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In Oceans Deep: Courage, Innovation, and Adventure Beneath the Waves
In this masterful account in the spirit of Bill Bryson and Ian Frazier, a longtime deep-sea diver masterfully weaves together the science and history of Earth's last remaining the sea.In an age of unprecedented exploration and innovation, our oceans remain largely unknown, and endlessly full of mystery, danger, beauty, and inspiration. In Oceans Deep celebrates the daring pioneers who tested the limits of what the human body can endure under free divers able to reach 300 feet on a single breath; engineers and scientists who uncovered the secrets of decompression; teenagers who built their own diving gear from discarded boilers and garden hoses in the 1930s; saturation divers who lived under water for weeks at a time in the 1960s; and the trailblazing men who voluntarily breathed experimental gases at pressures sufficient to trigger insanity.Tracing both the little-known history and exciting future of how we travel and study the depths, Streever's captivating journey includes seventeenth-century leather-hulled submarines, their nuclear-powered descendants, a workshop where luxury submersibles are built for billionaire clients, and robots capable of roving unsupervised between continents, revolutionizing access to the ocean.In this far-flung trip to the wild, night-dark place of shipwrecks, trapped submariners, oil wells, innovative technologies, and people willing to risk their lives while challenging the deep, we discover all the adventures our seas have to offer -- and why they are in such dire need of conservation.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 1, 2020
If you're really into diving, you'll get more out of this than I did. I found a entire chapters on the technical aspects of a specific sort of diving rather boring, although the history was often really interesting. Our ignorance of how pressures affect us is as incredible as what people have endured.
The chapters about subs & the various robots were more interesting. I just finished watching "Greyhound" (2020) with Tom Hanks which is about how the U boats took a toll on shipping during WWII in the center of the Atlantic. This gave me a lot more context. The Russian drone with a nuclear bomb in its belly is chilling. I wonder how many we have? I wholeheartedly agreed with the last bit about conservation, but both were far lighter in detail. It was great to hear about the really deep dives, ones that I knew nothing about.
The author isn't particularly exciting, but does have a long history with the sea so he knew his stuff. That said, I managed to get through the entire book. It was well narrated & I did grow up on the ocean, so I had some reference points.
He never once mentioned how the limitations of the senses contributes to some people's fears. I certainly found it in myself. 10' or 20' down, without the ability to see or hear properly in the dark waters of the Long Island Sound had me nervous as a cat in a room full of rockers. On one memorable occasion, I saw a shark & my cousins still tease me occasionally about my ability to run into the boat across water with a pair of tanks, flippers, & a weight belt on. My uncle went down to have a look (Crazy man!) & said it was just a 6' sand shark that wouldn't bother me. Right. It looked a hell of a lot bigger & this was before the movie "Jaws" came out. I didn't go back in the water, yet I'll walk a 3" wide ridge pole 4 stories up with a 30 pound tool belt in bad weather & bend over double or kneel to nail in joists without a qualm. Go figure. I guess we're all different.
Not quite a 4 star read, but I'll round up.
The chapters about subs & the various robots were more interesting. I just finished watching "Greyhound" (2020) with Tom Hanks which is about how the U boats took a toll on shipping during WWII in the center of the Atlantic. This gave me a lot more context. The Russian drone with a nuclear bomb in its belly is chilling. I wonder how many we have? I wholeheartedly agreed with the last bit about conservation, but both were far lighter in detail. It was great to hear about the really deep dives, ones that I knew nothing about.
The author isn't particularly exciting, but does have a long history with the sea so he knew his stuff. That said, I managed to get through the entire book. It was well narrated & I did grow up on the ocean, so I had some reference points.
He never once mentioned how the limitations of the senses contributes to some people's fears. I certainly found it in myself. 10' or 20' down, without the ability to see or hear properly in the dark waters of the Long Island Sound had me nervous as a cat in a room full of rockers. On one memorable occasion, I saw a shark & my cousins still tease me occasionally about my ability to run into the boat across water with a pair of tanks, flippers, & a weight belt on. My uncle went down to have a look (Crazy man!) & said it was just a 6' sand shark that wouldn't bother me. Right. It looked a hell of a lot bigger & this was before the movie "Jaws" came out. I didn't go back in the water, yet I'll walk a 3" wide ridge pole 4 stories up with a 30 pound tool belt in bad weather & bend over double or kneel to nail in joists without a qualm. Go figure. I guess we're all different.
Not quite a 4 star read, but I'll round up.
July 5, 2019
Read this review and others on my blog: https://thriftybibliophile.com
In Oceans Deep by Bill Streever dives deep and explores human innovation beneath the ocean’s waves.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading In Oceans Deep by Bill Streever. The book was interesting, insightful, and kept my interest the whole way through.
Admittedly I knew very little about diving and ocean exploration before picking up this book. I live in the midwest, so when I want to see an ocean, I have to hop in a plane or go for a very long car ride. That said, I’m always up to learning about new topics. I think the ocean is fascinating, especially the areas we have yet to explore.
Bill Streever did a wonderful job introducing the topic of ocean exploration! He covered everything from early ocean explorers diving into the Challenger Deep, to scuba diving, to free diving. Every topic included intriguing anecdotes, which complemented the science and history in the book. In Oceans Deep had all the potential in the world to be dry and yawn-inducing, but it wasn’t. Far from, in fact! Once I picked up In Oceans Deep, I didn’t want to put it down.
I think the most interesting topic in the book was free diving. I had never even heard of free diving before reading this book, and I have to say, free divers are intense! Free diving doesn’t involve fancy equipment or luxury gases. Free diving is all about diving to depth on a single breath. The way down is all fun and games, but on the way up when a free diver’s body is screaming for oxygen, it’s not uncommon to pass out. Yikes! Any hobby that involves the potential for losing consciousness is a big nope for me, but I enjoyed learning about it!
My second favorite topic covered in the book was decompression sickness. Our bodies struggle with quick changes in pressure, especially when sucking in compressed air. If a scuba diver rises too quickly to the surface after a dive, nitrogen doesn’t have time to leave the body. The remaining nitrogen bubbles in their blood, which causes pain and discomfort, and in its most extreme, can even lead to death. Crazy, right?
If you’ve ever wanted to know what goes on under the ocean and how human innovation has changed how we explore the oceans, check out In Oceans Deep by Bill Streever!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the Kindle version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In Oceans Deep by Bill Streever dives deep and explores human innovation beneath the ocean’s waves.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading In Oceans Deep by Bill Streever. The book was interesting, insightful, and kept my interest the whole way through.
Admittedly I knew very little about diving and ocean exploration before picking up this book. I live in the midwest, so when I want to see an ocean, I have to hop in a plane or go for a very long car ride. That said, I’m always up to learning about new topics. I think the ocean is fascinating, especially the areas we have yet to explore.
Bill Streever did a wonderful job introducing the topic of ocean exploration! He covered everything from early ocean explorers diving into the Challenger Deep, to scuba diving, to free diving. Every topic included intriguing anecdotes, which complemented the science and history in the book. In Oceans Deep had all the potential in the world to be dry and yawn-inducing, but it wasn’t. Far from, in fact! Once I picked up In Oceans Deep, I didn’t want to put it down.
I think the most interesting topic in the book was free diving. I had never even heard of free diving before reading this book, and I have to say, free divers are intense! Free diving doesn’t involve fancy equipment or luxury gases. Free diving is all about diving to depth on a single breath. The way down is all fun and games, but on the way up when a free diver’s body is screaming for oxygen, it’s not uncommon to pass out. Yikes! Any hobby that involves the potential for losing consciousness is a big nope for me, but I enjoyed learning about it!
My second favorite topic covered in the book was decompression sickness. Our bodies struggle with quick changes in pressure, especially when sucking in compressed air. If a scuba diver rises too quickly to the surface after a dive, nitrogen doesn’t have time to leave the body. The remaining nitrogen bubbles in their blood, which causes pain and discomfort, and in its most extreme, can even lead to death. Crazy, right?
If you’ve ever wanted to know what goes on under the ocean and how human innovation has changed how we explore the oceans, check out In Oceans Deep by Bill Streever!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the Kindle version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2021
Although I have zero interest in diving myself, I find it fascinating to read about. Streever has an engaging style and I will seek out his other books.
January 14, 2020
This is a good history of underwater exploration and the issues that has faced over the centuries. Though it's discussed by topic rather than being a chronological history, it covers ancient sponge divers right up to modern robotics and autonomous underwater vehicles.
It falls apart a bit at the end as Bill Streever tries to draw a conclusion to the book. The author wanders into discussions of which underwater pioneers he'd failed to contact and draws few conclusions beyond the peril to the future of the oceans. Illustrations and photos, all in black and white are also a bit of a disappointment.
