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Dangerous Shallows: In Search of the Ghost Ships of Cape Cod
Dangerous Shallows tells the story of a quest to solve maritime cold-cases. The odyssey takes the reader along for a moment-by-moment look at the events surrounding the loss of a dozen different ships, and includes the stories of discovering their wrecks and learning about the final hours of each of these ships.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2020
9 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Eric Takakjian
3 books2 followersCaptain Eric Takakjian a professional mariner has been sailing ships and oceangoing tugboats to various corners of the world since 1978. Presently Captain Takakjian is employed aboard an ocean going Articulated Tug Barge unit (ATB) operating in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. He and his wife Lori owned and operated the research vessel QUEST for 17 years, conducting oceanographic and shipwreck research in the North East United States and outer continental shelf waters.
Captain Eric has conducted extensive historical research on New England shipwrecks. Since 1985 captain Eric and his team have conducted expeditions resulting in the location and exploration over 70 previously undiscovered shipwrecks in the waters around New England and outer continental shelf waters. A diver since 1972 and an avid shipwreck diver since 1975. Captain Eric has been a fellow of the Explorers Club since 1997, is a member of the Board of Directors of The Steamship Historical Society of America, and is an associate member of the Boston Sea Rovers.
Captain Eric has conducted extensive historical research on New England shipwrecks. Since 1985 captain Eric and his team have conducted expeditions resulting in the location and exploration over 70 previously undiscovered shipwrecks in the waters around New England and outer continental shelf waters. A diver since 1972 and an avid shipwreck diver since 1975. Captain Eric has been a fellow of the Explorers Club since 1997, is a member of the Board of Directors of The Steamship Historical Society of America, and is an associate member of the Boston Sea Rovers.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 11, 2020
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
The narrative switches between diving stories of going to shipwrecks and what you find there, to the stories of how those same ships sank. The sinking stories are truly chilling! The author keeps the tension and has put a lot into researching the histories of those ships.
There is also quite a lot about the daily life of the divers. How dangerous it actually is to dive, and what you can die from.Also, the drama that comes with finding a new wreck and how some people will backstab you to learn where it is. Then there is a lot of background on some really famous diving sites, sunken ships and u-boats, their histories and even some photos. All of this stuff that a layman would absolutely not know.
The book is extensive on detail - however, if you're not a big sailing / diving / ship history buff, you may find it a little tedious to read.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
The narrative switches between diving stories of going to shipwrecks and what you find there, to the stories of how those same ships sank. The sinking stories are truly chilling! The author keeps the tension and has put a lot into researching the histories of those ships.
There is also quite a lot about the daily life of the divers. How dangerous it actually is to dive, and what you can die from.Also, the drama that comes with finding a new wreck and how some people will backstab you to learn where it is. Then there is a lot of background on some really famous diving sites, sunken ships and u-boats, their histories and even some photos. All of this stuff that a layman would absolutely not know.
The book is extensive on detail - however, if you're not a big sailing / diving / ship history buff, you may find it a little tedious to read.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
May 21, 2020
What an amazing book! Undersea archaeology is one of those pursuits that probably a lot of us would like to take up, but few of us have the know how (or the ability) to pursue. So settle down here to explore some fabulous wrecks, enthralling stories and a heap of history too. Well written and expertly descriptive, "Dangerous Shallows" doesn't quite take you to the bottom of the sea, but it's close!
November 3, 2019
4 stars
As a child I sat in front of the television entranced by Lloyd Bridges as Mike Nelson on Sea Hunt. Then Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea came out and I was glued to my set every week. I have always been fascinated with underwater adventures, diving and so on. And then there was Jacques Cousteau...I studied marine biology for it was my dream to join Mr. Cousteau. But life intruded. I still catch every documentary I can.
I loved this book and read every word, including the foreword and epilogue.
Mr. Takakjian explained many things to me, including the new mixed gas combinations that enables the divers to go deeper and other technical things that I wondered about, but never had someone describe them so well.
I like the way he blended his current narrative with flashbacks to the actual wrecks. It was very well done. I admire his and his friends' bravery, but thought them a little foolhardy at times. I was a very good book and I went to Amazon and his website to look for other books written by Mr. Takakjian.
As a child I sat in front of the television entranced by Lloyd Bridges as Mike Nelson on Sea Hunt. Then Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea came out and I was glued to my set every week. I have always been fascinated with underwater adventures, diving and so on. And then there was Jacques Cousteau...I studied marine biology for it was my dream to join Mr. Cousteau. But life intruded. I still catch every documentary I can.
I loved this book and read every word, including the foreword and epilogue.
Mr. Takakjian explained many things to me, including the new mixed gas combinations that enables the divers to go deeper and other technical things that I wondered about, but never had someone describe them so well.
I like the way he blended his current narrative with flashbacks to the actual wrecks. It was very well done. I admire his and his friends' bravery, but thought them a little foolhardy at times. I was a very good book and I went to Amazon and his website to look for other books written by Mr. Takakjian.
March 12, 2020
AUTHORS
Find out more about Eric Takakjian on his linkedin page here. He can be found on Boston Sea Rovers here. Finally you can find some information on Eric at Doug Grad Literary Agency, Inc. here.
You can find some information on Randall at Doug Grad Literary Agency, Inc. here. Randall Peffer gives a 90 second video biography here.
WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE
This book is for everyone. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a sailor, a diver, a history buff, an adventurer, or you just like a good thriller; this book has it all.
SYNOPSIS
Dangerous Shallows: In Search of The Ghost Ships of Cape Cod is a superbly written book that grips the reader from the very onset. Eric Takakjian takes the reader from the earliest of times in relation to diving techniques to modern mixed gasses. He intersperses his experiences with spellbinding tales of sunken ships and the events that led up to their tragic fates.
Eric explains in terms that are easy to understand all of the intricacies of diving and especially deep diving. He guides us through the uses of mixed gas to get to exceptionally deep wrecks and the troubles associated with each dive. He brings into view the price of miscalculation and bad circumstance and the lethal effects associated with deep diving. Intermixed is his own journey as a USCG crewman through his marriage and operating his own dive company while looking for those “virgin” wrecks.
Dangerous Shallows covers a myriad of different vessels and reasons for their current predicaments. The wrecks that Eric explores cover centuries of accidents, war, and depression. He takes the time to relate to the reader exactly what he sees and feels as he dives the wrecks. While swimming over the wrecks, he takes the reader back in time and makes the reader feel as if they are there for each vessel’s demise. The reader can feel the panic, the elation, the fear, or the determination of the people associated with each vessel.
Included within the book are the stories of his own trials and tribulations. He talks about the hardships keeping “virgin” wreck locations secret and the betrayal of “friends” who want to use his work for their own gains. He explains the research he, his wife, and friends undertake to locate and find each lost vessel. Eric describes the dangers each particular dive has; from currents, to sharks, to visibility issues, to the “bends.”
The author interfuses pictures and illustrations throughout the book. The color and black and white photos enhance the readers perceptions of the boats and the wrecks. Some of the photos are historic as are the schematics.
CONCLUSION
This book is thrilling, mysterious, and intriguing. Even if you don’t know much about diving and especially deep diving, this book easily explains the terms and conditions. The stories of the individual wrecks are told in vivid detail. The reader can easily feel as if they are right there with him on this journey of discovery. I heartily recommend this book for everyone.
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Eric Takakjian and Randall Peffer, NetGalley, and Lyons Press for affording me the opportunity to review Dangerous Shallows: In Search of the Ghost Ships of Cape Cod.
Find out more about Eric Takakjian on his linkedin page here. He can be found on Boston Sea Rovers here. Finally you can find some information on Eric at Doug Grad Literary Agency, Inc. here.
You can find some information on Randall at Doug Grad Literary Agency, Inc. here. Randall Peffer gives a 90 second video biography here.
WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE
This book is for everyone. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a sailor, a diver, a history buff, an adventurer, or you just like a good thriller; this book has it all.
SYNOPSIS
Dangerous Shallows: In Search of The Ghost Ships of Cape Cod is a superbly written book that grips the reader from the very onset. Eric Takakjian takes the reader from the earliest of times in relation to diving techniques to modern mixed gasses. He intersperses his experiences with spellbinding tales of sunken ships and the events that led up to their tragic fates.
Eric explains in terms that are easy to understand all of the intricacies of diving and especially deep diving. He guides us through the uses of mixed gas to get to exceptionally deep wrecks and the troubles associated with each dive. He brings into view the price of miscalculation and bad circumstance and the lethal effects associated with deep diving. Intermixed is his own journey as a USCG crewman through his marriage and operating his own dive company while looking for those “virgin” wrecks.
Dangerous Shallows covers a myriad of different vessels and reasons for their current predicaments. The wrecks that Eric explores cover centuries of accidents, war, and depression. He takes the time to relate to the reader exactly what he sees and feels as he dives the wrecks. While swimming over the wrecks, he takes the reader back in time and makes the reader feel as if they are there for each vessel’s demise. The reader can feel the panic, the elation, the fear, or the determination of the people associated with each vessel.
Included within the book are the stories of his own trials and tribulations. He talks about the hardships keeping “virgin” wreck locations secret and the betrayal of “friends” who want to use his work for their own gains. He explains the research he, his wife, and friends undertake to locate and find each lost vessel. Eric describes the dangers each particular dive has; from currents, to sharks, to visibility issues, to the “bends.”
The author interfuses pictures and illustrations throughout the book. The color and black and white photos enhance the readers perceptions of the boats and the wrecks. Some of the photos are historic as are the schematics.
CONCLUSION
This book is thrilling, mysterious, and intriguing. Even if you don’t know much about diving and especially deep diving, this book easily explains the terms and conditions. The stories of the individual wrecks are told in vivid detail. The reader can easily feel as if they are right there with him on this journey of discovery. I heartily recommend this book for everyone.
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Eric Takakjian and Randall Peffer, NetGalley, and Lyons Press for affording me the opportunity to review Dangerous Shallows: In Search of the Ghost Ships of Cape Cod.
February 3, 2020
Reading this book was like sitting in a bar listening to seafaring tales, the tone was conversational and easy to read. The author tells us the stories behind a number of shipwrecks and the dives planned and carried out with his team of expert wreck divers. And there are some great stories here - from wartime, peace-time, and different historical periods. What struck me was just how many wrecks there are, and how difficult it is to find them. The research and planning was well described, and there was plenty of technical detail about diving, gases and processes. The individual ships were well researched too and the stories of the ships and their crews were the best parts of the book, for me.
The author describes a different world to me, a non-swimmer who loves the sea from the shore! I don't understand how someone can put themselves in so much danger on a daily basis, and I am in awe of his exploits and those of the mariners he writes about.
I've given the book 4 stars because I think it would have benefitted from some editing as there was some repetition within paragraphs, although anyone sitting at a bar telling stories is likely to repeat themselves! Also I regularly had to leave the book to go and look something up rather than have it explained in the book, hedgehogs or what happened in the post-sinking enquiries for example.
That said, I am now encouraged to seek out other similar books, although I still shan't be venturing far from the shore.
The author describes a different world to me, a non-swimmer who loves the sea from the shore! I don't understand how someone can put themselves in so much danger on a daily basis, and I am in awe of his exploits and those of the mariners he writes about.
I've given the book 4 stars because I think it would have benefitted from some editing as there was some repetition within paragraphs, although anyone sitting at a bar telling stories is likely to repeat themselves! Also I regularly had to leave the book to go and look something up rather than have it explained in the book, hedgehogs or what happened in the post-sinking enquiries for example.
That said, I am now encouraged to seek out other similar books, although I still shan't be venturing far from the shore.
June 1, 2022
Eric Takakjian is, among other things, a diver of great experience. In "Dangerous Shallows," he describes the efforts he has made to document and dive on wrecks in the Cape Cod area (many more of which exist than I could even have guessed.) Takakjian's book covers everything from subs to liners to steamers, each with a chapter dedicated to them that mixes present-day experience with flashbacks to try to imagine the moment of their loss.
What's good: If you're at all interested in wrecks, this is a fascinating book.
What's iffier: Takakjian mentions taking artifacts from wrecks and talks about this culture in the diving community. (To the extent divers typically have ship rooms with their finds.) I wish he would have discussed this further, even if to define what makes grave robbing and what isn't. (Some of these ships went down without casualties.) I can't judge his decisions as I'm not there, but a part of me leans back when I hear he's digging numbers off the walls, just to give an example.
With gratitude to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
What's good: If you're at all interested in wrecks, this is a fascinating book.
What's iffier: Takakjian mentions taking artifacts from wrecks and talks about this culture in the diving community. (To the extent divers typically have ship rooms with their finds.) I wish he would have discussed this further, even if to define what makes grave robbing and what isn't. (Some of these ships went down without casualties.) I can't judge his decisions as I'm not there, but a part of me leans back when I hear he's digging numbers off the walls, just to give an example.
With gratitude to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
September 18, 2020
The book is awesome with lots of details. Highly recommend this book ! Enjoy
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews