Unfortunately, we aren’t able to dive 24/7. So what do us divers do so for fun when we are not getting our fins wet? Well… Lots of things. We think about diving, we book diving holidays and we buy more diving gear even after our other halves may have said we definitely don’t need it.
Apart from all of the above, we love to read books about, diving experiences, the big blue, and the best dive destinations around the world. To help expand your scuba horizons, we’ve put together a collection of the best scuba diving books by divers, for divers!
Table of Contents
15 of the Best Scuba Dive Books
If you’re looking for something a little different from scuba diving magazines, whether you are looking for some dive inspiration or looking into learning a new skill flicking through the pages of one of these best dive books will be perfect for you.
Here are our favorite books for divers, most are factual as there is not a lot of information in scuba diving fiction books and information is what we here at Ocean Scuba Dive want to give you. These may give instructions and training techniques, tell of scuba diving experiences along with the odd true story about an adventure that has been had.
Some are highlighting and giving advice about the best dive sites and the history of the areas to browse over while you are thinking of your next vacation. Happy reading, and most importantly – Happy Diving!
1. Diving the World
The first of our posts has over 200 prime locations for you to browse through and plan which one you might travel to for your next exploration and adventure and has earned it a place on this list of the best scuba dive books is Diving the World. Diving the World is essential reading for anyone interested in Scuba diving. The fantastic color images will help provide you with the inspiration and information about the underwater world.
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With over 25 years of diving experience, this book, was written by the expert photo-journalist team, Beth & Shaun Tierney. it is the third edition and has been revised and updated to reflect the changes in the dynamic dive travel industry around the world and also incorporates new destinations and dive sites just waiting for some exploration.
2. Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die
We all know the earth’s oceans hold so many mysteries just waiting to be discovered. With the help of the experts, Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die has gathered their favorite top destinations to dive throughout the world, so that scuba divers like us can experience these underwater wonders for ourselves while gaining the information we need before booking the next dive vacation.
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We love the fantastic images of the underwater world this Scuba Diving Book contains as it lets us experience the adventure these wondrous surprises hold – either on location in our scuba gear or turning the pages in a dream state while sitting sat home on the sofa.
This is the fifth edition in the series of the Fifty Places books and comes complete with a complete “If You Go” suggestions list to help you plan your trip should you decide to travel to one of the places that they review. Great for gaining all the information scuba divers love to know before setting off on the next adventure.
3. The Complete Diver
Next on our review posts of scuba dive books is one for those that are keen on the history and science of diving. It tells the story of undersea exploration and examines the latest developments in technology that enable man to explore further and deeper.
It is The Complete Diver and is actually one of the books about scuba diving and not the dive sites or a story about a wreck you might want to dive. It is a top comprehensive guide to recreational scuba diving, this book covers everything from history, science, and the practice of scuba diving and is a great diving book for all divers no matter what their experience.
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The author Alex Brylske, Ph.D., is the most published author in the field of recreational scuba diving, and one of the diving industry’s most influential voices. In the 1980s, Alex designed and wrote many of the programs and materials used today around the world for training divers of all levels. The scuba diving book includes chapters devoted to information about diving history, physics and physiology, diving medicine, health, and safety practices for scuba divers.
One of the scuba diving books for beginners to read and would be an ideal present for someone that has just completed their dive course and are now ready for the exploration of the underwater world of diving.
4. Scuba Confidential
This scuba dive book guide will help you learn how to master the skills and techniques to become a better diver. Scuba Confidential an insider’s guide to becoming a better diver the book will reveal to you the secrets of the dive professionals and technical divers, to help you become a safer, more confident, and more capable diver.
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There are many books on diving but this has to be a top pick, for as you turn the pages you will be learning things like how to look as comfortable as a professional while diving, what it is like to dive a wreck, and is definitely one of the best diving books for learning while giving you valuable insights on a range of topics such as how to make sure you buy the right equipment, what to consider when choosing an instructor, things even the pros can get wrong!
The diver book with no-nonsense practical advice for diving in the ocean even telling why ‘muck diving’ is fun.
5. NOAA Diving Manual
This review is about a must-have book for all serious divers to have in their library along with their other scuba dive and travel books and is the NOAA Diving Manual.
Many diving scientists, educators, and other professionals were brought together to review this important edition. This book is a reference text not just useful to divers and diving scientists within NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) but also for all involved in exploring the ocean wreck, or coral reefs along with the freshwater bodies on Earth.
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New Chapters within the 6th edition include an advanced platform support diving with ROVs/AUVs, submersibles as well as underwater photography and videography. This edition also includes the new NOAA nitrox tables.
6. Silent World
National Geographic presents the 50th-anniversary edition of this remarkable scuba dive book, an international bestseller by the father of underwater exploration.
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Silent World is a scuba dive book based on Jacques Cousteau’s memoir that chronicles the story of his early days of underwater adventure. This diving book includes the development of his invention, scuba, his first dives with scuba, and his travels under the sea during World War II.
7. The Fireside Diver
Have you ever met a diver who does not have a story to tell, maybe a near-death accident, a killer whale spotted, or that wonderful coral reef that they dived last year? This is a collection of true, short stories all related to the world of scuba diving. The Fireside Diver stories told within this book make divers want to put on their scuba gear and go diving.
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The true stories within this scuba dive book vary from some filled with adventure and danger, some happy to humorous. This is an all-around great scuba diving book to add to your shelf. Some of the stories are from some of the most famous diving authors and will inspire non-divers to learn the sport.
8. Diver Down
Diver Down is one of the best scuba dive books about true real-world scuba accidents and the things you should do to avoid them. Maybe you know a diver that has just completed their dive course and need a present for them, this book would be ideal, ensure they do not forget that al important training in a hurry.
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Each true story within this diving book is accompanied by an in-depth analysis of what went wrong and how you can recognize, avoid, and respond to similar underwater calamities. One of the scuba books that you’ll read and hopefully learn from the stories of others.
9. Deco for Divers
An award-winning scuba dive book, Deco for Divers provides a comprehensive overview of the principles underlying decompression theory.
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This 2nd revised edition of this book allows the average diver to fully understand the principles behind this fascinating aspect of diving. This guide helps bridge the gap between introductory books and source scientific information.
10. Scuba Diving Safety
With self-rescues, buddy rescues, open-water resuscitation, and towing techniques, Scuba Diving Safety will become your most valuable diving companion and scuba dive book.
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This is one of the scuba books that covers a full range of underwater environments, as well as dangerous marine life, entanglements, and equipment failures. It’s a vital resource and an essential reference for every underwater enthusiast.
11. Reef Life
Reef Life is a comprehensive guide to tropical marine life. This practical, up-to-date, guidebook for divers, naturalists, and students, features more than 1000 color photographs of 800 species of ocean life.
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This scuba dive book identifies the most-likely encountered underwater life in the tropical marine environment, helping to provide the keys to this magnificent world and teaching you about our oceans and the life living within it.
12. The Shark Handbook
This fully revised and updated edition of the bestselling Shark handbook has been put together as a guide for understanding and identifying the sharks of the world and is one of the best books about scuba diving for any shark lover.
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This will help teach you about sharks, from when they are born to when they die, how to distinguish one shark from the next, their anatomy, how they hunt and attack, how their teeth are developed, and their importance and purpose within our ecosystem. A great book for any shark lover!
13. Reef Fish Identification Tropical Pacific
The Reef Fish ID Tropical Pacific scuba diving book features more than 200 additional species, hundreds of improved photos, scientific name changes, and range extensions.
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The user-friendly guide groups’ species in 20 color-coded identification groups based on similar physical or behavioral characteristics. This great guide contains over 2500 underwater photographs of 2,000 species from four of the best marine life authors/photographers in the business. With volumes of information for diving photographers and underwater naturalists alike.
14. The Underwater Photographer
This award-winning photography scuba dive book provides practical examples with step by step technique on underwater photography. This fully updated fourth edition from the highly respected photographer and tutor Martin Edge is another must-have if you love your underwater photography.
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The Underwater Photographer dive book is packed with breathtaking images and an easy to read style. This diving book is sure to both educate and inspire underwater photographers of all skill levels.
15. Advanced Underwater Photography
Full of techniques for digital photographers, Advanced Underwater Photography is a reference for divers who have already strong diving and underwater photography skills.
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This scuba dive book is aimed for divers who want to learn the skills necessary to create professional-quality images. Opening with a quick overview of the basics, the author then expands on each of these topics, showing the techniques pros use to achieve truly stunning images.
Conclusion of the Best Scuba Diving Books
There you have it, we hope that you have enjoyed our posts and reviews of the best scuba diving books for any scuba enthusiast and ocean lover. Scuba books about diving brought to you by divers.
Here are the 3 best selling scuba dive books our customers pick:
- Comprehensive Manual
- For Advanced Divers
- Used by Scientists
- Revised by Professionals
- Hot-Spot Destinations
- Written by Diving Experts
- Great for all Divers
- Inc. NOAA Nitrox Tables
- Comprehensive Guidebook
- 1000+ Color Photographs
- 800 Species of Ocean Life
- Great for Ocean Lovers
3 comments
Great scuba diving books!! I haven’t heard of all of them but they are already on my must-read list!
Although it’s really expensive, I have no regrets in buying the NOAA Diving Manual. It has everything and more any scuba book could contain!
I recommend Scuba Confidential, its a brilliant read and a great book for scuba divers to get stuck into!