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Hal & Roger Hunt Adventures #3
Underwater Adventure
Once again Hal and Roger Hunt are on board the Lively Lady, studying submarine life and searching for the treasure of Santa Cruz which sunk three whole centuries ago! But Skink - an unscrupulous former school friend of Hal's, is also on board and he will stop at nothing to get the treasure for himself. . .
223 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
7 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Willard Price
142 books78 followersWillard DeMille Price was born in Peterborough, Ontario, and moved to the US when he was four. He got his MA and Litt.D from Columbia. He held a special interest for natural history, ethnology and exploration and made numerous expeditions for the American Museum of Natural History and the National Geographic Society. Price also went on to edit various magazines on travel and world affairs and spent six years working in Japan as foreign correspondent for New York and London newspapers. He travelled in seventy-seven countries before his death in 1983.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 9, 2018
Although very much of its time and full of outmoded ideas of animal research and archaeology, this is still a great read. I loved these adventure books as a kid and still found them enjoyable as an adult.
February 2, 2022
There are some customary moments of grand excitement in Willard Price’s third Adventure book, but this one is let down by a consistent shortcoming of the series—incredibly contrived and eye-rolling human villainy! It’s normally not so much of an issue, unless Price concentrates on it to the exclusion of the infinitely more interesting natural world elements, and that was unfortunately the case here. Although I am now a grown-ass man in my late thirties criticising the faults of a book written for young boys over 70 years ago, it would be remiss of me not to provide a reminder to the constant reader of my reviews that this series was absolutely formative for me growing up, sparking an undying love for reading and nature that persists today.
November 20, 2022
Historia, którą szybko zapomnę
Płytka fabuła. Dużo informacji o różnych sposobach nurkowania. Główni bohaterowie wydają się być nadani cech osób dorosłych, gdzie one same są w trakcie szkoły średniej. Bohaterami kierują proste impulsy, wręcz niepokojące, takiego typu jak "zabiję cię" i rzucają się na siebie. Bohaterowie są też słabo wykreowani. Książka na jeden lub dwa wieczory.
Mam zamiar ją przekazać dalej (wziąłem z Bookcrossingu).
Płytka fabuła. Dużo informacji o różnych sposobach nurkowania. Główni bohaterowie wydają się być nadani cech osób dorosłych, gdzie one same są w trakcie szkoły średniej. Bohaterami kierują proste impulsy, wręcz niepokojące, takiego typu jak "zabiję cię" i rzucają się na siebie. Bohaterowie są też słabo wykreowani. Książka na jeden lub dwa wieczory.
Mam zamiar ją przekazać dalej (wziąłem z Bookcrossingu).
January 9, 2024
I really like ocean related books. I think having 6 main characters was a bit much so I think it was good to kill off the Dr called Dr Blake. It was quite sad and very mean when he died though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2022
I gave this book 4 stars, here’s why. It was a very good book, with high quality English, but some old English, that was confusing at times. The story was cool, it was these two brothers hal and roger, who were chosen? (I think) to go on this expedition to find marine life and take it to aquariums or just to take some picture idk, but then they go on an adventure to find a…. ill leave the rest for you. Very good book for 11-15 yr olds, recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2009
I'm going to rate all of the Willard Price books as four stars. Not because I think they're all that special (hell, they're basically the works of an eco-terrorism apologist), but because, when I was twelve, they were THE BEST BOOKS I'D EVER READ. I lapped them up. Loved 'em.
September 5, 2015
I know this book does not deserve a five star, but this is my memory of growing up: after school reading, sun shining through my window and all my favorite snacks that I dare not eat anymore. And for that I'm going to rate all Hal and Roger books five stars!
September 8, 2012
I loved for these books when I was about 11 and learned A LOT about animals and geography from them
July 9, 2020
Willard Price’s employment history largely had him as a non-fiction natural history writer, which means his non-fiction writing also tended in that direction. However, he also proved he had a decent eye for a thrilling storyline, whether or not animals were involved and in this third novel in his series of novels featuring Hal and Roger Hunt, this is the side of his writing which comes to the fore.
