Customer Reviews (3)

Packed with Useful Information
I brought this book to Bonaire and it was excellent for providing insight into the many, many dive locations around island.This book will enhance your experience on the island and is well worth the cost.

Essential Diving Guide for Bonaire
Tim totally "Rocks"! This is the most up-to-date, useful, and well laid-out diving guide when going to Bonaire. Tim's descriptions made it very easy to plan dives, especially shore dives (Bonaire has tons of them!). Combined with his great pictures, we felt like we had already visited each site before actually getting there! The only (very minor) discrepancies were on some sites which were classified in the (blue shaded) summaries as "Boat" access, whereas they were described in the text as shore dives also (and we confirmed this while there). We can't wait to try out Tim's guides to other locations. Thanks!

Beautiful photography and loaded with information
We thoroughly enjoyed reading this guidebook, while on vacation recently in Mexico. Bonaire will be our next stop! Tim Rock is obviously a very accomplished photographer. The photos are beautiful. Each dive site has a description of the shore entry, depths where the best diving is found, commonly seen species, and notes about current, surf, misc hazards, etc. My only suggestions for future editions would be even more photos showing what the entries look like, and more detailed information about how far offshore the reef dropoff or mooring buoys are. Sometimes the description says "it's a long swim out", but I'd like to know what kind of distance we're talking about. And maybe a star rating for the dive sites? I know it's subjective, but it would provide a starting point when trying to pick from so many potential dive sites. ... Read more

Book Description
Famous walls; incredibly clear, calm, warm waters; 58 dive sites including Klein Bonaire. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Terrific Book!
Very pleased with the content of this book!There are extensive details about the location, underwater terrain and marine life of 58 of Bonaire's dive sites.There is also a section on lodging, restaurants, dive centers, grocery shopping... right down to where to get the best local ice cream!We're diving Bonaire in April and I've already chosen some of those must-dive sites!

Information is too old to be useful
This book was published in 1991.Unfortunately in November 1999, Hurricane Lenny inflicted a massive underwater storm surge on Bonaire that destroyed many of the dive & snorkel sites referenced in this book.Many sites have nothing to look at until 30' depth.I also found this book to be lacking in local color.

The best book on Bonaire diving & snorkeling is "Shore Diving Made Easy" that you can buy for US$10 at the island dive shops. It is up to date with recommended entry/exit points and suggested landmarks while diving.

Good review of dive sites
I bought this book before going to Bonaire in the summer of 2002.Our group of 4 used it extensively during our stay there and found it very useful in describing the different dive sites.The book does a very good job of describing how to find the shore diving sites, where to park, how to enter the water and what to expect in the water.There is a good map and good broad overviews of the island, the culture, marine life, hotels and resturants.I would definitely recommend this book to anyone planning to go to Bonaire.

Not bad, but there are better guides available
I bought both this book and the Schnabel "Diving and Snorkeling Guide to Bonaire."This book was by far the better of the two, with more information (both diving and non-diving), excellent pictures, and just overall a better guide to diving on Bonaire.If you only take one guide, this should be it.

An excellent book from two experts.
Many people go to Bonaire for their vacation without visiting either Aruba or Curacao (the other two islands in the group known as the "ABC Islands"), so it is nice to see Bonaire as a separate Diving Guide and not included as an afterthought.

"Diving Bonaire" measures 10" x 7" and is another guide in the medium size format favoured by Aqua Quest. These particular publishers set high standards and demand all contributing authors/photographers maintain those standards at all times. This is, therefore, another worthy addition to the series.

The book is well laid out and includes a liberal sprinkling of high-quality photographs which bring colour to almost every page. Commencing with a brief history of Bonaire's past and present, the book then goes on to include all that useful information required by any potential visitor - currency, climate, getting there, entry & exit requirements, telephones, shopping, and time difference. Chapter 2 concentrates on accommodations and diving facilities and this is followed by a further chapter devoted to dining.

Chapter 4 is an overview of what the diver can expect to find underwater. This really sets the scene and includes such important information as temperature, visibility, depths, moorings, reefs, boat dives, shores dives, skill levels, equipment and more besides.

