Neutral Buoyancy: Adventures in a Liquid World » (Reprint)

In Neutral Buoyancy, journalist and diver Tim Ecott takes you on a guided tour of the history of undersea exploration and the emergence of diving culture. He tells the extraordinary story of man's attempts to breathe underwater, from the sponge divers described by Aristotle, to the development of sixteenth-century diving bells, to the invention of modern scuba equipment. Along the way, Ecott intersperses the story with his own thrilling adventures, from the waters of the South Pacific to the remote islands of the Seychelles, from explorations in the clear, flowing tides of Sardinia to a near-death experience in the cold gray depths of the English Channel. Filled with engaging stories of humanity's conquest of the undersea world -- and heart-pounding action that will leave you breathless -- Neutral Buoyancy is a compelling blend of history and adventure, an exciting overview of the world of undersea diving. "As elemental, entertaining, and stimulating as the environment it traces." -- Kirkus Reviews "Engaging ... Neutral Buoyancy will certainly become cult reading for divers." -- Alexander Urquhart, The Times Literary Supplement "Ecott's encyclopedic recounting of diving history ... should be awarded a place on any diver's reference shelf." -- Paul McHugh, San Francisco Chronicle

Lorraine Korman - Forbes

The ocean is at least as mysterious as outer space, and arguably not much better understood. The advent of scuba technology in the past half-century has given us a radically different view of things down there, making at least part of the ocean's depths accessible. In Neutral Buoyancy, journalist and diver Tim Ecott combines his own experiences with those of fellow divers around the world to explore the allure of the ocean's embrace from the Seychelles to Sardinia. It appears that many find the sense of peace and equanimity that comes over them underwater as intoxicating as exploring the aquatic life itself. Woven throughout are tales of man's history in the water -- sponge divers in ancient Greece; the first diving bells and barrels; the Royal Navy frogmen of World War II and the free-diving daredevils of today. Sea Hunt it isn't, but rather a contemplative exploration of man's relationship to an environment that seems otherworldly.