For those interested in more sub-surface history, Streever's notes at the end of the book are interesting and valuable.
It falls apart a bit at the end as Bill Streever tries to draw a conclusion to the book. The author wanders into discussions of which underwater pioneers he'd failed to contact and draws few conclusions beyond the peril to the future of the oceans. Illustrations and photos, all in black and white are also a bit of a disappointment.
For those interested in more sub-surface history, Streever's notes at the end of the book are interesting and valuable.
July 31, 2019
A wonderful detailed story of all sorts of different underwater activities, concentrating on the more extreme end of diving rather than scuba. As a scuba diver, marathon runner, and person who particularly likes picking up odd skills and competing against myself, I was particularly fascinated by the parts about pushing human experience through things like skin diving and what humans are able to do with technical diving.
September 6, 2025
I want to say I liked this book- it is the exact kind of book I really like. But I just... didn't. It took me a long time and I feel like I had to force myself. The delivery of the entire book is just SO draining. It covers many very exciting and fascinating topics and sucks out all of my enthusiasm to hear about them. Several of the stories are better told elsewhere by other authors. I will admit that I did enjoy the mentions of greek bell diving, the new Russian AOV tech, and the studies of hemoglobin in freediving, but these were really the only parts of the book I found compelling. Excitement was rare and surrounded by a lot of chaff.
In summary, if you are looking for books about the ocean this one isn't terrible is certainly not the first I'd recommend.
In summary, if you are looking for books about the ocean this one isn't terrible is certainly not the first I'd recommend.
September 11, 2024
This book was a lot of fun, and inspiring. I didn’t enjoy the last two chapters, didn’t feel much was happening just stating facts about technology trying to do interviews.
I loved the beginning about the history or diving and submarines. I especially enjoyed the explanation of Boyle’s law and how it is applied to diving. I can’t get that out of my head, and I want to explore that more. the beginning of the book was very inspiring and lit a spark.
I loved the beginning about the history or diving and submarines. I especially enjoyed the explanation of Boyle’s law and how it is applied to diving. I can’t get that out of my head, and I want to explore that more. the beginning of the book was very inspiring and lit a spark.
March 4, 2020
Has inspired me to try free diving! Fascinating book.
February 26, 2023
The beginning was slightly dry with all the discussion of the physics behind pressure and diving.
May 3, 2024
This book isn’t for everyone but as a previous recreational scuba diver I found it to be very interesting and informative. The history of diving equipment and the aspects of free diving are presented in great detail. The focus is not on conservation but space exploration vs ocean exploration is addressed in a rational manner while presenting the value and need for both.
September 17, 2019
In some ways, this book reminds me of Her Name, Titanic by the immensely talented and brilliant Charles Pellegrino, which is one of my favourite explorations of the depths of the ocean and the depths of space. In it, Pellegrino marvels at how little we know about the earth’s water, what myserious creatures might live at the bottom, where it’s darker than pitch, darker than midnight.
With In Oceans Deep, Streever skillfully outlines the same thesis – that human beings have long focused upward, aiming for the stars, and ignored the wonderland of discovery that exists in the oceans, those uncharted territories and little touched blue deserts.
From the synopsis:
I knew little about free diving before beginning this book, and while the scientific methods behind it (which I think Streever spends a bit too much time on) are of little interest to me personally, the limits that people will push their bodies to was fascinating. These free divers “welcome” the convulsions of their diaphragms, fighting to breathe, spit out blood on the surface from lungs on the verge of crushing, and follow lines into the dark, anxious for that next personal record, or world-breaking depth. It’s dangerous, to be sure, but it’s also a testament to how far human beings will go in the name of exploration and the testing of the body.
With captivating prose and an obvious love for his subject, Streever outlines the ways that we’ve studied the oceans from time immemorial, and the ways we’ve studied how far our bodies – and our machines – can go before they’re broken beneath the crushing weight of water.
It reminds me of mountaineers, tagging peaks and pushing beyond the realms of endurance, to breathe the thinnest air imaginable, while standing on the roofs of the world. It’s these kinds of people who find out what it means to be human, and find out what it means to discover. To stand or go where no one else has been, or where few have been, it must be the ultimate high. Whether they survive or not is almost beside the point – it’s what they come to know, sitting in a tiny submersible, touching the earth six miles down, in the Challenger Deep, where monsters may live.
Where their dreams live, and go on, to the next – the next depth, the next mountain, the next star. The next flicker in the unknown, reminding them what it means to be alive.
