Customer Reviews

Technical Diving in Depth

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is mandatory for a library of serious practitioners and students of diving. However, it falls short of 5 stars for 3 reasons: its reuse of previous material, unnecessary terseness, and a good fraction of topics discussed are whimsically related to diving.

An authoritative decompression diving treatise is a rare find, and one describing various models in the smallest detail, speaking authoritatively and comparatively, is a rare specie.

Dr. Wienke's new textbook could easily be a classic in the field, joining the rank of A.A. Buhlmann as one of few textbooks detailing decompression diving. Buhlmann's text extended concepts developed by Workman, and Wienke describes his Reduced Gradient Bubble Model in relation to bubble models, but no recent texts I recall, compare most decompression models in one book [other than Wienke in prior paperback books.]

A discourse on decompression is but one component, albeit a core component, of this book. "Technical Diving in Depth", TDD, is an amalgam of assorted topics related to technical diving in general, with elements of oceanography, geology, astronomy-cosmology and physics _but_ whose price of admission is high: a terse writing style and unavoidable college level mathematics. The textbook is also a peek into a renaissance man who speaks expertly on many topics beyond the scope of his doctoral degree in particle physics. Coupled with Wienke's colorful author profile, this reader can easily explain the indulgence in a curious combination of topics, some discussions than veer off tangent, and the reuse, from prior books, of chapters or paragraphs. The attention to detail in the text is remarkable; with ne'er any errors in the mathematics provided, and typographical errors are exceedingly minor.

The depth Wienke dives into the topics may be considered an encyclopedic reference. The book could better be described as " A Reference Book _for_ Technical Diving." Thus, its critical to have a quick method to locate items discussed. While the book can, and should, be read cover to cover, thereafter it can be a chore to locate a topic one needs without an index or a table of contents. Encyclopedic information has its own character; it explains concisely and often just guides readers to more comprehensive sources, so readers are warned that it may sometime lack sufficient detail to be of practical value. The material Wienke provides is unique, and few items are duplicated in other vital references such as the NOAA or USN Diving Manual.

From the sheer volume of reused material, TDD maybe called an updated or 'second edition' of the 1995 text, "Basic Diving Physics and Applications," BDPA. A case can be made for presenting TDD as new work considering the updated text, some new material, reorganization of prior material, more relevant and extended referencing, subtle changes to equations, better layout and binding, sample problems with solutions, and an excellent index. Formatted thus, the new book appears as a better venue for material detailed in the older text.

If you own BDPA, TDD is an update built to last. Without an index, one had to remember acutely the location of a piece of information. The pages of my "Basic Diving" are falling apart. I estimate about 20% of "Technical Diving" has new material in decompression modeling [a bulk of which is a Wienke monograph circulating freely on the Internet]. The release of TDD is quite opportune. In 2002, we saw more decompression models report validation data, lay articles on decompression models, new software for divers to test models in real dives, and decompression software for palmtop computers to take to the field.

Comparing books again, subtle variations in some equation hint that other complex equations could be simplified. For example, Wienke chose to drop fC02 and fH20 in equation 10.7, p.202 compared to TDD p.76; in p.72 equation 4.15 Wienke drops water's specific density compared to TDD p.122. The resulting changes are, to knowledgeable readers, insignificant, but in reviewing other equations, one wonders what further simplification may be possible. A transcendent notion one gets for models is that precisions of formulas are inconsequential if they do not translate in physical effects in real dives. Such a notion is key to remaining skeptical about models, and their subsequent complex equations. Its ideal for writers of decompression models to speak from the point of diving such decompression models themselves, such as Wienke does, to 'fill the gaps' between what is surmised and what occurs.

Readers can successfully bypass derivations and, when available, go straight to working equations, most of which are algebraic. For those not so mathematically inclined, take confidence that much of the text is useful after ignoring its math. However, should Wienke choose to write a future edition, there is opportunity to expound topics substantially to widen this book's audience: referencing sources for charts, tables and graphs, further explain concepts, visual describe the math [Mo Value graphs from BDPA were eliminated in TDD, for example.] It would help for readers to read the appendix first, to get further grounding in basic concepts before starting from Chapter One.

So who is this book for? Of paramount value, anyone who wants to know the comparative anatomy of decompression models. By studying its calculations and assumptions, the reader, particular a technical diver, will understand the limits of the tables generated by programs and adjust their dives accordingly. If divers are equally intrigued by the escape velocity of the earth, the ecliptic plane, supercomputer history and a brief Einstein E=mc2 link [relatively speaking], yes, Virginia, its here too.

