Review
The Complete Diving Guide - The Caribbean (Volume 1) is exactly what it professes to be. Intended to be the first in a series, it looks at the southern islands of the Eastern Caribbean. Each chapter starts with a short island introduction followed by a very specific description of the dive sites, operators and hotels. The write-ups of the dive sites are full of interesting personal experiences. The rest of the chapter provides just the sort of information you need, such as which operators have English speaking dive guides and which recognise the depth limitations of BSAC rather than PADI. Throughout the book's 390 information-packed pages are numerous interesting side panels. One describes the ships that sank in St. Pierre Harbour on Martinique when Mount Pelee erupted in 1902. The resulting dive sites sound so fascinating that I at once booked a trip to the island. Surely this is the acid test of a dive guide? --
Brendan O'Brien, Diver Magazine, October 1998"At last, the Eastern Caribbean has the dive guide it deserves. "
Volume I covers the Caribbean Islands from Dominica to Tobago. The first book of its kind for the area, The Complete Diving Guide - The Caribbean Volume 1 by Colleen Ryan and Brian Savage is meticulously researched and packed with useful information. The book describes over 240 dive sites and covers 50 extensively, and includes full-color underwater site plans.
All in all, the guide contains everything a diver needs to know to decide which island to dive and where to stay, which operators to dive with, which sites to visit, what to expect to see and even which camera lenses to use to capture on film what you actually see. " -- PADI Undersea Journal - First Quarter 1998
"The Complete Diving Guide - The Caribbean (Volume 1) is exactly what it professes to be. Intended to be the first in a series, it looks at the southern islands of the Eastern Caribbean. Each chapter starts with a short island introduction followed by a very specific description of the dive sites, operators and hotels.
The write-ups of the dive sites are full of interesting personal experiences. The rest of the chapter provides just the sort of information you need, such as which operators have english speaking dive guides and which recognise the depth limitations of BSAC rather than PADI.
Throughout the book's 390 information-packed pages are numerous interesting side panels. One describes the ships that sank in St. Pierre Harbour on Martinique when Mount Pelee erupted in 1902. The resulting dive sites sound so fascinating that I at once booked a trip to the island. Surely this is the acid test of a dive guide?" -- Diver Magazine, October 1998, Brendan O'Brien
"This book on the area is a must for visitors and tour group leaders" -- PADI Undersea Journal - Second Quarter 1998
"Three years ago Colleen Ryan and Brian Savage traded in their highly successful London careers for a life cruising the Caribbean on their yacht. And being keen divers they needed a guide to the area.
Dissatisfied with what they found they decided to write and publish their own. It took two years' hard work, the mastering of a whole new set of skills from marine biology to desktop publishing and some dogged determination. The result is the most accurate, useful and interesting guide to Caribbean diving yet published.
The first volume covers the southern part of the Caribbean from Dominica to Tobago, but does not stretch to Bonaire and Curacao. More than 240 dives are described with detailed graphics for 50 sites and most usefully all the dive operators are listed and evaluated.
The book looks as if it has been produced by a slick publishing house with all the resources in the world. It is hard to believe it was compiled by two amateurs in the saloon of their yacht moored off out-of-the-way Caribbean islands. A remarkable achievement and essential reading for anyone planning a diving trip to the area. The only problem is that you will end up wanting to sell up, buy a boat and spend the next several years checking out the dives in detail." -- Dive International, March 1998, Max James
At last, the Eastern Caribbean has the dive guide it deserves. Volume I covers the Caribbean Islands from Dominica to Tobago. The first book of its kind for the area, The Complete Diving Guide - The Caribbean Volume 1 by Colleen Ryan and Brian Savage is meticulously researched and packed with useful information. The book describes over 240 dive sites and covers 50 extensively, and includes full-color underwater site plans. All in all, the guide contains everything a diver needs to know to... -- PADI Undersea Journal, First Quarter 1998
From an article on diving in the Windward islands:
"This book on the area is a must for visitors and tour group leaders" -- PADI Undersea Journal, Second Quarter 1998
The Complete Diving Guide - The Caribbean (Volume 1) is exactly what it professes to be. Intended to be the first in a series, it looks at the southern islands of the Eastern Caribbean. Each chapter starts with a short island introduction followed by a very specific description of the dive sites, operators and hotels.
The write-ups of the dive sites are full of interesting personal experiences. The rest of the chapter provides just the sort of information you need, such as which operators have English speaking dive guides and which recognise the depth limitations of BSAC rather than PADI.
Throughput the book's 390 information-packed pages are numerous interesting side panels. One describes the ships that sank in St. Pierre Harbour on Martinique when Mount Pelee erupted in 1902. The resulting dive sites sound so fascinating that I at once booked a trip to the island. Surely this is the acid test of a dive guide? -- Diver Magazine, October 1998, Brendan O'Brien
Book Description
The book includes descriptions of the 240 dive sites, and 80 dive stores in the area. Full colour island maps show the location of dive sites and dive stores. Dive sites are illustrated by underwater maps and colour photographs and for each island: Full description of the island, including apres dive activities - other water sports, golf, tennis, horse riding, hiking, and nightlife. An overview of the diving environment including underwater terrain (walls, caves, reefs) and a list of all wrecks and their condition. We describe the general conditions regarding sea state, currents, and visibility. Colour underwater maps and descriptions of all dives. Minimum and maximum depths plus a description of the underwater terrain, dive route and marine life. In-depth descriptions of dive facilities based on interviews with all operators. We describe any specialties and capture the style of the dive operation. Summary tables of operator facilities giving details of:
Number of bases
Number of Instructors
Diving Association Affiliations
Languages
Number of dive boats and number of divers per boat
Dive boat facilities: toilets, shade, fresh water showers
Time taken to reach dive sites
Equipment for rent and sale
Photographic equipment for rent and sale
Nitrox availability
Regulations, and safety information, including marine park rules and fees.
Informative sidebars about local marine life, what to look for and where to see it.