In chapter 6 we get down to specifics. This commences with a map of Bonaire and Klein Bonaire across two-pages on which are marked no fewer than 56 principle dive sites. Curiously, this is followed by brief notes on 58 sites and this gives rise to my one minor criticism - namely that Nos 57 and 58 (rated as being "For Professionals Only") are not shown on the map.

With a final chapter devoted to Marine Life, the book then concludes with a number of Appendices containing that all-important emergency information, useful numbers and a list of diving facilities.

Altogether, this book contains all the information the potential visitor to Bonaire will require when contemplating such a trip. As I said, only one minor criticism, but not enough to deprive these authors of a well-earned 5 star rating because they have used the word "guide" to the best possible effect. This is a first rate diving guide to Bonaire. All the information is there to allow you to consider carefully whether or not Bonaire will be your next diving destination. If you decide against visiting this splendid island, it will not be through any failing within this book.

NM

... Read more

Book Description
In Breakthrough Swimming, legendary swimming coach and historian Cecil Colwin describes how competitive swimmers of the modern era—such as swimming giants Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett—apply innovative training methods and stroke techniques to set new standards of performance.

All four strokes as well as starts and turns are presented in thorough detail in Colwin's easy-to-grasp instructional style. Not only will you gain a greater understanding of competitive swimming through its origins and evolution, but you'll also learn these skills:

• Improve stroke technique, starts, and turns.

• Develop a better training program and understand the principles of training.

• Apply the latest research in hydrodynamics and the propulsive mechanisms of speed swimming to create ultimate speed through the water.

• Coach the “feel” of the water to help swimmers detect and manipulate the water flow with ever-increasing dexterity.

Internationally acclaimed sport physiologist Dr. David Pyne, recipient of the Australian Sports Medal for his work with that country's Olympic swimming team, contributed a special chapter to the book. Pyne covers all phases of modern training, from physiological testing and monitoring to race preparation and post competition analysis.

The engaging book also offers an inside look at how the sport has evolved, especially in recent years, with the advent of professional swimming and the growing specter of performance-enhancing drugs. Combining the latest technical innovations with a revealing historical context, Breakthrough Swimming is the definitive work on the past, present, and future of competitive swimming. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Outstanding, Amazing
I am one of those swimmers Mr Colwin talks about; natural, skilled, elite. Call it what you will, I swim easily and fast. Fast enough to win the Olympics (Tokyo, 1964, 400 IM)

This book is astounding in its breadth and depth of knowledge. If you are at all serious about swimming for speed or enjoyment you need to read this work. The first and second chapters on stroke development and recent breakthroughs would be enough to make this book a classic,

The fluid dynamics section is excellent, a good thing to know in your mind. But far more valuable to me is the chapter about feeling the water. Here we dive into the heart of the matter. The more talented swimmers feel the water more. You can swim most efficiently when you can tell when the water is most ready to pull against. I stand in awe of Colvin's ability to explain an intuitive process that leaves me blubbering for words.

All of us who love the water owe Cecil Colwin a deep and sincere thank you.

An Essential Swimming Book
In "Breakthrough Swimming", Cecil Colwin has done a fantastic job in bringing together the thoughts, techniques and advice of many famous and successful coaches and their swimmers from all over the world.Of particular interest are the changes in techniques over the years and the preparation of today's star swimmers.Also of great interest was the comparison and use of scientific principles in assisting in streamlining the body and optimising the use of energy and strength to gain more speed.
As a past competitive swimmer, this book is a "must" for anyone with an interest in this great sport.It is a book where you need to have your own copy so you can read and re-read it from time to time as well as use it as a reference guide.
A real "winner" from Cecil Colwin !

History, Hydrodynamics and Training
The average swimming book prescribes stroke techniques, then offers a sample training routine.In 'Breakthrough Swimming', Cecil Colwin sets his stroke and training advice amid much firm background and some speculative discussion.Coach Colwin covers three subjects: History, Hydrodynamics and Training.