With In Oceans Deep, Streever skillfully outlines the same thesis – that human beings have long focused upward, aiming for the stars, and ignored the wonderland of discovery that exists in the oceans, those uncharted territories and little touched blue deserts.
From the synopsis:
In Oceans Deep celebrates the daring pioneers who tested the limits of what the human body can endure under water: free divers able to reach 300 feet on a single breath; engineers and scientists who uncovered the secrets of decompression; teenagers who built their own diving gear from discarded boilers and garden hoses in the 1930s; saturation divers who lived under water for weeks at a time in the 1960s; and the trailblazing men who voluntarily breathed experimental gases at pressures sufficient to trigger insanity.
Tracing both the little-known history and exciting future of how we travel and study the depths, Streever’s captivating journey includes seventeenth-century leather-hulled submarines, their nuclear-powered descendants, a workshop where luxury submersibles are built for billionaire clients, and robots capable of roving unsupervised between continents, revolutionizing access to the ocean.
I knew little about free diving before beginning this book, and while the scientific methods behind it (which I think Streever spends a bit too much time on) are of little interest to me personally, the limits that people will push their bodies to was fascinating. These free divers “welcome” the convulsions of their diaphragms, fighting to breathe, spit out blood on the surface from lungs on the verge of crushing, and follow lines into the dark, anxious for that next personal record, or world-breaking depth. It’s dangerous, to be sure, but it’s also a testament to how far human beings will go in the name of exploration and the testing of the body.
With captivating prose and an obvious love for his subject, Streever outlines the ways that we’ve studied the oceans from time immemorial, and the ways we’ve studied how far our bodies – and our machines – can go before they’re broken beneath the crushing weight of water.
It reminds me of mountaineers, tagging peaks and pushing beyond the realms of endurance, to breathe the thinnest air imaginable, while standing on the roofs of the world. It’s these kinds of people who find out what it means to be human, and find out what it means to discover. To stand or go where no one else has been, or where few have been, it must be the ultimate high. Whether they survive or not is almost beside the point – it’s what they come to know, sitting in a tiny submersible, touching the earth six miles down, in the Challenger Deep, where monsters may live.
Where their dreams live, and go on, to the next – the next depth, the next mountain, the next star. The next flicker in the unknown, reminding them what it means to be alive.
March 4, 2019
An excellent thought provoking read. I actually held my breath while reading this book just out of curiosity to see how long I could, I think I made it to one minute. I can't imagine diving to over a 100 feet and then surfacing on one breath.
August 10, 2019
Fascinating stories about the development of underwater exploration. I don't read much nonfiction now. But this book kept me interested throughout as the author explained the problems and attempted (sometimes not successfully) solutions to going deeper in the ocean.
January 20, 2022
Eh. This was just okay. Kind of a strange mix of memoir, history, and science, but without enough focus to make that combination of things work instead of just feeling a bit random. There are flashes of interesting things here - deep-sea diving, submarines, and the whole world of aquatic explorers and daredevils is really cool and I did enjoy learning more about the history of deep-sea exploration and the modern worlds of saturation diving and free diving. But as a whole, things just didn't really cohere enough for me to really get into it.
Also as an aside - and this is 100% a me problem not a problem with the book - but turns out the physiology of diving is kind of grotesque and the portions of the book that focused on that were rough. Also the in-depth descriptions of the desperate-for-air feelings you get when free diving spiked my anxiety through the roof and made me want to crawl out of my own skin :) so no diving for me i guess lmao but we knew that
Also as an aside - and this is 100% a me problem not a problem with the book - but turns out the physiology of diving is kind of grotesque and the portions of the book that focused on that were rough. Also the in-depth descriptions of the desperate-for-air feelings you get when free diving spiked my anxiety through the roof and made me want to crawl out of my own skin :) so no diving for me i guess lmao but we knew that
September 30, 2019
I have to tip my cap to Bill Steever for writing what has to be one of the most unique books of the year. I could say it was about exploring the ocean but that would be a total misstatement about the book. This was an examination of humanity's attempt to see what was below the surface. The ways and means by which we have dived to the waves below and how we have tried to settle under it (if somewhat experimental) were fascinating to me. The memories of Don Walsh and his contributions to science are once again brought to their rightful forefront. Lastly, the history of deep diving as well as the attempts to break world records for unaided diving contribute to a fascinating story.
Please put this on your list as a must read book!
Please put this on your list as a must read book!
