"Dive, Complete Book of Skin Diving"

[tomcatpc]

I found this gem for $2.00 at a local antique shop today.  This is the 1973 edition.  Lot of good photos and info.  Glad to found it.
Mark

[DavidRitchieWilson]

Brilliant, Mark, and what a bargain! There's another copy on Amazon:

www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Dive-complete-skin-diving-Rick-Carrier/B0006C8XYW
People will likely associate Charles Berlitz with the Berlitz Language Schools, his family business.

His father spoke to him in German, his grandfather in Russian, and his nanny in Spanish, resulting in Charles being multilingual and therefore fit to run the company. Less well known is the fact that he wrote on paranormal phenomena and had a passion for archeology and skin diving.

There appear to have been two previous editions of "Dive: The Complete Book of Skin Diving" by Rick and Barbara Carrier.


Here is a review of the first two editions I wrote several years ago:

Both first and second editions of the Carriers' tome have pride of place in my bookcase devoted to diving literature. Besides my lifelong interest in snorkelling, I have another reason to admire these books. Both are dedicated to "Charles Berlitz without whose interest and assistance this book would never have begun." I, and probably most others, associate Charles Berlitz with foreign language teaching, which is also how I earned my living before I retired from public education.

Rick & Barbara Carrier: (1955) Dive: The Complete Book of Skin Diving, Wilfred Funk, Inc, New York. First Edition. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 55-5481.
Rick & Barbara Carrier: (1963) Dive: The Complete Book of Skin Diving, Wilfred Funk, Inc, New York. Second Edition. Revised by Gene Parker. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 63-9014.

Contemporary critical reviews of the first edition often dwell on the use of the adjective "complete" in the title, e.g. "It had to happen sometime - and finally there's a 'complete book of skin diving.' And we really mean complete... Chock-full of underwater information. Dive is also a treasure trove of photographs and diagrams. Whether you're a first-time frogman or a veteran hunter of the deep, you can't afford to miss this remarkable book (-Man's Magazine)." But let's begin with the opening paragraph of the book's first chapter, How it All Began: "In recent summers, vacationists finding their favorite secluded beaches suddenly swarming with bronzed young men armed with knives, spears and carbon dioxide guns, or being startled during a quiet swim by the sudden appearance in the water beside them of a 'man from Mars' complete with mask, flippers, and breathing apparatus, may have wondered what it is all about, and just how and why the sudden enthusiasm for skin diving developed." So, in 1955, "skin diving" was something of a new phenomenon bursting on to the scene in the same way as new technology has just as suddenly transformed our own lives in more recent times. In this new activity of underwater swimming we have a sense of an alien presence, the frogman as the "man from Mars", while the use of the lay word "flippers" instead of the technical term "swim fins" typifies a pioneering age when we deploy an old terminology with which we are familiar to describe anything new, in the same way as the French once gave potatoes, then a mysterious import from the New World, the name "pommes de terre", literally "earth apples."

My overall impression of the Carriers' book is also one of "completeness". How else can we describe a book giving such an authoritative account of diving history, the marine environment, aquatic fauna and flora, physiology, the panoply of commercial diving equipment, do-it-yourself projects, spearfishing, skin diving clubs and underwater photography? The book's first appendix is a glorious gift to the diving equipment historian, listing almost every item of gear that was available to the American recreational diver in the mid-1950s, not just regulators but also fins, masks, snorkels, suits, guns, all with the current pricing!

I have listed two editions of the book, the second appearing in 1963, revised by Gene Parker, who was responsible for several books and articles of his own on diving. In the second edition, Parker wisely resisted the temptation to rewrite the majority of the text, focusing instead on removing any mention of discontinued items of gear and substituting the then equivalent article. He also updated photographs of events such as spearfishing competitions. A light touch was all that was needed to relaunch the Carriers' classic work to an early-1960s audience.

I'll finish my brief review with a quotation from the closing paragraph of the book's final chapter The Unexplored Sea: "Underwater exploration is a fascinating adventure which has really only just begun. Certainly it opens up potentialities for skin diving much more interesting and worthwhile than the mere enjoyment of underwater scenery or the sport of diving and spearing fish. The sea waits ... the possibilities ... are infinite." A truly forward-looking book as well as an indispensable source for anyone wanting to study the pioneer era of our wonderful sport.

[broxton coalition]

Mr Wilson, i appreciate your review write up of this very classic skin and scuba book. the 1955 1st edition is one to own if you like early scuba literature. i agree that is a "complete" book of the underwater world. well written for 1955. will the 1970's edition still contain the hand drawn sketch's?

[tomcatpc]

I don't know as I don't have a 1950's version to compare to. I do know that my 1973 version does have sketches telling how to make certain items such as belts (with quick release buckles made from door hinges) and a Hawaiian Sling, etc.
It does include post-50's items such as Ladies 60's era psychedelic printed wetsuits, etc.
I think this a book well worth picking up if you can.
Mark

[lakediver]

Another thing I like about the book is the numerous old plates and woodcuts of divers, sea monsters, etc.. The vintage photos are numerous. If I remember right, the 50s edition had an even more expanded do it yourself section with items like a backpack made from army surplus backpacks.

[tomcatpc]

I have seen older versions of this on Amazon for prices that even I can afford. I might have to get a 50's era copy in the future.
Mark

[nikeajax]

Jul 2, 2017 4:27:44 GMT -8 DavidRitchieWilson said:

Dang, ya know, every time I look at that image I think of Vince Guaraldi...





Most people know his song "Linus and Lucy"

JB

[DavidRitchieWilson]

I know what you mean, JB, Charles Berlitz has one of those instantly recognisable faces that makes you think you have met or seen them somewhere before. In my case, I think he bears some resemblance to Oscar Gugen (below).

According to his Wikipedia entry, Oscar led a charmed life during World War II. He later co-founded not only the British Sub Aqua Club but also E. T. Skinner Limited, which became Typhoon International, the UK's largest diving equipment manufacturer. Both are still in business over sixty years since they were first established.