In my very first entry in My Diving Life, I mentioned that I would endeavour to post on this blog any diving related books that I think would be of interest to fellow divers. Diving books I like reading most are books about shipwrecks. Books about shipwrecks generally have 3 elements. The first element is the history of the ship itself, its construction and service life. The second element is the events of what went wrong, why it became and shipwreck. And the third element is the diving element, where the reader gets to read about the adventures of another diver diving a once great ship.  Most books on shipwrecks that I read are about deep wrecks. Deep wrecks seem to have an added sense of danger to them. Logistics in diving deep wrecks seem to be far greater than diving a shallow coastal wreck, and there is always the anticipation that something can go wrong. Wrecks like these make for a good read.

"The Lusitania Controversies" by Gary Gentile is a favourite read of mine. Behind the Titanic, the Lusitania would have to be one of the most well known shipwrecks in history.  "The Lusitania Controversies" is actually a two part volume. Book One is entitled Atrocity of War and Wreck-Diving History. Book Two is entitled Dangergerous Descents into Shipwrecks and Law. One thing I really enjoyed about these books is that it had all 3 elements I mentioned above, plus more. Lusitania Controversies could also be considered an autobiography (makes good reading) and the reader gets a very good insight into wreck diving history.

As I'm not great at writing good book reviews, I've stolen the following from the author's website (hope he doesn't get too angry with me for plagiarizing).

"THE LUSITANIA CONTROVERSIES: The Lusitania is one of the most notorious shipwrecks in seafaring history, not only because of the circumstances of her sinking - the result of a German torpedo - or because of the enormous loss of life that resulted, but because the wreck has come to symbolize what is achievable in the realm of underwater exploration.

These two volumes tread all new ground - and water. The untold story that you will read in the pages of these books you will not have read before. The Lusitania Controversies begins with the construction of the largest liner afloat at the time of her launching, in 1907. The story proceeds swiftly into war, then takes the reader on a breathtaking sweep through wreck-diving history - from its meager beginnings in the 1950's to the epic-making mixed-gas diving expedition in 1994 - and beyond. "

If you're like me, and have a keen interested in diving, shipwrecks and history, I can almost guarantee that you will enjoy reading The Lusitania Controversies. If you haven't already read these books, do yourself a favour and grab yourself a copy. The books are available directly through the author and can be purchased over the internet via his wesite at www.ggentile.com (that's where I purchased my copies).

Note: I have NO affiliation with these books other than purchasing then for my own purposes. I posted this on here to let anyone who might be interested in these books know that the book exists. If you decide you want to get yourself a copy, I will not profit in any way, shape or form.