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Some of the best helmet stories in print
Deep Dark and Dangerous is a splendid collection of early, gritty, helmet diving stories.
The tales come from the north-west of the USA, an area that I have not seen covered before. The type of diving work described is largely salvage work, the toughest sort of diving there is. The diving conditions are also the most challenging, with poor visibility, cold water and often, treacherous currents.
The author, Rebecca Harrison, has carefully researched the lives of many of the toughest and most accomplished of the divers of the period, which extends from the 1800s into the 1900s. She has colourfully described many of the gruelling and sometimes gruesome jobs the divers carried out. Indeed, the book is an excellent representation of the work of the early helmet divers.
ADVENTURE
The feeling the reader is left with, is that these men (and in one case, lady) earned every penny they got. The book rolls easily from one adventure to another. Diver-readers will enjoy sharing the experiences, though probably shivering and wincing with many of them. Non-diver readers will certainly be shocked and amazed at the courage and tenacity of the selected divers. However unbelievable the stories may sound, they are authentic, true accounts.
Much of the material comes from 'oral history' and the author is not a diver herself. So we have to forgive a few historical and technical inaccuracies. The main thing is the quality of the stories!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this action-packed book. Unlike many other books about helmet diving, it is not about an ego, boasting about his personal prowess. It's about remarkable feats of a selection of some of the most capable, helmet divers, as seen through someone else's eyes.
The account of a classic fight with a 9-foot octopus whilst entangled in the netting of a fish trap at 85 feet, is the best I have read so far. The surface tenders had the unusual benefit of listening to the diver's slow and desperate progress over his telephone link.
TRAPPED
Certainly the most melancholy story was that of the diver who drowned when he was trapped in a trench cave-in and had his helmet dislodged by falling debris. The surface tenders couldn't haul him up, so they sent for another diver to recover the body. That diver turned out to be the son of the dead diver.
These are amongst the best helmet diving stories you will ever read. I strongly recommend this truly fascinating book.
Deep Dark and Dangerous, by Rebecca Harrison, 89 pages, BookSurge Publications, 2006, ISBN 1-4196-2583-7; available from: www.booksurge.com; email: orders@booksurge.com; Tel: + 1 866-308-6235. Check also the website: www.deepdarkanddangerous.com.
- John Bevan
Underwater Contractor International Magazine
January/February 2009
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Find out what it is really like to work underwater, August 3, 2007
I am a Pacific Northwest diver with an interest in the history of diving and in particular, the hard hat divers who were pioneers in the fields of underwater construction, demolition and salvage. I was lucky to find Deep Dark and Dangerous by Rebecca Harrison.
It is hard to explain to people what it is like to dive in the swirling current, low visibility and bone chilling cold of the pacific North West. It is hard to explain to people the fears that arise underwater and the bravery of those people who made their livings or lost their lives working as hard hat divers. However, regardless of whether you are a diver or not this well written and well researched book can take you there in words and striking pictures.
Go ahead and meet the McCray's. Walter and his son Art were a diving dynasty, even after the son had to recover his fathers lifeless body from and underwater trench one day and go back to finish the job the next day. Another character you will meet is Fred Devine whose exploits covered diving on a train wreck in a river in central Oregon to building the most powerful salvage barge on the west coast (and that you can still see in Astoria, Oregon).
As a diver the story of the sinking and then the ingenious salvaging of the cargo of the Diamond Knott is special because shortly after reading the story I was able to dive that famous wreck and examine the work that they did for myself.
If you are an actual diver, an armchair diver or just have an interest in how men explored and worked underwater in the early 1900's I strongly recommend Deep Dark and Dangerous: On the bottom with the Northwest Salvage Divers by Rebecca Harrison.
It's easy to be amazed at what we see. It's even more amazing to learn of the challenges and sacrifice of the men who have worked below the waves in the Pacific Northwest. Indeed, if you live in the Northwest and are interested in its history at all, this book is a must read. If you're interested in true stories of pure bravery and grit, read this book! Ms. Harrison has interwoven the lore of the deep diving profession with the intrigue of its suspense and dangers. Have you ever seen a ship? Have you ever crossed a bridge? Learn how they are affected by the work where few ever dare to go.
Andy Burlingham, diver
"A frightening yet fascinating trade, salvage diving stands as the Northwest's most dangerous occupation. Over half of salvage divers perish on treacherous dives in frigid waters. With her compelling and illuminating book, Rebecca Harrison chronicles the adventures of intrepid men and women as they salvage sunken cargo, repair bridges or lay underwater cable. As you read, be prepared for struggling with deadly Devil Fish, retrieving silver booty, and wrestling a sunken locomotive from the turbulent Deschutes. Of course, the big stories are the brave-hearted characters themselves who chose such a dangerous profession. Slender, sixteen-year-old Marie DeRock inherits her father's risky trade because he has no sons. And who would have guessed that adventurous Walt Morey, beloved author of Gentle Ben, dove long before he wrote? Harrison's
clear portrayal of many breathtaking dives guarantees that readers will
understand the depths of the Northwest's brawny waters." ~Craig Lesley
Author of Burning Fence and The Sky Fisherman
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Deep, Dark and Dangerous : On the Bottom With the Northwest Salvage Divers
Rebecca_Harrison, April 29, 2009
Some of the best helmet stories in printDeep Dark and Dangerous is a splendid collection of early, gritty, helmet diving stories.
The tales come from the north-west of the USA, an area that I have not seen covered before. The type of diving work described is largely salvage work, the toughest sort of diving there is. The diving conditions are also the most challenging, with poor visibility, cold water and often, treacherous currents.
The author, Rebecca Harrison, has carefully researched the lives of many of the toughest and most accomplished of the divers of the period, which extends from the 1800s into the 1900s. She has colourfully described many of the gruelling and sometimes gruesome jobs the divers carried out. Indeed, the book is an excellent representation of the work of the early helmet divers.
ADVENTURE
The feeling the reader is left with, is that these men (and in one case, lady) earned every penny they got. The book rolls easily from one adventure to another. Diver-readers will enjoy sharing the experiences, though probably shivering and wincing with many of them. Non-diver readers will certainly be shocked and amazed at the courage and tenacity of the selected divers. However unbelievable the stories may sound, they are authentic, true accounts.
Much of the material comes from 'oral history' and the author is not a diver herself. So we have to forgive a few historical and technical inaccuracies. The main thing is the quality of the stories!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this action-packed book. Unlike many other books about helmet diving, it is not about an ego, boasting about his personal prowess. It's about remarkable feats of a selection of some of the most capable, helmet divers, as seen through someone else's eyes.
The account of a classic fight with a 9-foot octopus whilst entangled in the netting of a fish trap at 85 feet, is the best I have read so far. The surface tenders had the unusual benefit of listening to the diver's slow and desperate progress over his telephone link.
TRAPPED
Certainly the most melancholy story was that of the diver who drowned when he was trapped in a trench cave-in and had his helmet dislodged by falling debris. The surface tenders couldn't haul him up, so they sent for another diver to recover the body. That diver turned out to be the son of the dead diver.
These are amongst the best helmet diving stories you will ever read. I strongly recommend this truly fascinating book.
Deep Dark and Dangerous, by Rebecca Harrison, 89 pages, BookSurge Publications, 2006, ISBN 1-4196-2583-7; available from: www.booksurge.com; email: orders@booksurge.com; Tel: + 1 866-308-6235. Check also the website: www.deepdarkanddangerous.com.
- John Bevan
Underwater Contractor International Magazine
January/February 2009
(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
Deep, Dark and Dangerous : On the Bottom With the Northwest Salvage Divers
Rebecca_Harrison, April 29, 2009
Find out what it is really like to work underwater, August 3, 2007I am a Pacific Northwest diver with an interest in the history of diving and in particular, the hard hat divers who were pioneers in the fields of underwater construction, demolition and salvage. I was lucky to find Deep Dark and Dangerous by Rebecca Harrison.
It is hard to explain to people what it is like to dive in the swirling current, low visibility and bone chilling cold of the pacific North West. It is hard to explain to people the fears that arise underwater and the bravery of those people who made their livings or lost their lives working as hard hat divers. However, regardless of whether you are a diver or not this well written and well researched book can take you there in words and striking pictures.
Go ahead and meet the McCray's. Walter and his son Art were a diving dynasty, even after the son had to recover his fathers lifeless body from and underwater trench one day and go back to finish the job the next day. Another character you will meet is Fred Devine whose exploits covered diving on a train wreck in a river in central Oregon to building the most powerful salvage barge on the west coast (and that you can still see in Astoria, Oregon).
As a diver the story of the sinking and then the ingenious salvaging of the cargo of the Diamond Knott is special because shortly after reading the story I was able to dive that famous wreck and examine the work that they did for myself.
If you are an actual diver, an armchair diver or just have an interest in how men explored and worked underwater in the early 1900's I strongly recommend Deep Dark and Dangerous: On the bottom with the Northwest Salvage Divers by Rebecca Harrison.
It's easy to be amazed at what we see. It's even more amazing to learn of the challenges and sacrifice of the men who have worked below the waves in the Pacific Northwest. Indeed, if you live in the Northwest and are interested in its history at all, this book is a must read. If you're interested in true stories of pure bravery and grit, read this book! Ms. Harrison has interwoven the lore of the deep diving profession with the intrigue of its suspense and dangers. Have you ever seen a ship? Have you ever crossed a bridge? Learn how they are affected by the work where few ever dare to go.
Andy Burlingham, diver
Deep, Dark and Dangerous : On the Bottom With the Northwest Salvage Divers
Rebecca_Harrison, April 29, 2009
"A frightening yet fascinating trade, salvage diving stands as the Northwest's most dangerous occupation. Over half of salvage divers perish on treacherous dives in frigid waters. With her compelling and illuminating book, Rebecca Harrison chronicles the adventures of intrepid men and women as they salvage sunken cargo, repair bridges or lay underwater cable. As you read, be prepared for struggling with deadly Devil Fish, retrieving silver booty, and wrestling a sunken locomotive from the turbulent Deschutes. Of course, the big stories are the brave-hearted characters themselves who chose such a dangerous profession. Slender, sixteen-year-old Marie DeRock inherits her father's risky trade because he has no sons. And who would have guessed that adventurous Walt Morey, beloved author of Gentle Ben, dove long before he wrote? Harrison'sclear portrayal of many breathtaking dives guarantees that readers will
understand the depths of the Northwest's brawny waters." ~Craig Lesley
Author of Burning Fence and The Sky Fisherman