The Big Fat Scuba Book List For Ocean Lovers

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Do you have a bit of surface interval on your hands but still looking to fuel you passion for scuba? Then why not pick up an awesome scuba book and dive in.

With everything from True Accounts, Marine Biology Journals, Murder Mysteries to Fantasy Tales there is bound to be something in here to fuel your diving addiction. If that’s not enough then you can always check out our downloadable Extremely Big Fat Scuba Book list.

Want to learn but don’t have the time? Then maybe a good scuba documentary list is more up your street.

These are our top picks but if you have a book you think merits being on the list don’t be shy. Leave us a comment below or send us a message and we’ll see if we have some editing to do.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you go through them to make a purchase we will earn a commission. Our aim is to help our readers through these links so everything we promote will be high quality products we personally believe in.

True Account Scuba Books

In 1991 boat captain Bill Nagle led a team of divers to explore an unknown wreck 230 feet under frigid Atlantic waters sixty miles off New Jersey. What they found was a U-boat that according to all records shouldn’t be there, so why was it?

To know that they were going to first need to identify the wreck, which so far had no marks and very few surfaced artefacts. Over the next six years teams of divers would embark on a quest to solve the mystery. Pushing themselves to greater and greater limits as the wreck failed to give up its secrets. Some paying the ultimate price.

At first bitter rivals, John Chatterton and Richie Kohler would become bonded by their shared mission. Braving the depths, dangerous currents and twisted minefield of the U-Who to unveil its identity and the final moments of the crew buried there.

Kursons account is thrilling and complex based on evidence collected through many different sources and confirmed by the divers themselves.

Following the story of some of the divers who died on this mission Bernie Chowdhury has written an autobiographical account of their lives.

As expert diver and close friend, Bernie Chowdhury tells the story of Father and son scuba diving team Chris and Chrissy Rouse on their quest to achieve widespread recognition in the diving world.

Following them from their beginnings as novice cave divers through to their mission to try and identify an undocumented German WW2 U-boat (nicknamed U-Who) lying at 230 feet close to the New York Harbour. Bernie introduces us to the thrill seeking, competitive and often dangerous world of deep sea diving at a time when a lot of the techniques where still highly experimental.

On the way we get to meet some legendary figures and learn of the sports highest achievements and gruesome tragedies. After having his own difficulties and then hearing of the final outcome of the Rouses expedition, Chowdhury develops an interest in diving psychology. He questions our addiction to a sport that is so dangerous and our perception of risk.

As an in depth accident analysis and introduction to the birth of technical diving, The last dive will leave you with new knowledge and appreciation of the sport.

In 2004 David Shaw broke the record of deepest rebreather dive at 270m. He had travelled half way across the world to a site called the Bushmans Hole in the Kalahari Desert and squeezed through a fissure barely big enough to fit him to do it. What he wasn’t expecting was what he found at the bottom; a body.

An Australian pilot, Shaw had after only five years of part time diving gone from novice to one of the worlds most accomplished and ambitious divers. He did so with the help of well renowned trainer and eventual friend Don Shirley, a man who would help him plan a recovery mission.

So, just after new years 2005 the two men head back to the cave. Twenty Five minutes later one man is dead and the other is badly injured.

Finch, an experienced cave diver himself, takes us on the journey with them following one man as he spends the next ten hours after his friends death struggling to survive. Introducing the reader to the advanced breathing systems, electronics and gas mixes of advanced technical diving where the smallest breakdown in judgement or equipment can make the difference between life and death.

As a female diver in the male dominated arena of deep dive record setting, Verna Van Shaik tells us her story.

Chronicling her progression as a technical diver she tells us of her struggle for coveted spots as a support diver on Nuno Gomez’s record breaking dives. Illuminating what it’s like to be excluded, ignored or simply not being given opportunities given to less experienced male divers. Also describing the human nature and motivation it takes for a person to keep pushing against not just these obstacles but the chilling consequences of a mistake at great depths.

Disillusioned in her search for heroes and role models when she finds them as flawed and ego-driven as everyone else, she strikes out on her own. After her successful record dive in the Bushmans Hole in South Africa Verna also focuses on the ill-fated body recovery mission taken by David Shaw only days later (Diving into Darkness) for which she was a surface marshal.

