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Rating: 
Summary: A bit of a let down
Review: Earlier dive guides I have used have come from the Globetrotter series - who do not have a guide for Barbados, which is what I was looking for. Coming to the "Complete Diving Guide" after the high standards of Globetrotter is something of a disappointment. There is nothing wrong with the book in terms of the content it is providing - it gives information on the sites, some (though by no means all) dive schools, and a little background on the islands. However, the writing style is very narrative - think "what I did on my diving holiday this summer" type essays. The presentation is also a bit dated. It is not a bad guide by any means, but if Globetrotter do get around to publishing on the area, it is almost certain to be a better bet.
Rating:
Summary: A bit of a let down
Review: Earlier dive guides I have used have come from the Globetrotter series - who do not have a guide for Barbados, which is what I was looking for. Coming to the "Complete Diving Guide" after the high standards of Globetrotter is something of a disappointment. There is nothing wrong with the book in terms of the content it is providing - it gives information on the sites, some (though by no means all) dive schools, and a little background on the islands. However, the writing style is very narrative - think "what I did on my diving holiday this summer" type essays. The presentation is also a bit dated. It is not a bad guide by any means, but if Globetrotter do get around to publishing on the area, it is almost certain to be a better bet.
Rating: 
Summary: Needs more vacation details
Review: I found this guide pleasant to look through, but not half as helpful as Best Dives of the Caribbean by Hunter Publishing, which gives a lot more detail on the dive sites, places for kids to snorkel, hotels and everything I need to plan a vacation.
Rating: 
Summary: The Guide the experts use.
Review: It is always interesting to see which books are used by the local Dive Guides at the sharp end and this is how I was first introduced to this particular book just over three years ago in Grenada. Since then I have put it to good use on a number of assignments in the Caribbean and I have yet to find it lacking in any way.The opening introductory chapter is well written and includes plenty of general information on diving, facilities, climate, sea, regulations, boats, cruise liners, resorts, hotels, flora, fauna, shipwrecks, photography and safety. The book then commences with Dominica in the north and moves southwards to include Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Tobago and Barbados before concluding with a Glossary, Bibliography and Accident and Emergency Information. The relatively few photographs are all of a good quality - but this is book that concentrates on providing all the relevant and peripheral information that any Scuba Diver will want to know before and during a trip to any of the Caribbean Islands covered. The maps and diagrams are particularly useful - and very easy to follow in situ. On first sight, however, the book cover lacks impact and might easily be overlooked as the prospective purchaser gets side-tracked by something a little more flashy. Do not be tempted away from this one - it is a straight forward, no nonsense guide containing everything you will want to know. Altogether, almost 400 pages packed with information - although that does include a small number of one-page advertisements. In summary, any book claiming to be "A Complete Guide" has to include an awful lot of information. This one has achieved just that and will not disappoint the purchaser. NM
Rating:
Summary: winston reed
Review: July 2001 I dove several of the sites reviewed by ms Ryan and Mr Savage
and found their profiles of the dives to be very accurate and
helpful.I hope she and Brian Savage will do a "complete
DG of the Bahamas,I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
Rating:
Summary: winston reed
Review: July 2001 I dove several of the sites reviewed by ms Ryan and Mr Savage
and found their profiles of the dives to be very accurate and
helpful.I hope she and Brian Savage will do a "complete
DG of the Bahamas,I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
Rating:
Summary: winston reed
Review: July 2001 I dove several of the sites reviewed by ms Ryan and Mr Savage
and found their profiles of the dives to be very accurate and
helpful.I hope she and Brian Savage will do a "complete
DG of the Bahamas,I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
Rating:
Summary: Completely the BEST Dive Guide!
Review: We dive regularly in these areas covered by the Complete Dive Guide Vol 1, a place where information is scarce except for that offered by local operators. We found this guide, especially the Dive Maps and the information on the local Dive shops and their services to be the ABSOLUTE Best available. We recommend everyone who dives these areas grab a copy and keep it close. This guide has given us the ability to dive confidently and know we aren't going to miss anything the area has to offer. Thanks Brian & Colleen
Rating:
Summary: The Anonymous Reviewer from Danbury CT has got it very wrong
Review: Whilst I have no personal vested interest in this book, I cannot let the appalling "One Star" review by the "anonymous" reader from Danbury CT go unchallenged. This is a rogue review that should be ignored. There are a good number of competent Scuba Divers (and some that are not!) who seem to think they can write a book on whatever aspect of diving they have personally experienced. As a result, far too many Diving books of poor quality are available today. It is imperative, therefore, that any "review" is confined to the actual content of the final product and is both honest and accurate. This is a "Duty of Care" towards the prospective purchaser. It is very sad to see an excellent piece of work by two Authors who, incidentally, are completely unknown to me, rubbished by an appalling review based on the simple fact that the reviewer preferred another book. That, is NOT a good reason for any review. Trying to compare a family saloon car to a tractor is simply not possible - because their roles are not interchangeable. The Complete Diving Guide to the Caribbean (Vol. 1) is not about the "best" dive sites within the entire Caribbean (although those within the catchment area of this book are included), it is exactly what it claims to be - a complete diving guide to 7 Caribbean countries. I am not familiar with "Best Dives of the Caribbean" so I have no comment to make. I do, however, posses an extensive library on the subject of Scuba Diving, Ships, the Sea and related topics and I have to say that any person giving The Complete Diving Guide to the Caribbean (Vol. 1) a "One Star" rating simply understands neither the product they seek to review nor their obligations in doing so. In conclusion, may I suggest any prospective purchaser reads all the other "5 Star" ratings given to this book so as not to be influenced by a rogue review to which someone prefers not to add their name. Sincerely NM
Rating:
Summary: The Anonymous Reviewer from Danbury CT has got it very wrong
Review: Whilst I have no personal vested interest in this book, I cannot let the appalling "One Star" review by the "anonymous" reader from Danbury CT go unchallenged. This is a rogue review that should be ignored. There are a good number of competent Scuba Divers (and some that are not!) who seem to think they can write a book on whatever aspect of diving they have personally experienced. As a result, far too many Diving books of poor quality are available today. It is imperative, therefore, that any "review" is confined to the actual content of the final product and is both honest and accurate. This is a "Duty of Care" towards the prospective purchaser. It is very sad to see an excellent piece of work by two Authors who, incidentally, are completely unknown to me, rubbished by an appalling review based on the simple fact that the reviewer preferred another book. That, is NOT a good reason for any review. Trying to compare a family saloon car to a tractor is simply not possible - because their roles are not interchangeable. The Complete Diving Guide to the Caribbean (Vol. 1) is not about the "best" dive sites within the entire Caribbean (although those within the catchment area of this book are included), it is exactly what it claims to be - a complete diving guide to 7 Caribbean countries. I am not familiar with "Best Dives of the Caribbean" so I have no comment to make. I do, however, posses an extensive library on the subject of Scuba Diving, Ships, the Sea and related topics and I have to say that any person giving The Complete Diving Guide to the Caribbean (Vol. 1) a "One Star" rating simply understands neither the product they seek to review nor their obligations in doing so. In conclusion, may I suggest any prospective purchaser reads all the other "5 Star" ratings given to this book so as not to be influenced by a rogue review to which someone prefers not to add their name. Sincerely NM
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