Customer Reviews

Diving on the Edge: A Unique Guide for New Divers

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a novice to the sport of Scuba Diving I attempted to purchase every book I could find on the subject. Most of the books I read were very informative, but a little like reading reference manuals. 'Diving on the Edge' is informative and a very good read. 'Diving on the Edge' is not meant to be a 'How to Book', it is meant to bring the mystery of Scuba Diving to the real world through humor and information. "...a prerequisite to becoming truly educated about the sport." I wish I had found this book first! Not many pictures, but loads of honest insight into the world of Scuba Diving. I really enjoyed reading it!

The information is very basic... too basic. Though the writer's diving experience is pretty useful, I can get these information when I talk to other divers. If you are going to move into advance diving courses, such as Advance Open Water, forget about this book, the information presented in the Advance OW manual is more detailed. If you want to get other divers' dive experience, get onto the Net (e.g. News groups rec.suba) or just talk to other divers/your instructor. Don't waste your money on this book.

The title Diving On The Edge implies that you'll receive new cutting edge dive information. That's not the case here, the book contains nothing really new regarding dive equipment and care, dive technique, dive locations or dive experiences. It's basiclly a truncated rehash of very elementary information, ready available from other sources. (see section on equipment especially snorkel selection)

The book did contain some good safety advice and is written in a style that most divers will probably relate to. Better research and more detail is badly needed. Definately not "cutting edge" material

Michael Bane's book is highly recommended especially for new divers or those planning to take up scuba diving as a recreational sport. One of the best sections which I found useful was on how to select the best scuba instructor and whom to avoid. I found Michael Bane's views to be objective on this topic. Another section was on equipment care and handling including selection of the best scuba equipment. I'm glad that he brought up the issue of a regulator and its cost as a life-saving piece of equipment. Now, I believe that most scuba enthusiasts will understand why those regulators cost a fortune. Kudos to the author! I strongly recommend this book to all new and veteran divers. It's really worth your money and your while!!!

My only regret is that I didn't come across this book before I chose the store/dive operator for my own instruction. I especially found the chapter on correctly understanding the risks of the sport realistically to be valuable, but all of them are useful and helpful.

Though, I've been certified for 10 years, I'm relatively new to diving, as I don't get to dive as often as I'd like to. As a result, I try to read everything I can about it. I borrowed this book from the library and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's a basic, yet somewhat detailed intro into the world of scuba.
It's a book I'd recommend reading to anyone wanting to know more about the sport, but have no interest in the technical aspects of it. There's so much information out there. It makes it hard to find something simple to read all in one place. This book does that.

Michael Bane is a gifted writer who presents an informed and informative overview of diving. It's an interesting overview of this great activity. It's directed at new divers, but there are tidbits and insights that experienced divers will appreciate too.

Good book for the beginner, lacks the detail to be anything like a "how to" - but covers the basics and the jargon.

Michael Bane is a gifted writer who presents an informed and informative overview of diving. It's an interesting overview of this great activity. It's directed at new divers, but there are tidbits and insights that experienced divers will appreciate too.