After spending the first couple of novels working for their father’s animal collection business, Hal and Roger are now working alongside Dr. Blake, a scientist with the Oceanographic Institute. Neither brother is happy with the addition to the crew of S. K. Inkham, who Hal knew from school as Skink, someone with a troubled history. Skink is soon up to his usual tricks, particularly once he discovers that part of the voyage is to search for a sunken Spanish galleon with all the owner’s valuable goods on board.
Whilst this is a different approach to his writing than before, Price’s fast paced writing and simple language works with this kind of story. For existing fans, he does start in his usual fashion with Hal and Roger dealing with sea animals, some of which they capture, but this is not the main point of the story. Indeed, whilst this does occur, the majority of the time is spent with the boys using all manner of diving equipment to explore the underwater regions, from things as simple as a snorkel, to as detailed as an undersea sled to a diving bell. Admittedly, due to the age of the book, none of these things are particularly impressive now, but at the time many of them would have been fairly new and it does feel at times that the equipment they’re using are there mostly to show off Price’s knowledge than for any other reason, which isn’t a new thing in his writing, but it does mean that a lot of things are a bit tumbled together and you don’t get much depth.
What is better this time around is the variation on the storyline, rather than them just repeatedly battling against various animals. This time around, this part of the story is combined with the differing pieces of equipment and the search for the ship is something entirely new. There is also the sense of threat, which is greater in this novel, particularly as it doesn’t come from natural means, but from a person and there is a sense of menace which hasn’t been entirely present before, despite the Hunts having come to the attention of shady people in the earlier novels.
What helps with this is that the character building, particularly in the case of Skink, is more detailed than in any of the earlier novels. Whereas the antagonists before were largely faceless people and their motivations weren’t entirely clear, this time around Skink has a back story and a previous engagement with the brothers, as well as an aim which is obvious to the reader. Whereas most of the antagonists were animals and so it was difficult for a reader to take sides, with the enemy being human and having the same access to tools and planning as the Hunts, this makes for a more rounded opposition. Whilst Dr. Blake, the scientist they are working with, isn’t quite as detailed, he also has a personality that makes him stand out in a way that some of the other characters hadn’t done earlier.
Whilst this novel edges away from what Price has written before, which may lessen the appeal for those who have been reading his works because of the animal links, overall this is a more well-rounded thriller novel than before. The characterization has broadened and the plots are deeper than before and whilst the early sections of the novel do make more sense if you’ve read the earlier novels, this stands alone better than some of the others, even if the introduction to the boys does seem a bit repetitive if you have read them all. Price’s fast-paced and simple writing is perfect for a thriller novel and the improvements and broadening of Price’s writing up to this point make this one of his best thus far.
After spending the first couple of novels working for their father’s animal collection business, Hal and Roger are now working alongside Dr. Blake, a scientist with the Oceanographic Institute. Neither brother is happy with the addition to the crew of S. K. Inkham, who Hal knew from school as Skink, someone with a troubled history. Skink is soon up to his usual tricks, particularly once he discovers that part of the voyage is to search for a sunken Spanish galleon with all the owner’s valuable goods on board.
Whilst this is a different approach to his writing than before, Price’s fast paced writing and simple language works with this kind of story. For existing fans, he does start in his usual fashion with Hal and Roger dealing with sea animals, some of which they capture, but this is not the main point of the story. Indeed, whilst this does occur, the majority of the time is spent with the boys using all manner of diving equipment to explore the underwater regions, from things as simple as a snorkel, to as detailed as an undersea sled to a diving bell. Admittedly, due to the age of the book, none of these things are particularly impressive now, but at the time many of them would have been fairly new and it does feel at times that the equipment they’re using are there mostly to show off Price’s knowledge than for any other reason, which isn’t a new thing in his writing, but it does mean that a lot of things are a bit tumbled together and you don’t get much depth.
