Shadow Divers is a great read!

brandtryan · 03-12-10, 08:11 AM

Had to take a quick hiatus from Clay Blair's excellent history "Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunters", and decided to listen to "Shadown Divers".

Audible, here.

I actually bought it for the u-boat discovery story, but found myself absolutely pasted to the pages regarding the art of deep sea diving. The u-boat information/story was just as good.

However, I wondered in the end, how the US hunter/seeker groups didn't hear an explosion on their sonar gear. The book states that "they (hunter/seeker group) wouldn't have been able to hear/notice a thing..."

I don't want to talk too much about the u-boat, so as not to spoil the mystery u-boat identification for any future readers--just wanted to discuss the possibility of hunter/seeker groups not hearing an explosion within a few miles of it, and no deeper than 200 feet.

Blood_splat · 03-12-10, 08:42 AM

I read it last summer. They really pushed it to the limits when it came to the scuba equipment that was available back than.

brandtryan · 03-12-10, 09:20 AM

The last section was so intense, it's almost unbelievable. I guess it's true though, that "real life is stranger than fiction".

They even mentioned a certain "WW2 U-Boat simulation" in the book--about one of the divers taping the SHIII grid poster on his wall for reference!

Wulfmann · 03-12-10, 09:29 AM

I also read that last summer.
A friend loaned it to me and I said jokingly "Well. I knew what happened before I read the book because it is listed in the U-Boat encyclopedia and don't understand why they just didn't pick up a copy of that"

Of course that was published in 2004 and it was because of Shadow Diver's findings the correct information was in the encyclopedia but I had to pull his leg

There were times I felt like I couldn't breath in that book, good read

Wulfmann

Erik the Black · 03-12-10, 07:39 PM

Being a deep wreck/technical diver myself, who has dived the U-352, the U-701, and the U-85 (among several other war casualty wrecks in the Outer Banks), and as member of our rather small and insular community, let me clarify things just a bit. We generally chuckle at Shadow Divers just a tad, because several of us have met, dived with, or know at least one or two (or more) of the guys who were there and were in the book.

It is also generally accepted among our community that even though John Chatterton and Richie Kohler are highly respected technical divers, and pioneers of deep wreck diving, they milked the whole thing for every ounce of publicity they could get out of it, and there is a lot in the book that is exaggerated or incorrectly represented to make it appear as if they were the ones who performed the deeds.

In short, you can't read Shadow Divers without reading Gary Gentile's book "Shadow Divers Exposed". Only then can you truly be the judge.

brandtryan · 03-13-10, 09:55 AM

Erik,

I'll definately check that book out--sounds like they got one thing right in the book though--that history (i.e., someone's account of events) might be a bit off, eh?

After reading Shadow Divers, I have the greatest respect for you guys, and found myself fascinated with this extreme sport. I plan to get SCUBA certified. I'm sure I'll never become a "deep" diver, but some of the most peaceful moments in my life were snorkeling, and swimming under the water checking out reefs in Maui. I think I'd really enjoy scuba.

Anyway, thanks for the post, and best of luck on your future dives.

03-12-10, 08:11 AM	#1
brandtryan Engineer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Indianapolis, United States Posts: 214 Downloads: 122 Uploads: 0	Shadow Divers is a great read! Had to take a quick hiatus from Clay Blair's excellent history "Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunters", and decided to listen to "Shadown Divers". Audible, here. I actually bought it for the u-boat discovery story, but found myself absolutely pasted to the pages regarding the art of deep sea diving. The u-boat information/story was just as good. However, I wondered in the end, how the US hunter/seeker groups didn't hear an explosion on their sonar gear. The book states that "they (hunter/seeker group) wouldn't have been able to hear/notice a thing..." I don't want to talk too much about the u-boat, so as not to spoil the mystery u-boat identification for any future readers--just wanted to discuss the possibility of hunter/seeker groups not hearing an explosion within a few miles of it, and no deeper than 200 feet. __________________ from Brandt

03-12-10, 09:20 AM	#3
brandtryan Engineer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Indianapolis, United States Posts: 214 Downloads: 122 Uploads: 0	The last section was so intense, it's almost unbelievable. I guess it's true though, that "real life is stranger than fiction". They even mentioned a certain "WW2 U-Boat simulation" in the book--about one of the divers taping the SHIII grid poster on his wall for reference! __________________ from Brandt

03-12-10, 09:29 AM	#4
Wulfmann Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 1,010 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I also read that last summer. A friend loaned it to me and I said jokingly "Well. I knew what happened before I read the book because it is listed in the U-Boat encyclopedia and don't understand why they just didn't pick up a copy of that" Of course that was published in 2004 and it was because of Shadow Diver's findings the correct information was in the encyclopedia but I had to pull his leg There were times I felt like I couldn't breath in that book, good read Wulfmann __________________ "The right to keep and bear arms should not be infringed upon, if only to prevent tyranny in government" Thomas Jefferson,; Constitutional debates

03-13-10, 09:55 AM	#6
brandtryan Engineer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Indianapolis, United States Posts: 214 Downloads: 122 Uploads: 0	Erik, I'll definately check that book out--sounds like they got one thing right in the book though--that history (i.e., someone's account of events) might be a bit off, eh? After reading Shadow Divers, I have the greatest respect for you guys, and found myself fascinated with this extreme sport. I plan to get SCUBA certified. I'm sure I'll never become a "deep" diver, but some of the most peaceful moments in my life were snorkeling, and swimming under the water checking out reefs in Maui. I think I'd really enjoy scuba. Anyway, thanks for the post, and best of luck on your future dives. __________________ from Brandt

03-12-10, 08:42 AM	#2
Blood_splat Samurai Navy Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Beneath the waves Posts: 568 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	I read it last summer. They really pushed it to the limits when it came to the scuba equipment that was available back than.

03-12-10, 07:39 PM	#5
Erik the Black Watch Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 18 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	Being a deep wreck/technical diver myself, who has dived the U-352, the U-701, and the U-85 (among several other war casualty wrecks in the Outer Banks), and as member of our rather small and insular community, let me clarify things just a bit. We generally chuckle at Shadow Divers just a tad, because several of us have met, dived with, or know at least one or two (or more) of the guys who were there and were in the book. It is also generally accepted among our community that even though John Chatterton and Richie Kohler are highly respected technical divers, and pioneers of deep wreck diving, they milked the whole thing for every ounce of publicity they could get out of it, and there is a lot in the book that is exaggerated or incorrectly represented to make it appear as if they were the ones who performed the deeds. In short, you can't read Shadow Divers without reading Gary Gentile's book "Shadow Divers Exposed". Only then can you truly be the judge.