Scuba Confidential - An Insider's Guide to Becoming a Better Diver

The Scuba Series #2

by Simon Pridmore

Scuba Confidential is a unique book packed full of valuable tips and expert advice, giving you unprecedented access to the secrets of dive professionals and technical divers. With Scuba Confidential, you will learn how to master skills and techniques that will make you a more confident, capable and safe diver. It offers an informed, balanced view on some of scuba diving's most contentious issues like going solo, deep diving and rebreathers and includes a comprehensive analysis of how diving accidents happen and how to make sure you do not become a statistic. Scuba Confidential also gives you valuable insights on a vast range of topics such as what it is like to do a cave diving course, how to make sure you buy the right equipment, what to consider when choosing an instructor, things even the pros get wrong and where to find the best diving in the world. This is candid, no-nonsense practical advice from a professional who has been involved over the last three decades with virtually every aspect of the sport.

Have you ever wondered?

How to look as comfortable in the water as the professionals do?
What it is like to dive inside shipwrecks?
Which training courses are most worthwhile?
If you would make a good technical diver?
If you should be considering a rebreather?
How you can improve your diving skills?
How you can reduce your air consumption?
Why diving accidents happen and how to prevent them?
Whether you might sometimes actually be safer solo diving?
How to dive deep safely? Or
How muck diving can possibly be any fun?

Scuba Confidential has the answers to these questions and many more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure, Audiobook

358 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2013

About the author

Simon Pridmore writes scuba diving books, travel guides and biographies. Originally from the UK, he has lived in the Asia-Pacific region for over 40 years and has spent a considerable portion of that time on the move, both overland and underwater.

As well as his books, Simon has written hundreds of magazine articles on diver training and travel. He also speaks at dive and travel conferences all over the world.

Writing as S J Pridmore, Simon has also written an acclaimed novel, May the People Know I'm Here?

He and his wife, Sofie, currently live among the outlying islands of Hong Kong, but spend a lot of time exploring other places, trying (but failing so far) to find a cure for their itchy feet.

Reviews

[Candice Landau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alongside Diver Down, this should be required reading for both new and experienced divers. It's not a "fun read" per se but it is an incredibly useful no-nonsense guide to everything related to recreational scuba diving, with additional information for those looking to go down the technical diving route.

It's also not a boring read, just an incredibly useful read that may be best digested in chunks. I found it immensely valuable when it came to understanding dive gear, as well as diving configurations, and dispelling myths like the practice of turning your tank valve a quarter turn back after air has been turned on.

Highly recommend this to everyone!

[Jessica Nybeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent read for divers of all levels. It’s packed with valuable insights, practical advice and explanation about diving techniques, equipment and environments. I read it to become more familiar with diving terminology and best practices. Pridmore has a clear and approachable breakdown of concepts. It’s helped me dive smarter and with greater confidence.

[A.K. Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this book driving to and from the coast with my husband. I was a nervous scuba diver, and he thought it might help calm my fears and improve my techniques. He was right! Great info delivered in a laid back tone.

[Skye Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this book on Audible as in this day and age of busy-ness, I find it really hard to sit down with a book. Even since I began scuba diving 4 years ago, I found that I had a veracious appetite to learn as much as I could... (mostly so I wouldn't die - the fear that prevented me learning Scuba until my 40's)
I found Pridmore's explantations on all things Diving to be so clear cut, well laid out and yet highly detailed that I often played back sections to just absorb the information. Without dishonouring the amazing instructors who taught me how to dive, Simon Pridmore's book gave me so much more insight that often instructors don't have the time to put into individual students (sadly).

I have read (listened) this book over 4 times now, and am proud to say that I am about to get signed off as a Diver Master.... yet I can still realise now, that I will never stop learning to master diving.
Thank you Simon Pridmore for helping make diving a safer experience for many divers through your book and I believe that this book should be gifted to every new diver on completion of their Open Water. (Or even before they finish.)

[John Crisostomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for people who are currently into diving. As this book is mostly for advanced divers, I was not able to relate to some of the situations in this book but I still learned a lot. It gave me a sneak peek and what to expect in the world of cave and technical diving. It also gave me a solid understanding about mixing different gasses and when to use them. The book is more than this though, I am sure I will read this again in the future as I gain more experience in diving.

[Arturo Perez Estrada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended.

Interesting and helpful tips and reminders to become a better diver. Simple language is used tough it is meant for people having already taken at least basic scuba divers lessons

[Deb and David Marlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I did not like in this book

Sorry, nothing comes to mind. Very informative.
I want all my diving friends to read this, as well as other books by this author.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely informative no-nonsense guide. Recommended for those who want to go into more detail than the poorly written PADI guides.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good. Now I want the rest of his books.

[Elan Firpo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this a long time ago.

[LALO CARAVEO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tan bueno como el primero!!! Un perfecto complemento para los cursos iniciales.

Te da un panorama de lo que sigue una vez que realizas el advance

[Lisa Arce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic resource. I will certainly read this book multiple times.

[Sunflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book for people who have already done some diving and gives useful reminders plus tips and tricks to avoid problems. The kind of book that I frequently thought while reading "I hope I remember that if I ever need it".

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read about scuba diving. The author gives you some fantastic advice and tips. The information is very thoughtful. I Really enjoyed it. I did find it very difficult however that the author refers to scuba divers as “he” throughout the book. It turns out that women also scuba dive! The “he” pronoun just marginalizes women’s contribution to the sport.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book!

I write for a major scuba diving publication & am very active in the dive community. I have also been working hard to increase my dive knowledge every day for the past 10 years to help myself & others. So it was to my surprise to find that this book contained a good deal of that hard-won knowledge. The book is a good one & whether you're new to diving or been diving for a while, it's likely you'll find some great nuggets of knowledge to help with your scuba journey.

And don't tell my brother, but I'm going to gift him a copy of this book as well.

[Jerrod Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really glad I bought this book early in my diving career. I've just listened to the audio book but there was so much important information in here that I need to digest and take action on that I have also purchased the Kindle copy so I can highlight all the relevant info and start making lists.

[Adam Morel · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a novice on the cusp of certification, this book was interesting and very useful. Pridmore's passion for inner space is evident and inspirational.

[Leigh]

Even if certified and an experienced diver, this is an interesting read, with lots of helpful information and expansion on own knowledge already learned. As a diving lover I really enjoyed it.