An American Underwater Odyssey: 50 Dives in 50 States [Paperback]

Charles Ballinger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002

One man's nationwide journey to explore the greatest variety of diving found anywhere on earth. Underwater Odyssey transcends the limits of a dive guide to reveal the broader adventure that diving provides.

From flooded missile silos to volcanic craters, the author explores diving adventures rarely portrayed in magazines. Beyond that, Ballinger sets out on a personal journey that each of us ought to take, in our own way, at least once in a lifetime.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"His dogged determination to follow his dreams and explore everything from... should be an inspiration to each of us" -- Ben Davison, Publisher and Editor, Undercurrent

"This truly original project takes the reader on a cross-country road trip to diving adventure." -- Keith Phillips, Features Editor, Rodale's Scuba Diving

About the Author

Aged fifty years,Charles Ballinger has written many articles about International adventure diving. After a shark diving safari in South Africa, the author decided to take a look at adventure diving in America. By diving every state, he sought to reveal the broad diversity of diving found in our own backyards. He also sought to fulfill his own grand quest for adventure. He and his wife live in Mill Valley, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Giant Stride Press; First Edition edition (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971643202
• ISBN-13: 978-0971643208
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,475,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars American Classic, March 4, 2006

By 

Michael Zinsley (Alameda, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An American Underwater Odyssey: 50 Dives in 50 States (Paperback)

Diving in missile silos? Picking up dinosaur shark teeth out of riverbeds? Utah Hot Springs? Missouri mine tunnels?
Needless to say, the author strove to create some dive sites, but this Odyssey across the states is not only a great travelogue, it is also a great reference book should one ever travel to... let's say, Oklahoma, with a scuba tank.
Definitely one to enjoy and put on the dive book shelf.
Mike Zinsley, author of "The Rapture of the Deep."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It can be done!, February 15, 2006

By 

Dean H. Nolan "Dean810" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An American Underwater Odyssey: 50 Dives in 50 States (Paperback)

Charles Ballinger proves that you can dive in all 50 states, and the variety is amazing! He dives a volcanic crater in Utah with 90+ degree water, and a missile silo in Texas. In between that there are plenty of lakes and quarries, but all of them provide a reason to get wet.

In some places, the pickings are slim. Plus, this was a man on a mission and a deadline. If it was a bad day to dive, then it was a bad dive. No going back for better luck. The hurried pace shows in the book. What you get are snap shots of each dive and destination. Often you long for a longer description, or more detail.

But he makes his point and does a good job of giving one a sense of the places he has visited and not just the dive itself. It should also put ideas in peoples head. If you are visiting your Aunt Judy in New Mexico, you might want to try a dive in the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa. If you find yourself in Iowa, check out Lake Okoboji! People who restrict their diving to the warm waters of the southern climes are missing out.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new outlook on diving, July 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: An American Underwater Odyssey: 50 Dives in 50 States (Paperback)

This book takes a fresh look at the adventure of diving, discovery, and dive travel in every American state. It's amazing how many different types of dives the author came up with! Sort of "On the Road" with a scuba tank...