One diver, after a seemingly brief period below the surface, discovers that his gas supply has run perilously low. Another, paralyzed, bobs helplessly on the surface, and when a poorly trained divemaster attempts rescue, things go from bad to worse. Two other divers, fascinated by the bountiful undersea life of the Caribbean, fail to notice that a powerful current is sweeping them rapidly away from their unattended boat. These are just a few of the true stories you’ll find in Diver Down, most of them involving diver error and resulting in serious injury or death. Each of these tales is accompanied by an in-depth analysis of what went wrong and how you can recognize, avoid, and respond to similar underwater calamities. This unique survival guide explores the gamut of diving situations, including cave and wreck diving, deep-water dives, river and drift diving, decompression sickness, and much more. It shows you how to prevent tragic mishaps through: Inspection and maintenance of primary and secondary diving gear Learning and following established safety protocols Confirming the training and credentials of diving professionals Practicing emergency responses under real-world conditions

Erik Petkovic’s Lake Erie Technical Wreck Diving Guide is packed with tales of maritime disasters: sailing ships and steamers which foundered, succumbed to storms, collided or were engulfed in flames. There are ships which sank more than once, were involved in wars, slave escapes and catastrophic collisions, plus daring stories of deep salvage, valuable cargoes, submarines, experimental engineering and unidentified wrecks. The guide brings to life the rediscovered history of the ships, passengers and crews. Then there are the dives themselves. Some of the wrecks are remarkably intact for their age. Amongst the features which can be seen are wooden ships’ wheels, standing masts, rudders, propellers, portholes, engines, boilers and steamship hogging arches. Each chapter describes the history, current condition, location, dimensions, hazards and highlights of an individual wreck. The author’s original research, contributor photos and archive materials help bring these 19 enticing, challenging, rarely dived wrecks to life. ‘Meticulously researched, nicely composed, beautifully illustrated. I wish I had written this book.’– Gary Gentile 'Any technical diver considering diving on any of these wrecks should first read this one-of-a-kind book!’– Joe Porter, Publisher, Wreck Diving Magazine

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