Are you a drysuit junkie? Ever dreamt of testing your diving limits in one of the most inhospitable areas on earth?
If you’ve got the wherewithal to get there, Antarctica probably can’t be beat, and Princeton University Press’s WILDGuides just published the third edition of the “Antarctic Dive Guide.”
Written by Lisa Eareckson Kelley and six other contributors, the 144-page book is chock-full of photos and maps from 31 dive sites on the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia. The updated third edition, published on March 25, covers four new dive sites, has revised information on the other 27 sites as well as a new section on the Sea Leopard Project, a campaign to better understand the leopard seals of Antarctica.
The book also sports a brief history of diving in Antarctica — from 1902 with brass diving helmets to the 1960s with scuba gear and then on to drysuits and the establishment of formal diving rules for the region. Additionally, it discusses planning your visit, what to expect when you get there as well as the common sea life of the region.
Personally, I won’t be diving there anytime soon, but it’s still a great read for a vicarious thrill.
The book retails for US$29.95 / UK£19.95 and can be ordered straight from WILDGuides or Amazon Kindle, Apple iBook, Barnes & Noble’s Nook and other online retailers.