The history is broken into two parts which begin and end the book. The first is a history of swim technique (sidestroke, trudgen, overarm, etc.) which leads to a description of the four current strokes.As in Swimming Dynamics, he illustrates a "typical" way of swimming each stroke even though he admits a wide range of technique possibilities.(Colwin is an excellent draughtsman, but there seems to be a drawing error:In the text and in his side view drawings of the crawl, he describes a full body rotation of 35 - 45 degrees each way as desirable.His front view, however, shows the swimmer almost dead flat throughout the crawl.)

Continuing the exploration of hydrodynamics that he began in Swimming Dynamics, Colwin discusses the bow wave, lift, his vortex-shedding theories of propulsion, strategies of streamlining, using the hands to direct the water and many other ideas.

In covering training, Colwin (and Pyne) offer the usual ideas of aerobic vs anaerobic, interval vs distance, etc.I find myself thinking of his section, "Development of the Will to Overcome Fatigue," as I swim.I realize that I have rarely reached Hurt, much less Agony or Pain since high school (at least not in the pool).

The book ends with a history of competition that discusses rule changes, better pools, the World Cup tour (he's not impressed), national team vs club-based coaching, a chronicle of doping, fistgloves, the problems with bodysuits, a ranking of the stars of the 20th century and a look forward.

I definitely found the book worth reading.

An absolute "must"for past and present swimmers .
This is a really wonderful book with an in-depth insight into the latest techniques and training methods, encompassing a collection of successful techniques from numerous very famous coaches from all over the world. Some of the most fascinating aspects of this book are the application of modern day scientific principles to make swimmers go faster and become more streamlined and effective in the water.Not only is this an excellent read, but it is a book to be kept and re-read from time to time by anyone interested in swimming. As a former competitive swimmer, this is certainly the best ever book I have read on a great sport. You definitely need your own copy !

An A-Z for swimmers and coaches at all levels.
This book is a must for all coaches and swimmers.

After having read through the book, it dawned on me that much of the information included in the pages contains facts that I have had to learn through numerous years of being coached, training and competing.

Even though there are numerous things that we only learn when we are actually faced with them personally, this book will help expedite the learning curve for swimmers and coaches at all levels as well as give coaches some insight into some of the fundamentals of our highly intense sport.

A big thank you to Cecil Colwin for not only an enjoyable read, but for a starter, main-course as well as dessert - all in one book. ... Read more

Book Description
Swimming Past 50 offers age-appropriate fitness and competition training programs and insights for swimmers who have lapped the 50-year mark. Written by Masters swimming coaches, this book will help you reach your target fitness level, improve performance, and increase your enjoyment of swimming. Both in-pool and dryland training programs and sample workouts are presented in a clear and ready-to-use format, and they can be easily tailored to meet your specific needs. The authors also include technique instruction to help sharpen your strokes and injury prevention guidelines to keep you healthy and injury-free. In addition, real-life stories of Masters swimmers over age 50 and samples of their workouts will give insight into developing your own program. Whether you swim to stay in shape, compete as a Masters swimmer, or are looking to start swimming regularly at this point in your life, Swimming Past 50 is your guide to success. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

What to do out of the water
I was somewhat dissapointed in this book but by the same token taken by pleasant surprise regarding certain aspects of the book. It is not great on technique and the mechanics of swimming; for that lack of information I was dissapointed. To the authors credit he tells you right out the gate that this is not what you will find in this book and suggests some other books. This was helpful. The information regarding various excercises that can be done in the gym to help your swimming was excellent and most beneficial. Being a very average recreational swimmer I found this helpful for taking that next step using swimming as a cardio vascular excercise routine. All in all I enjoyed this book on what to do out of the water. Recommended for seniorslooking to better understand the physical aspects of swimming and how to improve your overall conditioning .

not the basics
I just started swimming and was expecting some " how to swim better" tips.This book is more about the next level, which is not bad, just not what I expected.It focuses on swimming's effect on the body, which is informative, but is mostly focused on comeptition etc.Not useful for a novice.

Good tips
There are plenty of good tips for the past 50 swimmer, although the book is light on technique.Excellent for the swimmer dealing with injury and any older swimmer curious about how to set up an effective workout.

Not for beginners
Be warned -- this book is aimed more at serious swimmers, those largely with competitive urges, than at the fitness swimmer who is interested primarily in the health benefits of swimming as exercise.