Fatally Flawed differs from other books in this category as it is a non-technical account of deep diving. Focusing more on the motivations for the sport and diving as a way to explore and learn about who you are. A recommended read for every explorer and an insight into the personal struggle of a woman trying to compete with a masculine world.

Written with a somewhat autobiographical style Jill Heinearth (a well renowned cave diver) gives us a firsthand account of the highest achievements of her career. Going into detail about her role in helping to understand a part of our planet that we know less about than outer space.

Starting out with her expedition inside B-15, a large chunk of Antarctica that broke off in 2000. We learn about her work helping hydrologists track underground pathways of water, discoveries of ancient artefacts, help in discovering new species and her role in Dr. Bill Stones Wakulla Springs 2 Project. A project that helped test a sonar mapping device as well as an experimental computer controlled diving system we now know as rebreathers.

Heinearth encompasses a broad range of topics, describing her experiences as a woman in a largely male dominated field as well as personal relationships and her belief in the “7r” gene which is associated with increased risk taking and curiosity. Towards the end of the book she also begins to reflect on her journey and continual involvement in a sector where hundreds of her friends and colleges have died.

Taking us on a journey though wild and undiscovered places, Into the planet helps illustrate the technical skill and split second decision making that comes with cave exploration. She writes about the beauty and danger that comes with testing extremes of human capability.

The book tells the story of two real life treasure hunters and wreck divers John Catterton and John Mattera on their quest to find a real life sunken pirate ship.

We follow them as they chart the life of infamous pirate Joseph Bannister and his ship the Golden Fleece in an effort to find its final resting place. Having searched almost every place the wreck is believed to lie the divers struggle against other treasure hunters, governments and each other in a quest to find the second pirate ship ever to be identified.

A blend of stories from their own adventurous lives and real life accounts of pirates, will the risk be worth the reward?

Audrey Mestre was a beautiful French marine biology student who in 1996 set out to find a very particular man for her studies. Little did she know that the meeting would change her life forever.

The man she was looking for? Francisco “Pipin” Ferreras, a world champion in the sport of free diving. Sharing a love for the ocean the pair begin an epic romance and when the couple moves to Miami Audrey takes up free diving for herself, quickly breaking the female record at 125m. The pair trains, tours and motivates each other and soon becomes the record-breaking power couple of free diving.

That is until a fateful day in 2002 when Audrey attempts to break the world record with a dive of 170m off the coast of the Dominican Republic. A dive that should have lasted little more than three minutes leaves her underwater for eight and a half. Audrey surfaces unconscious and is later pronounced dead.

Pipin has now lost the two great loves in his life, his partner and the ocean which took her from him. Throughout his career Pipin has been followed with controversy over his methods and none more so than than the dive of his wife’s death. For the first time he addresses this in his book and explains his complicated love and obsession for such a dangerous and competitive sport.

Author of “SS Thstlegorm” John Kean takes us through his decision to leave the rat race as a stockbroker for the life of a diving instructor in Sharm el Sheikh.

With honest, gripping and hilarious accounts of over a decade of true stories. From being chased by sharks, being arrested, breaking bones to being blown up by terrorists. By far the best is the one that gave the book its name.

Although less technical than some of the books on this list, Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda is still highly informative and definitely doesn’t lack drama. A funny look at the professional side of diving and expat lives of those who choose to pursue it.

Just off the coast of Vietnam is a typhoon prone stretch of water known as the dragon sea. Hundreds of feet under the Dragon Sea is the Hoi An wreck, filled with a trove of fifteenth century porcelain. A rare thing in a world full of dredgers, cable-layers and treasure hunters.

To raise it from the deep archaeologist Mensun Bound will need to team up with financer Ong, team leader (and author) Frank Pope and 160 crewmen for some serious saturation diving.

The risk is incredibly high but the reward may be even higher. Not only will this find revolutionise how people think about Vietnam but the pieces will auction for a fortune. Or so they think, the only thing they didn’t account for is the decisions of the people they choose to trust.

Marine Biology Scuba Books

The octopus is a creature which is magnificently dissimilar to human beings. Having branched off our own evolutionary tree millions of years ago they have adapted to change colour and shape, have so many nerves in their arms they can practically think for themselves and taste with their skin.

However they also display qualities we have thought of as singularly human. With highly individual personalities Sy Montgomery befriends an array of different octopuses from various different countries. Displaying cleverness and curiosity in a variety of different ways Montgomery explores our understanding of consciousness and what we think of as a soul.

Did you know that once upon a time whales walked on land? From dog like creatures to animals that can live 200 years, dive miles deep and cross entire ocean basins, palaeontologist Nick Pyenson shows us what the past can tell us about the present and future this magnificent species.

We follow him from the ice fields of Antartica to the Deserts of Chili as he tries to answer some of the biggest questions we have about whales. As he weaves a story from his research we see how challenging they are to study both those that existed in the past but also the ones we share the world with now.

In 2010 trainer Dawn Brancheau was performing with Tilikum, a resident orca at SeaWorld Orlando, in front of a crowd of people when she was killed. Although it was the most publicised marine park attack, unfortunately it was not the only one.

However after a two decade long fight with SeaWorld, Dawns death did solidify regulations, disallowing trainers from being in the water with any orca. Kirby follows the journey up until this point as warnings were given by several trainers and attacks got more violent. He also covers the media backlash as witnesses challenge SeaWorlds glossy image and the lethal consequences of keeping killer whales in captivity.

The Mollusks most well known species are Octopi, squid and slugs but they are also the group home to the unique creatures which create seashells.

Growing through their lives the creatures excrete their armours in spurts which causes a variety of shapes, patterns and colours. In the first part of this book Scales goes into detail of their very special biology.

In the second part of the book she explores how the shells of these creatures have been used over thousands of years as jewellery, currencies, sex and death symbols and most famously food. From the early days of being exchanged for human lives to souvenirs to their use in amazing new drugs.

At risk from overfishing, pollution and ocean acidification which could melt the shells off their backs, mollusks like many marine species are now at risk. However instead of dwelling on the bad Scales shows us how our lives, which have been interlinked for so long could help heal the rift between our two species.

When a two day old monk seal is attacked and abandoned on the beach officials must decide to save the animal or let nature take it’s course. As a member of the most endangered species in U.S. waters Kauai Pup 2 (KP2) is too precious to loose.

Taken to the only qualified caretaker to accept the job Williams adopts the animal and begins to study him and gather crucial data that could help save a species set for extinction in 50 years.

A boisterous and affectionate animal KP2 also shows us how humans and animals play a role in each others lives.

Sharks; creatures who, like Marmite, tend to inspire a love or hate relationship.

Circling the World Journalist Juliet Eilperin is in pursuit of these two groups of people. From shark fin trading halls in Hong Kong to native Papua New Guinean shark summoners we see that sharks are still an object of obsession. An obsession that could lead to their extinction or their salvation.

Dating back 400 million years, Sharks have endured major mass extinctions, seeing the dinosaurs come and go. However until the last decade not much has been known about them. Now thanks to technology, tags let us journey with them and help us understand their lives. It is also knowledge which will help us to rethink our relationship with them which is crucial if we are to coexist.

Although your mind may jump to conclusions at the title, this book is more wet and wild than you could ever imagine. A collection of weird and fascinating facts about mating sea life, Marah J Hardt uniquely connects the topic of sex with sustainable oceans.

With whales engaging in lively threesomes, doubly endowed sharks and pee spraying lobsters this is an exploration like no other.

However with the human intrusion of overfishing, climate change and pollution disrupting creative procreation, we have to start asking ourselves how we can promote rather than prevent successful sex in the sea.

When a dolphin dies from stress in Richard O’Barry’s arms he realised most of his career as a dolphin trainer had been a mistake.

He had made a successful life for himself training these highly intelligent and talented creatures for aquatic theme parks, movies and TV. However now he can see that by these very characteristics keeping them in captivity was cruel and morally wrong.

Once the pride of a billion dollar industry now he is their enemy. Dedicating his life to returning dolphins to their natural habitats. A pursuit he is not afraid to get arrested for. Something we can see for ourselves in his documentary ‘The Cove’.

Murder Mystery Scuba Books

Journalist Matt Oliver has returned to Belize after a thirty year absence, just one day after a shocking shark attack. Police suspect his friend and local dive business owner for being responsible. However as Matt tries to clear Jacks name he gets drawn in to a world of corruption and evil.

With government officials, environmental activists and just bout any money grabber exploiting the jungles and seas the once vibrant life of Belize is under threat. After making some chilling discoveries Matt finds himself in deeper trouble with the powers that be, now he is the one being hunted.

