Rating: 
Summary: Great book, great story
Review: Picked the book up in the airport, read a bit, bought it, and finished it in less than a day. Simply couldn't put it down. The book does an outstanding job of describing the sport, people, equipment, risk, and tragedies of technical diving, and does so in a compelling, engaging fashion.I would not put too much faith in those reviewers who knocked the writing; they know not what they preach nor do they seem to appreciate that Chowdhury is a diver first, and a writer second, in spite of which, his storytelling is superb. To be sure, there are some minor hiccups in the writing, but you would hardly notice, given the engaging nature of the delivery. It is one of those few books that, once finished, will find its way into your conscious thoughts for days to follow, with some enlightening insights as well. I think divers of all types will enjoy this book immensely.
Rating: 
Summary: Engrossing, though somewhat overwritten
Review: If you are interested in what happens to people who push the limits of extreme sports, you will find this book engrossing. The author, an experienced technical diver himself, combines the true story of a father and son diving team with expository material on the technical and physical challenges of scuba diving at great depths. His descriptions of cave and wreck diving give the reader the sensation of being there. The author describes his own nearly fatal accident as well as the deaths of the father and son team. Their story has the flavor of a Greek tragedy, a predictable fate resulting from high-risk behavior. The author's descriptions of personal interactions within this sporting sub-culture are sometimes more than is needed, particularly when he invents dialogue for conversations he did not hear.
Rating: 
Summary: Poorly written - could have been soooo much better
Review: Being a keen scuba diver, I felt the promise of this book was betrayed by poor writing style and an often repetitive pondering of the facts. There were paragraphs that I knew I had read many pages before; it was as if they were cut-and-pasted. I can't count how many times I read about Chrissy's car crashes. The dialog that passes between individuals is often laughable and the description of the 'light at the end of the tunnel' in the author's own near death experience was comical and cliched (although I did find the personal bends experience of the author very interesting). I feel the only redeeming features of the book (and the reason it gets two stars rather than zero) is the way the author describes the diving activity and the exposure of the sheer stupidity of some of the divers in the story. For these reasons alone I found it worth reading but definitely wouldn't be recommending buying it - wait for someone to pass it on to you... I feel this story could have been told better by a 'real' writer with Bernie being an 'advising expert'. Didn't anyone edit this book? Could have been a classic...
Rating:
Summary: Riveting yet disturbing I couldn't put it down
Review: Bernie takes you on a trip with the Rouses. At the same time you learn some history of wreck diving and the people that (for better or worse) were involved. I was truly disturbed by the attitude of many of the wreck divers, especially one quick passage about a diver that let another die when he might have been able to save him. I also disagree with the philosophical statements, but I must admit, these were very few, two that I can think of. Overall it was an intriguing story, one that I couldn't put down. You feel as if you know some of the people when you are done and wish you could join them. If you are a diver READ THIS BOOK. Most accidents are diver error and reading of others might help you be better prepared. If you are not a diver but like adventure books you will enjoy this because you will feel like you are there.
Rating:
Summary: must read for any scuba enthusiast
Review: A NAIL BITER FOR SURE,AND A MUST READ FOR ANY SCUBA ENTHUSIAST.A TRAGIC STORY OF A FATHER AND SON WHO BECOME VERY CAPABLE DIVERS AND THEIR CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.THIS BOOK WILL REMIND YOU HOW FRAIL WE ARE AND WHAT OVERCONFIDENCE CAN RESULT IN.THIS BRINGS YOU FROM QUARRY DIVING, TO CAVE DIVING,THEN THE BIG ONE THE ANDRIA DORIA,AND FINALLY TO AN UNKNOWN GERMAN U BOAT OFF N.Y.WHERE TWO MORE LIVES ARE CLAIMED.THE AUTHOR HAS A GREAT WAY OF PUTTING YOU RIGHT IN THE WATER AND ABOARD SHIP.A GREAT FOLLOW UP TO THIS BOOK IS DEEP DESCENT BY KEVIN MCMURRAY, ANOTHER NAIL BITER.
Rating: 
Summary: An Unnecessary Tragedy
Review: Let me first say, I do not wish to disrespect the dead. However, the Rouses's deaths were unnecessary and due to machismo and arrogance. I'm a No Deco diver who does not engage in deep dives. The book clearly shows why this sport should not be allowed without taking proper precautions. Just as we would not allow an airliner to take off without having the necessary fuel, maintenance, etc. Divers who cut corners due to cost risk not only their own lives but potentially the lives of rescurers and shipmates.
Rating:
Summary: A Tour De Force of the risks and rewards of DEEP DIVING!
Review: A great adventure book for divers and nondivers alike. Chowdhury does a great job of setting up the characters so you can begin to see the risk taking habits of them right away. If you liked 'Into Thin Air' or 'The Perfect Storm' this is the book for you. For those of us shallow reef/wreck divers, we can live vicariously through the characters and see what lies beyond the No-Decompression limits. However, the extreme risks of this type of diving become evident in the conclusion of the story. Chowhury also explors the psychological and physical tramas that hours under extreme pressure put on the body. A real page turner!
Rating:
Summary: A sobering evaluation of one's own diving behavior
Review: The book meanders a bit, but is compelling reading; it puts your diving behavior and motivation up for review. Sure, I don't do extreme wreck diving, but I have done some dumb things underwater, shown myself that I can have poor judgement at times, etc. No matter how experienced you think you are, you can become complacent, and then something can happen; that was what this book rammed home for me. We aren't so in control underwater as we think we are. Cave divers and wreck divers do as much as possible to control the variables, and yet they remain human, and something will happen, to someone, and keep happening. At times it felt easy to be less than sympathetic for the various risk-takers in this book due to the extreme risks involved, but differentiating oneself from the people in the book misses the thrust of this book. We all take various levels of risk while diving. We are entrusting our lives with our life-support equipment every time we dive underwater. The author wrote this well, in discussing motivations for such risk-taking. This made the book a very personal reading experience for me.
Rating:
Summary: Last Dive
Review: Interesting story for those involved in technical diving.
As a diver who enjoys cold water diving and looking for treasure where no one has been before, I strongly recommend this book.
I felt like I knew these people. I could have traveled on a dive boat off the coast of NJ with this father and son team and never known it. I felt sorry to have never met these two men. I'm glad Bernie Chowdhury told their story, as well as sharing a piece of his own history as well.
Rating:
Summary: Raise your expectations
Review: As an avid reader and an avid diver, I had decided not to expect much from books about diving. Whether a novel, a textbook,or a reference work, most leave a lot to be desired.
Not so, this one. Anyone who reads dive magazines knows Chowdhury is an acknowledged pioneer of technical diving. I'm sure it is easily proven that he knew most of the principles in this story. And it seems he has interviewed their survivors, threading together the sequence of events, and fleshing out interpersonal relationships.
But who knew the guy could write?
An engaging magazine article or two is one thing, but to tackle a book, to research, to organize it is quite another.
Chowdhury succinctly explains the physiological effects of diving, expertly explains the need to explore, and conveys the drive of the explorer. I have burrowed into many a tome that only a diver could love. This one could be enjoyed by just about anyone.
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