I am supposed to be one of the people this book is written for - a PhD chemist. I bought the book to learn about technical diving. However, if one was to take out all the extraneous material there would be maybe 150 pages left. I did not buy a book to read about cosmology, or gravitation, or Hubbles constant and that is what a whole lot of the book is like -unrelated material. Now, granted I think that a technical diver should be educated but these subjects are treated with such brevity that if you do not already know the material - forget it. Most people will NOT find partial differential equations to be "simple mathematical statements". I loved the Epochal Panoramas on page 236. You are told to look at Figures 12-14 and told the interplay, diversity, timescale, and complexity are boundless - period. Then follows the phosphate, carbon, nitogen , and sulfur cycles in the ocean depicted as diagrams -that's it!!
Page 103-104 (Table one) lists the densities of the elements one through 94 ...huh? Knowing Z, A, and delta for the lanthanides and actinides may enrich your life but it will not do anything for you knowledge on Technical Diving (by the way what happened to the rest of the elements???). By the way, my view that most physicists know little to no chemistry is futher substantiated by the erroneous equations on page 77. CO3 should be CO3(2-) and Na2 and K2 should be 2Na(+) and 2K(+). I will let you figure out what charge if any should be on O - an oxygen ATOM.

A long-awaited and much-needed book, the most complete and comprehensive reference work published to date on technical diving. It covers all aspects of the technical side of shallow diving to deep diving. Wienke brings into perspective the details of the mechanics from the fundamentals to the advanced materials. Whether you want a history of biophysical models of gas absorption, the importance of both free and dissolved phase transfer in gas absorption and elmination, a presentation-with tables and formulae-on critical tensions, M-values, and phase volumes, or a discussion of bubbles, nucleation, and biosystems, you will find each topic in detail in several chapters on aspects of decompression.

Wienke's strong knowledge of physics is apparent as he discusses mixed gases and decompression or oxygen dose. His depth of understanding is equally notable in his presentation of other related topics, such as pressure, buoyancy, ocean currents, atmospheric gases, waves and tides, or pressure and depth gauges. He even includes a chapter on diving maladies, especially as related to technical diving. Each chapter of the book is followed by a set of review exercises and examples as well as an extensive list of additional reading.

Overall, a very useful book and reference tool. Tables and figures throughout provide visual reinforcement of the topics.

This book is the culmination of many years of research and careful development of topics presented. Technical bits and fragments are scattered in the diving literature and lore, where some are developed but most are undeveloped in scope and framework. The topic span is very large, covering micro-science to macro-science. The 488 pages could easily cover 4888 pages. The book is intended as both a reference and learning tool, with bibliography and sample problems and exercises. It's suitable as a college textbook on technical diving, or baseline source in commercial, military, scientific, and research diving training

Recently developed and released RGBM (reduced gradient bubble model) tables, software, meters, and protocols are also described and couched against their scientific underpinnings, at least thru mid-2001. Many of you know this model, more particularly its application to mixed gas, decompression, extended range, and technical diving, has been a diving revolution of sorts.

Hope you enjoy it -- and agree with my 5-star rating. It's bound in durable and attractive hard cover fabric, and should last a very long time on anybody's shelf.

I just could not wait to get my hands on this book, which made the read all the more disappointing. Basically, Technical Diving in Depth is a poorly organized mishmash of Dr. Wienke's ground breaking published scientific work pulled together with a smattering of useful diving information to make a book. It also includes a lot of material almost completely irrelevant to diving such as a chapter on "Gravitation and Solar Radiation"; there is even a section on rotational precession, but the real gem is the section on stellar evolution. Yeah, I always ponder stellar evolution 80 feet down on a steep coral wall. Much of the material in the latter part of the book is a grab-bag of the basic knowledge one would acquire in the course of a obtaining a bachelors degree the physical sciences presented in Reader's Digest form. Is Dr. Wienke trying to impress us with equations, does he think he is writing a comprehensive physics book? He accomplishes neither.

Several previous reviewers have conjectured that they could not understand the material because it is too hard and Dr. Wieke is so much smarter than they are. No - the material is just presented badly. A good scientist can communicate complex ideas to any reasonably intelligent person if they try (e.g. Henry Bent's `The Second Law' and anything written by Richard Feynman). That is what a teacher does.

One of the most striking examples of the complete lack of organization of this book occurs right off the bat. There is a section on the First and Second Law of Thermodynamics but it comes after the presentation of the Ideal Gas Laws. WHAT? How could a physicist do this? Well easy, Dr. Wienke makes no effort to establish the relationship between the laws of thermodynamics and the gas laws which he should know are quite sequitur. He is just regurgitating material helter-skelter out of his old first year physics books. If the good reader wishes to learn basic physics, my old copy of Halliday and Resnick is a much better resource. And please do not try to learn any chemistry from this book, a couple of the equations are just plain wrong. But the sin of sins is that little of the technical material is ever related to practical aspects of scuba diving - there are few examples and no effort is spent on providing anyone who does not already know the science any sense of relevance. Gas Laws and indeed any of the concepts in this book would be easy to teach in the context of diving (even the equations) because all the available examples are practical, visual and relate directly to diving safety; you will find none of that here.