Part of a two book series (can each be read stand alone). Meredith “Mer” Cavallo is a marine biologist who works part time as a diving instructor in the Florida Keys. What she thought would be a laid back life turns out to be full of intrigue, danger and mystery.

In Adrift, the first novel, Mer rescues a diver who claims to have seen a ghost on a popular diving wreck. After volunteering to help with the ghost hunt and a second diver goes missing the detective starts finding her involvement suspicious. Determined to find a rational explanation Mer embarks on her own hunt and when someone tries to kill her she knows the truth is about to surface.

In Beached, the second novel, Mer finds herself in the middle of a hunt for an 18th century shipwreck. However even with the help of a marine salvager, fiery professor and island friends she is in over her head. Especially since there is a very real modern pirate who will kill to get to the treasure first.

After surviving a brutal shark attack Terry rebuilds her life in Mexico starting her own dive operation. However after unwittingly crossing paths with an international drug dealer Terry meets NYPD detective Joe Manetta. The two begin a romance that takes them through cases of international intrigue, terrorist destruction, treasure hunting and murder mysteries.

Ethan Marston was the best of the best when it came to taking down the criminals of Miami. But now he’s just a humble bar owner. that is until he gets roped into a series of investigations.

Ranging from sex trafficking, radiation poisoning, missing persons, costal bombings to smuggling rings this six book series has it all.

Mike Scott is a photo journalist, a career which finds him often in the middle of unusual and criminal occurrences. After witnessing the systematic destruction of coral reefs by a marine developer he goes on to break up international rug smuggling rings, help hunt for treasure, decode secret wrecks, uncover Myan murder cover-ups and so much more as part of a ten book series.

In 1860 newly ordained vicar Alexander Ferguson takes up a parish on the remote Scottish island of Harris. Hoping to uncover the truth about selkies, a seal people who he may be descended from. However it will be more than a century after he is gone that the house on the dunes gives up its secrets. When Ruth and Michael buy the house and discover the bones of a baby buried underneath. A baby whose legs are fused together like that of a mermaid.

Fantasy Scuba Books

Kahlen has lived by the rules of the sisterhood for years, patiently waiting for a life she can call her own. She is a weapon against humans you must not form any bonds. However this all changes when Akinli walks into her life and she can’t bear to live by the rules anymore.

After one of his captains catches a mermaid in his net, merchant Mr Hancock makes a fortune exhibiting it to London crowds. He is quickly pulled into high society where he is swept up by famed courtesan Angelica Neal. However as the title implies a mermaid and a courtesan are more similar than you think and by capturing either one you put yourself at peril.

Once a fisherman trapped a mermaid in his net. He was lonely and she was beautiful and although he couldn’t bear to keep her he evoked a magic so she could walk on the shore. Eventually she became his wife and they lived together for many years in a house by the ocean. That is until the day that the fisherman did not return from sea.

Hearing a rumour of a mermaid P.T. Barnum seeks Amelia out to make him a fortune as an attraction in his American museum. Agreeing to his deal Amelia plays the mermaid for Barnum but little does she know she was now a prisoner in his circus.

Hans Christian Andersen’s original fairy tale is reimagined through a feminist lense. As a young mermaid dreams of freedom from her controlling father and at the same time is drawn to a human boy living on the surface.

Calder White is a merman, in fact he is the only one in a family of murderous sisters. To survive they need to prey on humans however there is one person they want especially, someone they blame for their mothers death. To get close to this man they need to lure him to the water so to do this Calder sets out to seduce his daughter. However there is just one problem, he ends up falling in love. Now he needs to decide between the girl he loves and a family who are about to take matters into their own hands.

When Galen, a Syrena Prince and merman watches Emma single-handedly fight off a shark he knows there is more to her than meets the eye. He figures out she is in some way Syrena and so follows her to her school where the pair work to unlock the secrets of her heritage and a gift that could save Galens kingdom.

I hope you enjoy a good scuba book as much as I do and If you have any suggestions of what you think should go on the list (fiction or non-fiction) comment below or send us a message!

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Katie Braunstein

I have been a traveler my whole life, having been born in Zimbabwe but growing up mostly in the UK. I first got into diving three years ago when I met my partner and fell in love. Since then it has been my passion to share this love of our underwater world with others.