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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In Neutral Buoyancy, BBC journalist Tim Ecott recounts his ongoing adventures in the "liquid world" of scuba diving--from battling rip-tides off the Dorset coast to exploring the shark-rich waters of the Caribbean--musing along the way on the history and meaning of man's fascination with diving, and reflecting on how his underwater experience has reshaped his life.
Four days after my mother's funeral I went scuba diving for the first time ... Surfacing from a dive ... I often think it strange that this mind-cleansing, emotionally charged experience is one that my mother never knew I had. It is something akin to the sense of regret I feel that she never met my daughter, born a few years after her passing. How odd that something so wonderful was not part of our shared experience.
The launch hype surrounding this book pushed it as scuba diving's answer to Nick Hornby's bestselling homage to football fandom, Fever Pitch, but even allowing for a hearty dose of wishful thinking on the publisher's part, there are two key similarities. Ecott, like Hornby, succeeds in explaining his passion in a way that speaks directly to the wannabe or even to the merely curious--lightly humorous; strong on characters; cross-references to popular culture (James Bond puts in an appearance); natural history in the TV prime-time style, rooted in personal experience. And just as Hornby's football fandom carries him back to the same sense of wonder and certainty of purpose that intoxicated him as a young boy, so Ecott portrays a link between diving and dissolving the anxieties and fearfulness of adulthood.
Be warned: if you are already a diver, Neutral Buoyancy will heighten the sense that you are wasting far too much precious time on dry land. For the rest, even if the last time you ventured underwater was in the bath, this inspirational book will have you contemplating a trip to your local swimming pool at the very least. --Alex Hankin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
A brilliant mix of vivid reportage, history and science. Historical diving bells, greek sponge divers, world war two frogmen and record-setting breath hold divers compete for space with misunderstood sharks, weeping turtles, smiling dolphins and erotically shaped sea slugs. From Ireland to Florida, Papua New Guinea to Vienna and the Bahamas to Seychelles, Neutral Buoyancy is travel writing of the most fascinating, readable kind; providing a window - or a view from a glass bottomed boat - on a rich, unfamiliar and unique destination. Travel writing of this quality makes Neutral Buoyancy a must for all armchair travellers, not just divers.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I lent this book to a diving friend of mine whilst doing a TDI course and he kept it for 4 years until it arrived at my house yesterday. His comments were that he had forgotten he had it but what a great read it was. I think all people who dive and who have read this echo his sentiments as Ecott manages to encapsulate what it feels like to be underwater and especially those moments when you feel weightless and the diving becomes as natural as being on dry land.
Also enjoyable are Ecott's thoughts on other diving such as Apnea and his introductions to the history of diving.
All those who dive should read this as well as those who want to plus I would recommend it to any partners who cannot understand their love of this great pastime.
Also enjoyable are Ecott's thoughts on other diving such as Apnea and his introductions to the history of diving.
All those who dive should read this as well as those who want to plus I would recommend it to any partners who cannot understand their love of this great pastime.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
At last a book about diving that doesn't harp on about how dangerously deep and narked you can get if you're man enough (and so on ad nauseum). Tim's accounts of enjoying the sensation of breathing underwater and its de-stressing effects are a breath of fresh compressed air. The history and technical detail that goes with it is just fascinating, and nicely written. A must for anyone who fancies a challenge - just try putting it down.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was recommended this book by a friend who, like me, has been a passionate diver for many years. I read this book in one go last year whilst on holiday diving and I wish I had stumbled across it earlier. It is an excellent summary of diving history in general but more specifically why people like me are passionate about diving. Tim avoids the usual macho aspects of diving literature and gives us a really good insight to how and why diving has progressed and become such a popular sport. I am involved in developing new ideas and products for diving and found the history of the development of diving technology fascinating and useful. Perhaps most importantly for students learning to dive, Tim has managed to provide a no nonsense guide to what diving does to the body and his descriptions are worth ten textbooks. This book really is required reading for divers
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Boring, don't bother!!!
I'm a Divemaster and was looking forward to reading this book, but after the first few pages regretted buying it. It's that boring I didn't bother reading much further. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bodfest
Great book for an interdisciplinary overview of diving
This book looks at man diving underwater under many different circumstances (war and peace, competition and scientific research), across a wide range of conditions (hot and cold,... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Carno Polo
Not sure about previous reviews.
Am only a quarter into this book but am finding it pretty boring. More a history of diving, where as i thought it was going to be a more personal - travel oriented book. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Jonathan
Fantastic read
This book is a fantastic read - and one of those books that you hate to put down - sadly I read it very quickly. Read more
Published 23 months ago by jen haigh
Excellent Book, Great Gift For Divers
After reading, I gave this book to my diving instructor and he loves it. I am ordering a second copy. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Anna Alex
A great book to inspire you
By far the best diving book I have read. Most diving books I have read are by American authors that are all about the macho side of the sport, this book however isn't. Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2009 by Mr. M. Perry
A Excellent book for divers
I was so impressed with this book I went and bought it as a pressent for my diving buddies. An excellent read that give some good history of diving. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2009 by Navigator
Challenge you not to want to take the plunge after reading this
This book is magic. I read it a few years ago and still sneak a peak at it before I head off on holiday to get me revved up for diving. A wonderful book. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2008 by Mr. LGD Williams
Simply brilliant!
What a great read! I didn't want to put it down. Fantastic idea to mix elements of personal experience amongst a story about the general history of diving. Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2007 by Steve Crutchfield
Fascinating, captivating book
I'm just getting interested in scuba after a trial dive on holiday, and a friend who has the diving bug badly lent me this book. Read more
Published on 26 May 2006 by ND1234
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