Sea Salt: Memories & Essays

by Stan Waterman

From Forward by Peter Benchley (Author of Jaws) "Ladies and gentlemen, are you in for a treat! You are about to make the acquaintance of one of the most extraordinary gentlemen of this or any recent age. And not just a gentleman but a filmmaker, an adventurer, an explorer, a daredevil, a gallant, a poet, an intimate of creatures as exquisitely exotic as the leafy sea dragon and the sloe-eyed cuttlefish and – this above all – a true pioneer in the discovery of our last frontier, the sea. Stan Waterman has spent more than half a century in, on and under the sea, and in these pages he takes you with him on the amazing ride he calls his life. There is excitement enough in his encounters with wild animals and weird people to fill a hundred lives and all their fantasies. To cite just one example, have you ever wondered what it would be like to dive in the open ocean with a huge school of certifiably anthropophagous sharks as they gorge on the carcass of a whale … at night? Probably not. But hang on, because when Stan recounts scenes from the filming of the classic 1971 documentary feature film, Blue Water, White Death, you’ll be there beside him, and astonished that anyone lived to tell the tale. Stan is on intimate terms with many of the seas’ most formidable denizens, including that ultimate marine predator, the Great White Shark, and he writes wonderfully about the contradictions inherent in this magnificent the incomparable natural beauty, the perfection of function, all manifest in the creature’s capacity as a killing machine. Sea Salt is far more, however, than just a catalogue of critters and close calls. Stan has a profound rapport with the sea, and his command of language and literature eloquently conveys the depth of his feeling. The thoughtful, graceful writing sets the book a full step above most memoirs about the sea; not only does Stan appreciate good writing – you’ll be pleased to encounter an occasional quote from Joseph Conrad or Henry Beston – but he’ll often turn a phrase or craft a paragraph that could well have come from the pen of a master."

287 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2005

Reviews

[Patrick Wikstrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here’s a 90+ year old dive icon. His list of accomplishments is extensive, his friends are a who’s who of the early dive industry’s groundbreakers and heros. He jumps around telling numerous tales from his family life and various adventures. While not the best dive writing I’ve ever encountered it was all enjoyable and I’m glad I bought the book. 3***

[g-na · Rating 4 out of 5]

We recently had the honour of spending a week on a dive boat with pioneer underwater filmmaker and shark diver Stan Waterman. He is a charming, gallant man who regaled us with tales and anecdotes from his 50+ year diving history. After returning from that trip I purchased this copy of Stan's memoirs in order to learn more about him, and as I read the book I couldn't help but hear it in his voice. Sea Salt is interesting and engaging and I very much enjoyed reading it. Recommended, especially for divers and those with an interest in the history of underwater videography.