What is better this time around is the variation on the storyline, rather than them just repeatedly battling against various animals. This time around, this part of the story is combined with the differing pieces of equipment and the search for the ship is something entirely new. There is also the sense of threat, which is greater in this novel, particularly as it doesn’t come from natural means, but from a person and there is a sense of menace which hasn’t been entirely present before, despite the Hunts having come to the attention of shady people in the earlier novels.
What helps with this is that the character building, particularly in the case of Skink, is more detailed than in any of the earlier novels. Whereas the antagonists before were largely faceless people and their motivations weren’t entirely clear, this time around Skink has a back story and a previous engagement with the brothers, as well as an aim which is obvious to the reader. Whereas most of the antagonists were animals and so it was difficult for a reader to take sides, with the enemy being human and having the same access to tools and planning as the Hunts, this makes for a more rounded opposition. Whilst Dr. Blake, the scientist they are working with, isn’t quite as detailed, he also has a personality that makes him stand out in a way that some of the other characters hadn’t done earlier.
Whilst this novel edges away from what Price has written before, which may lessen the appeal for those who have been reading his works because of the animal links, overall this is a more well-rounded thriller novel than before. The characterization has broadened and the plots are deeper than before and whilst the early sections of the novel do make more sense if you’ve read the earlier novels, this stands alone better than some of the others, even if the introduction to the boys does seem a bit repetitive if you have read them all. Price’s fast-paced and simple writing is perfect for a thriller novel and the improvements and broadening of Price’s writing up to this point make this one of his best thus far.
April 21, 2020
Underwater Adventure by Willard Price is about the aquatic expedition of brothers Hal and Roger Hunt. The brothers are the sons of John Hunt, a renowned animal collector and they have been sent to the South Seas to collect animals for zoos or scientific purposes. Hal is a wise and intelligent person who does his best to look after his brother. Roger is prankish and impulsive; always wanting to make jokes with his companions. In this book, the teenage boys go diving with their diving instructor and scientist named Dr. Blake. Hal and Roger have never dived before, so after Dr. Blake discovers their ineptness, he decides he needs a more experienced man to help. This brings the arrival of the cowardly S.K. Inkham or Skink, the antagonist of this book.
Early on in the book, you can see Skink's evilness as it unveils. The man has a rather terrible past. Despite Hal's willingness to conceal it, Skink becomes enraged, threatens him and states that Hal is his adversary. Realizing his mistake, Blake buys Skink a ticket for the next leaving plane. The threats from Skink were vicious, but everyone believed he was bluffing nonetheless. I also realize how cowardly the person is. Throughout the book, he tries really hard to kill everyone, with the exception that he never does it himself. He uses lethal animals instead. He places a scorpion in Hal's diving helmet and tricks Blake into being caught by a giant clam. I notice that this a sign of cowardice because he had every chance to stick a knife in his shipmates, yet he was too scared to do so.
This book was a very great read. Price is a great writer. He uses detailed writing to bring the underwater world to life. When reading, I felt like it was kind of a mixture of fiction and non-fiction. Throughout the book, Price gives a lot of facts and information on the types of fish that the brothers encounter with much detail. These facts make the novel even more interesting and are an effective method. Price also does make it too factual to the point where it becomes boring or overwhelming. The only part that I disliked about the book, was the slow plot in the first 1/3 of the story. The conflict between Hal and Skink doesn't escalate at all, making the story a little boring. I also wished that the falling action part of the plot was longer. It builds up for the next book in the series. Though I found it interesting, it was only a few pages and a bit rushed.
I would give the book 4.5 stars. I hope to read the 4th book soon.
Early on in the book, you can see Skink's evilness as it unveils. The man has a rather terrible past. Despite Hal's willingness to conceal it, Skink becomes enraged, threatens him and states that Hal is his adversary. Realizing his mistake, Blake buys Skink a ticket for the next leaving plane. The threats from Skink were vicious, but everyone believed he was bluffing nonetheless. I also realize how cowardly the person is. Throughout the book, he tries really hard to kill everyone, with the exception that he never does it himself. He uses lethal animals instead. He places a scorpion in Hal's diving helmet and tricks Blake into being caught by a giant clam. I notice that this a sign of cowardice because he had every chance to stick a knife in his shipmates, yet he was too scared to do so.
This book was a very great read. Price is a great writer. He uses detailed writing to bring the underwater world to life. When reading, I felt like it was kind of a mixture of fiction and non-fiction. Throughout the book, Price gives a lot of facts and information on the types of fish that the brothers encounter with much detail. These facts make the novel even more interesting and are an effective method. Price also does make it too factual to the point where it becomes boring or overwhelming. The only part that I disliked about the book, was the slow plot in the first 1/3 of the story. The conflict between Hal and Skink doesn't escalate at all, making the story a little boring. I also wished that the falling action part of the plot was longer. It builds up for the next book in the series. Though I found it interesting, it was only a few pages and a bit rushed.
I would give the book 4.5 stars. I hope to read the 4th book soon.
May 10, 2018
Kirja kertoo Hal ja Roger Huntista, jotka ovat työskentelemässä Merentutkimuslaitokselle. He keräävät eläinnäytteitä ja löytävät myös uponneen aarrelaivan. Valitettavasti entinen koulututtu Skink pyrkii koko ajan aiheuttamaan ongelmia, eikä kaihda mitään keinoja.
Pidin kirjasta kovasti, ja se on kestänyt aikaa (julkaistu alunperin 1955). Kirjan ikä näkyy lähinnä siinä, kuinka Price pitää monia mereneläviä lähinnä vaarallisina hirviöinä. Toisaalta hän kuvaa vedenalaista maailmaa häikäisevän kauniisti ja ainakin itse halusin monta kertaa tätä lukiessani matkata Etelämerelle. Oli myös aika huvittavaa, kuinka veljekset parin tunnin koulutuksen jälkeen olivat valmiita tutkimussukeltajia; nykyään sitä varten on käytävä useita kursseja, jotka kestävät yhteensä ainakin vuoden.
Pidin kirjasta kovasti, ja se on kestänyt aikaa (julkaistu alunperin 1955). Kirjan ikä näkyy lähinnä siinä, kuinka Price pitää monia mereneläviä lähinnä vaarallisina hirviöinä. Toisaalta hän kuvaa vedenalaista maailmaa häikäisevän kauniisti ja ainakin itse halusin monta kertaa tätä lukiessani matkata Etelämerelle. Oli myös aika huvittavaa, kuinka veljekset parin tunnin koulutuksen jälkeen olivat valmiita tutkimussukeltajia; nykyään sitä varten on käytävä useita kursseja, jotka kestävät yhteensä ainakin vuoden.
March 28, 2019
One of my favourite books as a young man and doesn't disappoint many years later. A quite superb mystery as this, the third installment, really gathers pace.
Not so concerned this time about collection of animal specimens the boys find themselves in danger from a different foe, the baddy Skint (S K Inkham) who is keen to hijack the whole expedition. 'Accidents' involving diving equipment, shipwrecks and giant clamp all abound, with sad poignant moments sprinkled through as the boys come of age.
The story leads straight to the next book, number 4 of 14, Volcano Adventure. I intend to keep reading the whole series in order. Loved them as a kid and still love them now.
Not so concerned this time about collection of animal specimens the boys find themselves in danger from a different foe, the baddy Skint (S K Inkham) who is keen to hijack the whole expedition. 'Accidents' involving diving equipment, shipwrecks and giant clamp all abound, with sad poignant moments sprinkled through as the boys come of age.
The story leads straight to the next book, number 4 of 14, Volcano Adventure. I intend to keep reading the whole series in order. Loved them as a kid and still love them now.
June 8, 2021
I loved reading this with my kids so much. My dad read it with me & it brought back so many memories now that he has passed away. A fellow Goodreads member helped me figure out the title after me remembering “a book that takes place underwater with a scary eel scene”. Can’t believe how much I remembered while reading! There is non-stop action that my son loved...what’s not to like about sharks, sunken treasure hunting, eels, man-eating clams, suspicious crew mates, revenge, typhoons, and more?!
January 14, 2022
I fell in love with the Willard Price classics when I was a kid and they've stayed with me all my life. I have the collection in the next room, actually, and Underwater Adventure was a particular favourite. I love the way that Willard Price weaves in nature, science and geography into each story without ceding one second of adventure. It's awesome and a style that genuinely inspires my own writing.
April 14, 2018
As far as I know I read all of these, as a child, younger than 10. I've just recorded a representative few here, on goodreads. Loved them at the time, but that's nearly 1/2 a century ago, 1/20th of a millennium ago.
August 18, 2020
- This book was very interesting to read: it had an overall plot, and many different subsections of problems and resolutions, and I also found information about the underwater diving really interesting to read about.
- I would recommend this to anyone who likes adventure or sea diving and wildlife.
- I would recommend this to anyone who likes adventure or sea diving and wildlife.
December 22, 2018
Rated by my 10 year old son. I think when I first read it around 10 I thought that too.
April 30, 2021
Quite informative. Anyway, not a book that I could read in once swift go.
October 14, 2025
Probably doesn’t deserve five stars but was an absolute banger as a kid
December 7, 2025
4.5 stars.
March 27, 2019
Action, adventure, survival, environment, conservation...
I loved these books when I was a kid. At the time, they seemed to border on sci-fi regarding the at-the-time-amazing technology the boys used.
Of course, looking back you can see how these stories are flawed, but I still think they are enjoyable. In fact, it would make for a really interesting middle school science project for children to read one of these books and then compare them with the knowledge of the world and technology we have today.
I loved these books when I was a kid. At the time, they seemed to border on sci-fi regarding the at-the-time-amazing technology the boys used.
Of course, looking back you can see how these stories are flawed, but I still think they are enjoyable. In fact, it would make for a really interesting middle school science project for children to read one of these books and then compare them with the knowledge of the world and technology we have today.
January 6, 2021
I always thought Underwater and Diving Adventure had their titles mixed up, as this third installment is more about the act of diving than the later entry with that title. Published in 1954, this book showcases the then groundbreaking technology of the snorkel, aqualung, and diving bell, referred to here as 'the iron man.' Considering the huge advances in underwater exploration since then, the awe with which the boys handle these familiar contraptions may seem quaint to a modern reader. Saying that, I've never had the guts to go scuba diving myself.
The plot continues the theme of capturing rare specimens for aquaria, but this plays second fiddle to the later conflict over a sunken treasure galleon. The Hunt brothers have been commisioned by a marine biologist of the Oceanographic Institution to study sealife and search for wrecks. As usual there is a surly villain to blight their fun. Although it contains its share of problems, there is a real sense that Price is trying hard to be educational, and the underwater gadgets must have been truly pioneering for their time.
The plot continues the theme of capturing rare specimens for aquaria, but this plays second fiddle to the later conflict over a sunken treasure galleon. The Hunt brothers have been commisioned by a marine biologist of the Oceanographic Institution to study sealife and search for wrecks. As usual there is a surly villain to blight their fun. Although it contains its share of problems, there is a real sense that Price is trying hard to be educational, and the underwater gadgets must have been truly pioneering for their time.
May 4, 2009
Superb adventure story with an excellent villain whose evil acts are devoid of incongruence or incompetence. The dark twist to the narrative, the hunt for the treasure ship and the thrilling denouement mark this book out as one of the two outstanding Price Adventure stories.
January 3, 2019
Another colourfully descriptive adventure in the Pacific Ocean this time with more focus on finding lost treasure than animals. The villain of the story is really obvious and it’s a bit daft that the threat he poses is completely ignored until it’s too late. Good fun though very much of its time.
October 21, 2010
This book is a thriller.
June 12, 2012
Really good already and I am only in the first chapter. Really exciting so far this is a must read in the Adventure series.
November 15, 2018
possibly read in winter 1967
September 29, 2025
A great story and a fantastic trip down memory lane. Although it’s dated, that’s to be expected, I’d still recommend this to younger readers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews