed like we were going through them in chronological order as the author interacted with the sites but that wasn't always the case? I think I would have appreciated some sort of geographic or topical order instead. Dives of ancient archeological sites, shipwrecks, and then cave exploration. Maybe to end with a history of cave diving while then referencing these specific dives and their challenges.
All in all I learned I definitely won't be cave diving at all. Ever.
All in all I learned I definitely won't be cave diving at all. Ever.
December 26, 2020
I liked it. The book seemed to focus on the adventure and the technological improvements of underwater archeology.
Some of the stories felt repetitious. Would have liked to learn more of what was found and learned, not only the swashbuckling aspects. More on results of National Reservoir Inundation Study. The map in the front showing dive locations kinda bummed me out because I want to hear stories of diving in Yellowstone or Glacier, Montezuma Well or Devil’s Hole. I guess I’ll have to read his other book to get that stuff.
Some of the stories felt repetitious. Would have liked to learn more of what was found and learned, not only the swashbuckling aspects. More on results of National Reservoir Inundation Study. The map in the front showing dive locations kinda bummed me out because I want to hear stories of diving in Yellowstone or Glacier, Montezuma Well or Devil’s Hole. I guess I’ll have to read his other book to get that stuff.
June 25, 2021
I heard about this book on the What Should I Read Next podcast. I worked closely with a Park Service museum at the time and it sounded interesting. And it is... to an extent. The stories do start to sort of run together after a bit but if you are interested in underwater archaeology or even underwater cave exploration, this will be a really interesting book for you. If you don't even like to read about small, enclosed spaces, this would not be the book for you.
October 21, 2020
I enjoyed this book immensely, and want to revisit it again in the future. The archaeologist in me appreciated the reverence for history perfectly blended with the thrill of discovery. The diver in me appreciated a brief reflection on emotions I have already experienced, but also the gravity of scenarios I have not yet encountered. I would recommend this book to anyone who cares about the random nuggets of nature around us in the USA, but who is not overly sensitive either.
December 22, 2025
Not for the faint of heart
If you're a sport scuba diver, you know the beauty and thrall of diving. This book is that on steroids. Where sport diving typically stops at 100-120 ft., these divers regularly dive 200-360 ft, one diver even went to 905 ft.! I've dived the ceynotes in the Yucatan , not realizing there are similar spots in Florida which the author covers in detail. The book covers dives all over the world and will definitely keep your interest.
If you're a sport scuba diver, you know the beauty and thrall of diving. This book is that on steroids. Where sport diving typically stops at 100-120 ft., these divers regularly dive 200-360 ft, one diver even went to 905 ft.! I've dived the ceynotes in the Yucatan , not realizing there are similar spots in Florida which the author covers in detail. The book covers dives all over the world and will definitely keep your interest.
January 13, 2022
What a teaching, and, adventure moment this book is. Few of us get underwater, fewer go into caves. This book takes us there, all the thrills, the dangers, and the incredible underwater world. Outstanding read.
January 18, 2023
I love anything to do with archeology, and after reading "Shadow Divers" know that I enjoy books about diving, so this was a great fit.
Very varied in its subject matter it covers a slew of things, from cave diving, to submerged structures, to damns, shipwrecks and cenotes.
A fascinating account.
Very varied in its subject matter it covers a slew of things, from cave diving, to submerged structures, to damns, shipwrecks and cenotes.
A fascinating account.
December 14, 2025
Great storytelling!
Loved the storytelling in this book. It took me a long time to read it because I just had to go to Wikipedia for more info every time it piqued my curiosity. Wish there had been more about the Columbia bar..I experienced the bar once..almost. Had to turn back, boat too small, troughs too deep, me too seasick.
Loved the storytelling in this book. It took me a long time to read it because I just had to go to Wikipedia for more info every time it piqued my curiosity. Wish there had been more about the Columbia bar..I experienced the bar once..almost. Had to turn back, boat too small, troughs too deep, me too seasick.
August 19, 2018
The first half is interesting
The first half is interesting, , both diving and archaeology, then too many stories that seem repetitive (names and places change).
The first half is interesting, , both diving and archaeology, then too many stories that seem repetitive (names and places change).
September 17, 2018
An excellent collection of stories about the National Park Service’s archaeological dive team’s exploits and adventures.
May 16, 2019
This book wasn't for me but I stuck with it. The one thing that made it enjoyable is that you can stop from time to time to find the YouTube video of the dive you are reading about.
August 13, 2021
Fun read about a little known group of park rangers
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews