- Hardcover: 180 pages
- Publisher: Mainstream Publishing; 4Rev Ed edition (4 Oct 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 185158983X
- ISBN-13: 978-1851589838
- Product Dimensions: 24.2 x 16.8 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
414,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #84 in Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Water Sports > Scuba Diving
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Dive Scapa Flow is a comprehensive and practical guide to the spectacular and famous Orkney wrecks - the colossal, intact remains of the scuttled German fleet, U-boats, steamers, tugs and Churchill's extraordinary 'Blockships'.
Since this book was first published, there have been huge advances in diving technique and with the new wave of 'technical diving', wrecks previously beyond the realm of the air diver can now be reached. This updated and revised edition incorporates these, particularly HMS Hampshire, which took Lord Kitchener to his doom in 1916. Rod Macdonald's intimate knowledge of the dives is supplemented by up-to-date information on characters, travel and accommodation in the area.
An essential companion for discovering the underwater secrets and intriguing naval history of Britain's most popular dive site, Dive Scapa Flow comes complete with new illustrations, photographs and charts.
About the Author
Rod MacDonald is the author of the bestselling Mainstream titles Dive Scotland's Greatest Wrecks, Dive England's Greatest Wrecks and Into the Abyss. He specialises in wreck diving research and has written for most international diving publications and many national newspapers. He lives in Stonehaven with his wife and two daughters.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Rod Macdonald has put together a very professional guide book to the dive sites of Scapa Flow. Personally, I have conducted professional assignments to Scapa on a number of occasions and, as a "guide," I have yet to find the book lacking in any way. It also served another very important purpose in that it is a very good read.
"Dive Scapa Flow" measures a little under 10" x 7" with a hard cover and comes from "Mainstream Publishing" of Edinburgh. There are 160 pages of narrative - all well supported by a large number of black and white photographs (most of which are historic), diagrams and maps plus a further eight pages of colour photographs in the middle. The book is well laid out. The first 2 chapters are devoted to historical events - the scuttling of the Imperial German Fleet and the incredible salvage operation that took place in later years, with the remainder of the book being dedicated to diving.
1919 was a time when Europe was coming to terms with the revelation that "millions" had died on all sides during the carnage of WW1. The Imperial German Fleet had been defeated and was interned in Scapa Flow with a skeleton crew on each vessel. The German Navy itself was in complete disarray with lawful orders being ignored and workers co-operatives running most of the ships. This was a time when all sides awaited the outcome of the Armistice from which the final decisions with regard to the disposal of each German ship would come. Basically, the ships would be distributed amongst the victorious allied navies with the Royal Navy getting the lion's share - thus making the British Fleet so large as to be unassailable throughout the world. Despite his many difficulties, Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter retained overall command of the fleet - and he had other ideas. Knowing he could rely on sufficient people on each vessel to carry out his final command, Admiral von Reuter ordered the German Fleet scuttled and that order was executed on 21st June 1919 - right under British noses.
Rod Macdonald's account of those historic events is a fine précis and most relevant to this book. The same comment applies to the following chapter describing the incredible salvage operation which explains why so many of the scuttled ships are no longer to be found in Scapa Flow.
So, after two chapters of well-researched material and some equally excellent historic photographs, we now get down to the diving. This commences with an overview of what the diver can expect to find. All the ships are listed and this is followed by information on such important factors as; bye laws, visibility, seabed, equipment, photography, decompression and the various means of getting to and from each site.
The scene is now well and truly set and it's time to get down to cases. In chapter 4, each shipwreck is fully described in excellent detail in which there are 4 elements; An historic photograph of each vessel, a sketch describing her attitude underwater, a painting which shows the entire vessel as she lies on the seabed and a narrative which not only gives the technical details of the vessel in question but also goes on to describe the specific diving conditions relevant to that ship.
Of course, the wrecks of the Imperial German Fleet are not the only shipwrecks in Scapa Flow and the next 3 chapters are entitled; Alternative Wreck Dives, Diving the Blockships and Scapa's War Graves - all of which are self-explanatory. With a final chapter reserved for travel, accommodation and dive boat charters, this book is as complete a guide as one would hope to find.
NM
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a great read and a good source of reference if youre interested in going to dive Scapa Flow (or not!). I got a copy imediatley after getting home from Scapa and have taken this book with me on return trips since! Rod has writen some excellent dive books and as an experienced diver knows exactly how to make it interesting without waffling on, like a lot of divers can.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
this book really enhanced our enjoyment and appreciation of a recent weeklong trip aboard a liveaboard at Scapa.
We made two dives a day- webriefed ourselves with the book. Highly recommended if you intend to diveScap Flow.
We made two dives a day- webriefed ourselves with the book. Highly recommended if you intend to diveScap Flow.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dive Scapa Flow by Rod Macdonald
Dive Scapa Flow by Rod Macdonald ,top class for anybody wishing to go and dive at scapa flow.
Published on 13 Jun 2009 by Mr. Michael Harradine
Well researched & informative dive guide
This book includes some excellent background information on the wrecks of Scapa. Reading this book while diving in Scapa will greatly increase you're appreciation of the wrecks,... Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2000
WOW - What a book
This book is a first rate guide to the Scapa wrecks. Not only does it detail the wrecks from the point of diving them but it gives a compelling account of the events leading upto... Read more
Published on 3 April 2000
A very impressive and concise guide to diving Scapa Flow
From the beginning, it is obvious the author has done his research. Accompanied with photos taken by the author, the reader is taken through each wreck with detail paid to the... Read more
Published on 30 Dec 1999
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