Drawing on six decades spent in a variety of diving roles, David Strike’s personal misadventures and occasional lapses in good judgement provided him with more than enough material for a regular magazine column; one that ran for many years in Asian Diver as well as other regional diving publications.
This is a complete collection of the tales that featured in that column, along with some other whimsical scuba-diving-related notions that have crossed David’s fevered brow from time to time.
With an irreverent take on sometimes-serious diving issues – ranging from training and practical diving techniques, through to marine conservation, equipment and safety – it is easier to introduce this book by telling you what it is NOT about.
Although containing references to diving’s past, this is not a history book. Nor is it about: underwater photography, technical diving, health & fitness, physics, philosophy, equipment, training programmes, dive travel, marine life, the environment, political correctness, or any of the other topics covered in its pages.
It is, in fact, nothing more than a collection of light-hearted commentaries peopled with largely fictitious characters. However, should you discover a little of yourself in its pages then it may well be time to give serious thought to returning to those old diving manuals gathering dust on your bookshelf.
ANZEC Member - David Strike
Diving since 1961 – with a background that encompasses military, commercial, scientific, recreational and technical diving – David Strike was an early contributor to ground-breaking oceanographic research and has dived and travelled extensively throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Qualified on open circuit, as well as rebreathers, surface demand, and standard diving apparatus, Strike is a former recreational and technical diving Instructor and Instructor Certifier whose diving credentials include certifications from ANDI, BSAC, IANTD, PADI and SSI, as well as the legendary diving company, Siebe-Gorman.
Establishing a successful, internationally-affiliated media organisation while simultaneously continuing to teach diving and study for an external university degree, he was one of the first travel writers to visit Vietnam and Laos; and one of the first divers in Australia to embrace Technical Diving. A prolific writer, Strike has authored a number of diving manuals as well as penning several hundred articles covering all aspects of diving that have appeared in publications and websites around the world.
Continuing to maintain a passionate interest in an activity that has dominated his life, David Strike has organised several world class technical diving events; is a regular speaker and presenter at regional and international diving events; and a recipient of the ADEX ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for contributions to Technical Diving.