October 10, 2019
Overall, this was a very interesting book. I entered to win an ARC since I enjoy nonfiction on a variety of topics. Admittedly, I knew very little about deep sea diving, so this was an interesting read and I learned a lot of new things. The book started out very engaging, and I was fascinated and entertained. Somewhere in the middle, the author lost momentum for a bit. He picked it back up toward the end, and I was looking forward to a strong finish, but unfortunately it was not there. Even in the slow parts, however, there were still interesting anecdotes and facts. The book is definitely worth a read.
October 15, 2019
It has been awhile since I've read a nonfiction book but In Oceans Deep by Bill Streever did not disappoint. It was a wild and informative ride about a topic I had little knowledge of. When I picked out this book, despite my fascination with the ocean, I could see it was a topic that could easily be a hit or miss for me.
Streever does an excellent job of introducing the reader to the topic of deep-diving and with a penchant for story-telling, it's a smooth transition between an anecdote to the cold, hard facts of history. The book is divided into seven chapters, all covering a range of topics from decompression to saturation to manned vehicles and even robots.
I flew through this book but that's not to say it was a short read by any means. It is a lengthy book jam packed with information and visuals (mostly from Creative Commons) showcasing old newspaper clippings, photographs or even prototypes of the first diving gear created for the use of deep-diving.
There were two topics that spoke to me from the entire book. The decompression chambers, how the Bends started up, what the pressure changes did to the human body and the solutions humans eventually came up with to resolve it. The other topic was scattered about several chapters and it was in reference to saturation and nitrogen narcosis. I found the following quote of interest "....narcosis that made men breathing air see railroad tracks and trains and mermaids and monsters at much shallower depths." but I think there wasn't a single bit from this book that I found myself pulled away from.
It was eerie and frightening the fact that so many deep-divers dived only to never resurface and that the body was never recovered. Death is always a possibility when taking up a hobby so dangerous but the author painted both sides of the spectrum, clear as water. He did not skim over the grimly details and unfortunate accidents but he also presented the idea that some divers are not in it just for fame or the competitive heat. Streever describes reaching a sort of meditative state powerful enough to challenge the risks associated with deep-diving.
The negatives were not grand but they were worth of mention. The author's passion for interviews at times seems persistence bordering on stalking, in particular, I agree with his own words in that last chapter and the bit about obsessing over submarine jokes and trying to get Navy personnel to share some with him seems a bit childish and off-putting concerning the seriousness of the topic discussed. Granted, I did enjoy the jokes he did chose toward the end of that chapter.
The negatives did not overshadow the positives and I would recommend this book to any ocean or nonfiction enthusiast. This book is perfect even for those that are just getting into the topic of deep-diving or that occasionally enjoy topic-hopping like I do.
.
.
.
Thank you to Netgalley for supplying the kindle version of this ARC in exchange for a review but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Streever does an excellent job of introducing the reader to the topic of deep-diving and with a penchant for story-telling, it's a smooth transition between an anecdote to the cold, hard facts of history. The book is divided into seven chapters, all covering a range of topics from decompression to saturation to manned vehicles and even robots.
I flew through this book but that's not to say it was a short read by any means. It is a lengthy book jam packed with information and visuals (mostly from Creative Commons) showcasing old newspaper clippings, photographs or even prototypes of the first diving gear created for the use of deep-diving.
There were two topics that spoke to me from the entire book. The decompression chambers, how the Bends started up, what the pressure changes did to the human body and the solutions humans eventually came up with to resolve it. The other topic was scattered about several chapters and it was in reference to saturation and nitrogen narcosis. I found the following quote of interest "....narcosis that made men breathing air see railroad tracks and trains and mermaids and monsters at much shallower depths." but I think there wasn't a single bit from this book that I found myself pulled away from.
It was eerie and frightening the fact that so many deep-divers dived only to never resurface and that the body was never recovered. Death is always a possibility when taking up a hobby so dangerous but the author painted both sides of the spectrum, clear as water. He did not skim over the grimly details and unfortunate accidents but he also presented the idea that some divers are not in it just for fame or the competitive heat. Streever describes reaching a sort of meditative state powerful enough to challenge the risks associated with deep-diving.
The negatives were not grand but they were worth of mention. The author's passion for interviews at times seems persistence bordering on stalking, in particular, I agree with his own words in that last chapter and the bit about obsessing over submarine jokes and trying to get Navy personnel to share some with him seems a bit childish and off-putting concerning the seriousness of the topic discussed. Granted, I did enjoy the jokes he did chose toward the end of that chapter.
The negatives did not overshadow the positives and I would recommend this book to any ocean or nonfiction enthusiast. This book is perfect even for those that are just getting into the topic of deep-diving or that occasionally enjoy topic-hopping like I do.
.
.
.
Thank you to Netgalley for supplying the kindle version of this ARC in exchange for a review but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 24, 2019
This was a well written book mainly about diving to the deepest depths of the ocean. It begins with one of the deepest dives any human has accomplished, down to the bottom of the the Challenger Deep, in the Mariana Trench at just over 35,700 feet deep, in 1960. The mission was done by the US Navy the one time and would not repeated. Missions like this then ceased..
The book covers the how this dive and other deep dives are accomplished, without getting very technical. Streever interviews one of the men on this dive, Don Walsh, and also other people who work in the diving industry. Streever himself used to work as a diver for an oil company then went back to school and became a writer. A large part of the book talks, not of his work in his earlier days, but instead of his experience as a free diver. Where the goal is to get as deep as possible on one breath. Ironically this is usually accomplished by exhaling as you sink instead of holding your breath.
Streever covers submarines, submersibles, ROVs, robots, scuba diving, different gasses that people breath at great depths, and of course the problems that are associated with being deep in the oceans. We also get the history of how it was figured out to combat decompression sickness, known as the bends. It all written in an engaging way, which made it absorbing and informative. We also learn briefly about the few attempts to have a colony on the ocean floor.
So why not a full five star rating if I enjoyed the book, and like the writing so well? A couple of minor aspects reduced it for me, one being something like what I did right here, where the author talks about the book writing process in the book. It was somewhat awkward, near the end of the book where he discusses how he shifted the ending and writing. The other part was there wasn't enough about how to help fix the problems that affect the oceans now. Streever reluctantly mentions conservation and the environmental damage being done. It seems an important aspect when the book is all about the ocean. It is doubtful that just by having people aware of the ocean, by being in it, will suddenly have them changing their ways. It hasn't worked on land so why would it happen if more people start diving?
Regardless of those points, I would highly recommend this book for anyone who likes a little history, with narratives and a bit of science and technology thrown in.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
The book covers the how this dive and other deep dives are accomplished, without getting very technical. Streever interviews one of the men on this dive, Don Walsh, and also other people who work in the diving industry. Streever himself used to work as a diver for an oil company then went back to school and became a writer. A large part of the book talks, not of his work in his earlier days, but instead of his experience as a free diver. Where the goal is to get as deep as possible on one breath. Ironically this is usually accomplished by exhaling as you sink instead of holding your breath.
Streever covers submarines, submersibles, ROVs, robots, scuba diving, different gasses that people breath at great depths, and of course the problems that are associated with being deep in the oceans. We also get the history of how it was figured out to combat decompression sickness, known as the bends. It all written in an engaging way, which made it absorbing and informative. We also learn briefly about the few attempts to have a colony on the ocean floor.
So why not a full five star rating if I enjoyed the book, and like the writing so well? A couple of minor aspects reduced it for me, one being something like what I did right here, where the author talks about the book writing process in the book. It was somewhat awkward, near the end of the book where he discusses how he shifted the ending and writing. The other part was there wasn't enough about how to help fix the problems that affect the oceans now. Streever reluctantly mentions conservation and the environmental damage being done. It seems an important aspect when the book is all about the ocean. It is doubtful that just by having people aware of the ocean, by being in it, will suddenly have them changing their ways. It hasn't worked on land so why would it happen if more people start diving?
Regardless of those points, I would highly recommend this book for anyone who likes a little history, with narratives and a bit of science and technology thrown in.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
June 13, 2020
Mix it up in the books we read. I was drawn to this for the title and cover alone. As we have heard countless times, we know more about the moon than the oceans on Earth. Bill Streever is an eager
adventure biologist who writes well.
I liked this book-solid three star.
Most reviews talk of Streever's new obsession, free diving. His second chapter, all on this subject, goes, can I say, too...deep...? If one wants to grab hold of a weighted sled and sink real quick 300 feet down on one breath of air-go for it. All that to spit up blood on the surface? I was glad when this portion of the book was over. I could breathe normally again.
The other chapters are everything oceanic and watery. The reader tags along as he shops for his new toy, a ROV-Remotely Operated Vehicle-think underwater drone. Next we tour a massive 560 foot long ballistic missile submarine. At each turn, Streever asks for sub jokes. The sheepish, mildly irritated crew has none to offer.
Speaking of submarines, he flies to Breda, The Netherlands to see the world's leading builder of personal subs, U-Boat Worx. Now, this is cool. You and a, hopefully, close partner can slither down hundreds of meters in your own sports submarine. At least check out the action packed colorful (lots of blue, right?) website of U-Boat Worx.
So, back to the title. I think it would make a fun summer selection, say...as a beach read?
adventure biologist who writes well.
I liked this book-solid three star.
Most reviews talk of Streever's new obsession, free diving. His second chapter, all on this subject, goes, can I say, too...deep...? If one wants to grab hold of a weighted sled and sink real quick 300 feet down on one breath of air-go for it. All that to spit up blood on the surface? I was glad when this portion of the book was over. I could breathe normally again.
The other chapters are everything oceanic and watery. The reader tags along as he shops for his new toy, a ROV-Remotely Operated Vehicle-think underwater drone. Next we tour a massive 560 foot long ballistic missile submarine. At each turn, Streever asks for sub jokes. The sheepish, mildly irritated crew has none to offer.
Speaking of submarines, he flies to Breda, The Netherlands to see the world's leading builder of personal subs, U-Boat Worx. Now, this is cool. You and a, hopefully, close partner can slither down hundreds of meters in your own sports submarine. At least check out the action packed colorful (lots of blue, right?) website of U-Boat Worx.
So, back to the title. I think it would make a fun summer selection, say...as a beach read?
July 23, 2019
“I realized that what I had to write could no be limited to diving in the conventional sense out instead would tackle what I came to think as humanity presence beneath the waves. “
Bill Sheever tackles the topic of the ocean from the history of not only the ocean exploration but human's presence in the ocean's deep from the beginning of freediving and the first small manned submarines to the current explores and exploration. You can see the love that Mr. Sheever has for the oceans, ocean exploration and human interaction with the ocean and his knowledge of this topic and a deep understanding that only comes from the experience of years of doing exactly what he is writing about. His knowledge and understanding of the ocean and human exploration make this science and history in his writing more fact than fiction and his sharing those experiences allows the reader to go along with him and the other ocean explores in this book. I recommend this book for both teachers, students or even non-academic with interest in the past and presence of ocean exploration, oceanography or even ocean archaeology. The resource information alone in this book is a worthwhile investment and allows you to expand the knowledge you already have in the field of ocean exploration.
Bill Sheever tackles the topic of the ocean from the history of not only the ocean exploration but human's presence in the ocean's deep from the beginning of freediving and the first small manned submarines to the current explores and exploration. You can see the love that Mr. Sheever has for the oceans, ocean exploration and human interaction with the ocean and his knowledge of this topic and a deep understanding that only comes from the experience of years of doing exactly what he is writing about. His knowledge and understanding of the ocean and human exploration make this science and history in his writing more fact than fiction and his sharing those experiences allows the reader to go along with him and the other ocean explores in this book. I recommend this book for both teachers, students or even non-academic with interest in the past and presence of ocean exploration, oceanography or even ocean archaeology. The resource information alone in this book is a worthwhile investment and allows you to expand the knowledge you already have in the field of ocean exploration.
September 18, 2020
This was one of the most interesting books I’ve read in a long time. My mouth dropped open often while reading & quite a few times I found myself inadvertently exclaiming “what!!! That’s so cool!!” aloud to myself. To enjoy this novel, one must have a certain fascination with the ocean, and must be gripped by the synopsis provided for the book. If you’ve got both of those things—go for it! The author covers free diving, submarines, saturation diving...each chapter on a new area of oceanic exploration. Exciting/mindblowing facts packed in, humorous interviews, and sweet themes woven throughout that tie it all together. I rolled over in bed what probably amounted to 50 or 60 times to read excerpts to my roommate—who was equally as fascinated. Who *knew* about some of the crazy stuff that goes on below the waves. What a niche area to have knowledge about via reading. This author fully nerded out on each topic, but in an accessible and understandable way. What a book. Intrigued to read his other works.
June 4, 2019
This is the story of people going very deep into the ocean. The book starts in the 1960s. While NASA was getting ready to go to the moon a small group of Navy-men and scientists sent a submersible to the deepest part of the sea (the navy called to cancel the mission as too risky just as they were going under-they pretended to not get the order in time). And no one has been back until very recently. We have more experience exploring space than the ocean. The author wants to change that and he did a good job of getting me interested. Lost nuclear bombs, Jules Verne looking sea suits, folks that can go 100s of feet under on only a breath, underwater robots searching for the lost Malaysian airliner, and on and on. I'd like to learn more, but the movie Jaws freaked me out as a kid, so I'll just read about the deep instead of taking the plunge. Thanks to the publisher and goodreads for the free copy.
September 26, 2019
This book is fantastic when it sticks to its stated topic: diving, history, science, and technology. I learned so much and was so captivated by the stories and speculation. Where this book falters for me is where the author inserts his own ego and mean-spirited observations into the mix; commenting on a random woman's tattoos that has no bearing on the subject, disparaging more than once the perceived physical fitness of others, etc. Dude, no one cares that you think you're in better shape than Navy sailors on a submarine. I'd love to find a book similar to this one but without the snide commentary, or with commentary that actually adds to the story.
September 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It is written in a nice narrative style with a fair amount of subtle humor to help break up the large amount of data and facts regarding all aspects of humans exploring and enjoying the depths of the ocean. Very up to date and very well researched. I was in grade school when Trieste descended to 36,000 feet and it was a pleasure to recall that feat so many years later. More importantly, I was pleased to read about the advances since then, for better or for worse as well as learning about the history of free diving, submarines, and submersibles. No topic was dwelt upon too much in my opinion and the author's own experiences added much to the topics.
September 12, 2021
A wide ranging collection of essays? articles? dealing with beneath the waves. I found some extremely interesting, others not so much and I skimmed over them. The stuff on scuba diving I skimmed over; I've never scuba dived. Possibly, for a diver, it would be more interesting. Submarines and robotics I found more interesting, as well as the geology of the oceans' floors. The part on free diving, I skimmed over. The book gets a bit preachy at the conclusion, railing about climate change and the proclivity of our civilization to treat the oceans as a garbage dump. Although, I agree with most of what the author wrote here.
September 25, 2023
I have had an interest in diving for all of my life. When I saw this title I thought it might be too trifling for a very experienced diver like myself. Not counting the Navy Dive Manual I have no less than ten serious books in my library on the subject of underwater exploration. I was wrong. Although written for a layperson, Streever does an excellent job of explaining the subject, telling stories, and interviewing the most interesting people in the field. This book will now be on my bookshelf right along with such authors as Hans Hass and James Dugan. Five Stars for his extensive research and his captivating writing style.
September 16, 2024
Bill Streever has written another excellent book that combines history, the natural world and his own experiences. This one is about diving and ocean exploration.
It is divided into topics: descending with submersibles, free diving, saturation diving, submersibles and rovers (robots). There is a plethora of historical information, and some science about pressure and the biology of breathing.
Bill Streever writes in such an intersting manner that the science is easy to understand. He throws in his personal experiences, both as a diver, including free diving, and as an author trying to find the correct people to interview.
I highly recommend this book!
It is divided into topics: descending with submersibles, free diving, saturation diving, submersibles and rovers (robots). There is a plethora of historical information, and some science about pressure and the biology of breathing.
Bill Streever writes in such an intersting manner that the science is easy to understand. He throws in his personal experiences, both as a diver, including free diving, and as an author trying to find the correct people to interview.
I highly recommend this book!
July 23, 2025
I have a considerable fear of the ocean, but I also find it so very interesting. So, reading this was a good way for me to, in a sense, explore something that I would never be able to explore myself in person. Streever covers diving in depth here (pun fully intended), from the history of various diving apparatus to the health risks and dangers to environmental conservation, and much more in between. I was particularly taken with the leaps in advancement that diving made from purely holding breath to helmet diving, all the challenges faced and the discovery of the bends and all that came with it.
July 28, 2019
This is a wonderful book by Bill Streever. Gives a very good insight into diving in the deep. I have always been interested in the ocean and was curious how this book would be I was not dissapointed. I was able to understand what was written and enjoy learning more about diving and the equipment and people that do this. If you are interested in under the ocean this book is really worth reading. It kept my attention from start to finish. Would recommend this to others.
October 4, 2024
Enjoyable book. I found the sections on free diving informative and fascinating. It’s only reinforced my desire to never engage in that sport. I enjoyed the discussion of the cutting edge of technological underwater exploration and research, though I’ll admit the endless details about ROVs got rather dull. All in all, a nice read, enriched by the author’s own perspective as a diver himself.
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