The authors are explicit about their purpose. They state: "Swimming Past 50 is not a 'learn to swim' book. [It] covers in more depth the benefits of an intense, structured training program, in order to prepare for competition."

I swam competitively in high school, 45 years ago. Recently, I decided to get back into swimming as an additional mode of exercise beside the running I've done for nearly 50 years. Because of the long time away from swimming, I felt I needed some guidance. I have on my shelf two books from this same series: "Weight Training Past 50" and "Running Past 50." I found both of those helpful for someone with my interests. I thought that "Swimming Past 50" would be the same kind of book.

However, I discovered that the book centers on serious training, with distances on the order of 3000 to 4500 yards per workout. Now, I don't have the time for that kind of training commitment, nor the interest in working through the multiple levels of training cycles described (multiyear, annual, macrocycle, microcycle, and workout -- one or two per day!!), nor the cascades of sets of laps at different paces, etc., etc., that this book describes and recommends.

If you are interested in being this kind of serious swimmer, as opposed to someone (like me) who only wants a less impactful form of exercise, perhaps you will find this book useful. I give it only three stars to emphasize that the raves it gets from other reviewers need a touch of circumspection.

written by a swimmer for swimmers
Mel understands every aspect of serious swimming and is able to communicate his life's experience with the sport in an understandable and enjoyable way.As a fellow US Masters swimmer, I especially apprecitatehis knowledge of what it takes to get faster on a continuing basis throughan understanding of stroke mechanics and training. ... Read more

Book Description
The bible of Florida diving for more than 30 years, now in its expanded 11th edition. Includes Keys, spring country, Panhandle and the east and west coasts.50 maps and detailed directions to more than 600 superb diving locations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great source for FL diving information
This is a great book covering a lot of diving sites in FL, including springs and ocean sites. The only "problem" that I have with the book is the inclusion of advertising (dive shops, etc) but at the end of the day it actually helps when trying to locate a diveshop, etc.

Bible of S.Florida divers!
Great book with the best dive sites in South Florida, especially if you don't have a boat (nor the money) and can only do beach dives, very simply written, with excellent descriptions of the sites.

good as the old copys
i have used the book about a 100 times for dive sites
starting with the old 2nd. edition. it is very good book
to have to ref. dive sites boat, beach, springs. toobad the fl.
gov. has a steep fee on everything. when you say diving
the price goes up. keep up the good work deloach.
thanks capt. rob

Excellent Guide to the Florida Springs.
The book gives the location to several of Florida's hidden springs and offshore reefs, wrecks.There is also a dvd on the Florida springs available from amazon, called "Florida Springs-The Unexplored Florida."It lets you see the springs underwater.A must have book. ... Read more

Book Description
Le guide le plus complet pour les amoureux de la plongée: plus de 200sites de plongée, parmi les meilleurs au monde; des conseils d'experts et des témoignages; des suggestions de visites et d'activités à faire sur la terre ferme; toute une section sur ce qu'implique de voyager en tant que plongeur, et plus encore! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

5 stars!Wish I could give it 10
Wow!Fabulous book, fabulous info, fabulous photos, just simply fabulous!
If you are a scuba diver, you need this book.It will inspire you to visit places you have seen only in travel magazines.This book is big and beefy, too.Not a typical travel book, this book gives pages and pages of good info and lush photos of ALL of the best diving destinations known.

Great guide to the best diving destinations
This is an excellent guide for choosing a dive destination.My wife and I have had the good fortune to travel to a number of excellent dive locations in the past several years and this guide gets it right.Be forewarned, it makes no effort to be a comprehensive guide to the entire world (for that, try Dive by Monty Halls).But it does cover the most intriguing dive locations, so it is heavy on Asia and the South Pacific and light on the Caribbean and has no coverage of temperate destinations, such as California or British Columbia.

It is more than a dive guide.It does cover the primary dive sites for each location, but the real value of this book is it's recommendations on accommodations and other activities.It is perfect for choosing a vacation destination and to get your planning started.