Dr. Wienke is responsible for much of the research leading to the algorithms used in dive computers to estimate the extent of tissue saturation of breathable gasses under pressure - extremely admirable and useful work. His work has changed diving much for the better. I bought the book looking for just this work (only to later find it all on the web). But even here, he does not come out and clearly explain the physical and biological problems or the mathematical approximations. The equations ramble about almost oblivious to each other and the reader. It made me wonder if the obfuscation was just careless writing or intentional. It also made me wonder if some of the previous reviewers were afraid to say that the emperor wears no cloths. In any event, I concluded that the book's editor had to be just too intimidated by the material to make any useful contribution to the final work. No one around Dr. Wienke knew enough about what he was trying to say to be able to tell him the book was a mess.

It appears that Dr. Wienke wrote this book as a text for a course in advanced technical diving. I suppose the book could serve that purpose but only to a very select group of students and much of the material would waste their time.

So this book has no real audience. The technical material is beyond anyone without the background in physics, chemistry or engineering that would give them access to the math and such technical folk will find much of the material a poor reflection of that which they are already familiar. Scientists should look for Dr. Wienke valuable contributions to diving science on the web and in the scientific literature. Non-technical folk should continue toward more advanced diving certification through approved courses. And I'm out 58 bucks plus shipping.

This nifty little book (488 pages) presents more information than many encyclopedias of diving. It is 'nifty' in the sense that each chapter is accompanied by corroborating physical equations, questions for comprehension and 'to the point references'; 'little' in the sense that it doesn't fatigue the hands and arms to hold and read (as happens with the latest NOAA textbook); and it presents in one small package diving background information available no place else.

It starts off, as a book on technical diving should, with discussions of gas kinetics, critical tensions and phase volumes, altitude situations and then gets into decompression and mixed gases. What follows are extremely interesting discussions of basic fresh and salt water physics, seed and bubble responses and hyperbaric chambers, tables and meters and it is here that he gets into the reduced gradient bubble model validation and testing. This is the RGBM that is now being used in many dive computers.

As if this is not enough, we are treated to sections on gravity, solar radiation and earth sciences. It is not until we get into section 11 that we see any discussions of diving medicine - but after all, that's not what the book is about.

The last three sections discuss biosystems of bubble nucleation, offer computing algorithms and an interesting but puzzling section on wind and water motion as they affect the earth.

I highly recommend this gem of a book. It will be startling to you (as it was to me) to find out how little you know about the physical world that affects divers.

Ernest Campbell, MD
Diving Medicine

I've had this book for but a few weeks, already a terribly useful resource; terrible due to its textbook format. We're talking zero pictures, not a single pop-up paper puppet and mind-numbing, tri-colored graphs, only. That said, this tomb is a complete encyclopedia, full of enough information to build a deep water secret base, the kind James Bond infiltrates from time to time. Once again, however, extended bouts of research within its pages instigate memories of a psych course I once took, "Cognitive Analysis of a Harvard History Professor".

(I didn't go to Harvard).

If you're a nerd and want to dig into diving physics, then its a pretty good book. I can't see this book helping tech divers, nor can I see this book being used as a text to teach diving physics to future researchers in the area {poorly organized, and it doesn't have a consistent idea of the target reader's education level. . . in some areas he's teaching algebra, in others he's assuming you have an doctorate in gas-tissue dynamics}.

Wienke is definitely (one of) _the_ expert(s) in this field, and to be sure $40 is a steal for this "textbook," but only if your goal with the book is to really nerd it up about diving physics.

The book was owned by a fellow diver and I was able to read it during a drive to a distant dive site. I had plenty of distractions but was able to stay attached to most of the content. Aside from requiring an extensive background foundation in Science, Chemistry, Diving in general, and High-Level Math, I was able to comprehend most of the written material.
It is undoubtedly almost impossible for a person like Dr. Wienke to carry on an intelligent discussion when majority of the population has no common educational background to begin with. I'm sure that Albert Einstein had the same problem as our other scientific scholors do. My hat is off to Dr. Wienke and I admire an individual with such a diverse lifestyle and educational background. I only wish the cost of this book was more in line with the working class of divers out here like me who can't really afford a $60. book. I highly recommned this book, but beware, you must be more intellignet than a high school graduate to fully appreciate and comprehend this material. Four stars! A++++

Bruce Wienke's "Technical Diving In Depth" is an amazing, one of a kind compilation of information and research for the technical, military and commercial diving community as well as physiologists, mathematicians and physicists in the field of decompression and decompression algorithms.

"Technical Diving in Depth" has bridged the gaps left unexplained throughout the last century of decompression theory. Bruce Wienke's work on the origin and growth of bubbles will form the basis of all new modern decompression algorithms.

"Technical Diving in Depth" is on our "must read" list and is a great reference tool that can be used by all.