Diving the world
My wife Sue & I have been very lucky to dive some of the best diving locations in the world, all of which are featured in this excellent and very readable book. First of all the descriptions are spot on and you can tell that the text is taken from the experience of actually doing the dive or visiting the area, not just researching it (unlike so many guides). The book is not just a travel or dive guide, it's more like a wish list to the best diving in the world. If you are lucky enough to be able to do this sort of diving then I think owning this book is about as important as owning a mask. ... Read more

Book Description
This book, the fourth edition of Perkin's classic work on the subject, has now been significantly revised. The subjects covered are general design principles, materials use, durability, uses of reinforced and pre-stressed concrete, finishing of the pool and the pool hall, water treatment and circulation, and operation and maintenance of pools, both public and private. This is the standard reference for all civil engineers, architects, consultants and swimming pool operators involved in the design, construction and maintenance of swimming pools. ... Read more

Book Description
Become more fluid in the water with Swimming: Steps to Success. This comprehensive guide provides progressive instruction to help you master several swimming strokes and skills: backstroke, front crawl, breaststroke, butterfly, sidestroke, back crawl, trudgen, floating, diving, sculling, and underwater swimming. Step-by-step instruction and 195 illustrations break down each stroke to the basic arm and leg movements and their timing.The multiple drills in each step include a scoring system to gauge success and determine readiness to advance to the next skill. Part of the highly successful Steps to Success Sports series, with more than 1.5 million copies sold, Swimming: Steps to Success is the best tool for learning to swim at your own pace and an excellent resource for mastering skills through the advanced level. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Nice Book, but Total Immersion Wins
The book explains the basics behind every technique, which is a good thing to know to improve your style. I was able to improve mine following the first couple of chapters. However, starting from freestyle, things became difficult and I was not able to either follow the instructions or improve my freestyle (maybe it is my problem). I switched to total immersion book, till now the difference is clear and I am now able to go back and forth in the pool with minimum effort.

10 years of failed attempts, this book did the trick
After 10 years of failed attempts at learning to swim, this book did the trick.
Excellent step by step approach builds confidence and avoids the "just do it" leap that is so hard to make.
Each step begins with the why and the what. These are followed by drills that gradually put all the parts together. The drills are very well thought out, you are learning all the time, and you never get pushed out to the ragged edge where it all falls apart.
Thank you David Thomas!

Very Good
I didn't know swimming 2 months before, but now, after reading the book, Iknow the 4 great styles of swimming. That's all I want to say!

A solid foundation for the adult non-swimmer.
At almost 40 years of age, I had a fear of the water.There are few bookson the subject that are detailed and explicit.With "Swimming stepsto success" at the pool-side I was able to learn that I can float, andwith confidence, learn the basic effective strokes.I am indebted to Mr.David G. Thomas, he succeeded where my busy swimming instructor could not. ... Read more

Product Description
This high-quality, laminated guide folds to a 8.5 x 4 inch brochure to fit easily into a pocket or purse, and expands to 8.5 x 20 inches to reveal a wealth of information. The content includes the history of the sport, field diagrams, player roles, basic rules and strategies, and referee signals—the essentials to understand and enjoy swimming and diving. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent guide
When my daughter swam competitively in high school, I was often asked to help with the meets.I wish I had had this excellent guide to the sport of swimming and diving to inform me so that I wasn't so anxious about assisting with timing the races.The guide explains the different events, differentiating between individual races and relay races and diving, describes the strokes and scoring, and gives the spectator all the information needed to know to enjoy watching a meet and to understand how the team is advancing inpoints.Every parent would benefit by having this guide in hand while attending his/her student athlete's competition.It fits easily into a pocket or purse, is laminated so it will hold up well around the pool, has great graphics and is easy, easy, easy to understand.I highly recommend it.

It's about time!!
The arrival of such an incredibly informative, helpful, and easy to use guide is long overdue.Mr. Jones has created something very unique and has helped open the eyes of many formerly uneducated sports fans across the nation.His product is perfectly geared toward both the novice sports enthusiast as well as the experienced jock looking for clarification in rules of the game.His field diagrams and common referee signals are extremely valuable and offer added insight into the specifics of the game.This product comes highly recommended!!! ... Read more