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The Sea Hunters #2
The Sea Hunters II
The second thrilling account of #1 New York Times bestselling author Clive Cusslers's real-life search for lost ships, planes, and other marvels that changed history.
For decades, Clive Cussler’s real-life NUMA®, the National Underwater and Marine Agency, has scoured rivers and seas in search of lost ships of historic significance. His teams have been inundated by tidal waves and beset by obstacles—both human and natural—but the results, and the stories behind them, have been dramatic.
In this follow-up to their bestselling first account, The Sea Hunters , Cussler and colleague Craig Dirgo provide another extraordinary narrative of their true seagoing—and land—adventures, including their searches for the famous ghost ship Mary Celeste , found floating off the Azores in 1874 with no one on board; the Carpathia , the ship that rescued the Titanic survivors and was itself lost to U-boats six years later; and L’Oiseau Blanc , the airplane that almost beat The Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic before disappearing in the Maine woods.
All these, plus steamboats, ironclads, a seventeenth century flagship, a certain famous PT boat, and even a dirigible, are tantalizing targets as Cussler proves again that truth can be “at least as fun, and sometimes stranger, than fiction” ( Men’s Journal ).
For decades, Clive Cussler’s real-life NUMA®, the National Underwater and Marine Agency, has scoured rivers and seas in search of lost ships of historic significance. His teams have been inundated by tidal waves and beset by obstacles—both human and natural—but the results, and the stories behind them, have been dramatic.
In this follow-up to their bestselling first account, The Sea Hunters , Cussler and colleague Craig Dirgo provide another extraordinary narrative of their true seagoing—and land—adventures, including their searches for the famous ghost ship Mary Celeste , found floating off the Azores in 1874 with no one on board; the Carpathia , the ship that rescued the Titanic survivors and was itself lost to U-boats six years later; and L’Oiseau Blanc , the airplane that almost beat The Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic before disappearing in the Maine woods.
All these, plus steamboats, ironclads, a seventeenth century flagship, a certain famous PT boat, and even a dirigible, are tantalizing targets as Cussler proves again that truth can be “at least as fun, and sometimes stranger, than fiction” ( Men’s Journal ).
423 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 2, 2002
190 people are currently reading
1790 people want to read
About the author
Clive Cussler
622 books8,438 followersCussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
July 6, 2012
The sea is there to defeat us.
Plain and simple and that's what Clive Cussler delivers with this book...simplicity. Each wreck or incident is explained and then Cussler relates his results when he went looking for the missing ships. As the reader, I kept getting involved with the real-life people, folks who stepped on to a boat and never reached their destination. Fast forward to Cussler and his team diving to find the answers and the relics of humans now in the locker of Davy Jones.
Take the S.S. Waratah, known as Australia's Titanic. This ship was on its way to England from Down Under, when she vanished before reaching Capetown. Was it a humongous rogue wave? The kind that took out the ship in The Poseidon Adventure? Referred to as an "ugly spud", the disappearance of this ship was the greatest mystery of the early 20th Century. Scientists will tell you there are no rogue waves. Right. Tell that to the Indian Ocean.
The Mary Celeste. This was the Ghost Ship that was found near Gibraltar, but with no crew or passengers. What happened to them? Did they freak out and take the rowboat because they thought the ship was in trouble? In Portugal, a raft was found on a beach, with a flag and a human skeleton. Was this the last survivor of this ghostly tale?
Perhaps The Flying Dutchman isn't a fairytale after all.
Book Season = Summer (boat rocking, sun beating, water lapping)
Plain and simple and that's what Clive Cussler delivers with this book...simplicity. Each wreck or incident is explained and then Cussler relates his results when he went looking for the missing ships. As the reader, I kept getting involved with the real-life people, folks who stepped on to a boat and never reached their destination. Fast forward to Cussler and his team diving to find the answers and the relics of humans now in the locker of Davy Jones.
Take the S.S. Waratah, known as Australia's Titanic. This ship was on its way to England from Down Under, when she vanished before reaching Capetown. Was it a humongous rogue wave? The kind that took out the ship in The Poseidon Adventure? Referred to as an "ugly spud", the disappearance of this ship was the greatest mystery of the early 20th Century. Scientists will tell you there are no rogue waves. Right. Tell that to the Indian Ocean.
The Mary Celeste. This was the Ghost Ship that was found near Gibraltar, but with no crew or passengers. What happened to them? Did they freak out and take the rowboat because they thought the ship was in trouble? In Portugal, a raft was found on a beach, with a flag and a human skeleton. Was this the last survivor of this ghostly tale?
Perhaps The Flying Dutchman isn't a fairytale after all.
Book Season = Summer (boat rocking, sun beating, water lapping)
August 20, 2021
Cussler intertwines historical commentary into the stories of the lost wrecks... if you're a fan, this book will captivate you stem to stern.
April 25, 2025
In nearly every Clive Cussler adventure book and in every series (save Isaac Bell,) a support agency called NUMA is a constant. Cussler founded the real-life National Underwater Marine Agency (NUMA) and their focus is the discovery and preservation of shipwrecks artifacts without being declared treasure hunters. They work regularly with national and local historical and archeological groups to find noted ships and boats. (Ships on oceans, boats on rivers).
This is the second book relaying some of NUMA's expeditions - most of what he and his people are looking for are Civil War wrecks - but there is a chapter on Sam Houston's Twin Sister cannons that contributed to the Republic of Texas' victory at the Battle of San Jacinto as well as a couple aircraft: the U.S.S. Akron (dirigible) and The White Bird which with its pilot Charles Nungesser and Francois Coli disappeared as it made the first non-stop transatlantic flight from Paris to New York but crashed somewhere in the forests of Maine in 1927.
Sadly, most of the explorations written about - he creates a preliminary drama tale so that readers would connect with the intended target of the search and then relays what NUMA and his accomplices experienced while searching. Many of the Civil War wrecks - especially in the Mississippi and other rivers have likely been buried a distance from the current river's course and/ or its resting place has been scoured clean as the river is widened or dredged.
They had a couple "finds" that they felt were their objective but due to various circumstances (current, salvaging as such), nothing could be absolutely confirmed. The book finished with a listing of all the expeditions over the years with their objective. None state they were definitively found.
And then there was a epilogue regarding Samuel Morey who Cussler called the "deVinci of America". The man who actually created the first steam engine as well as internal combustion engine using turpentine vapor. Some of his earliest patents was in 1795, 1799 and 1800. He sounds like a fascinating individual and I have added him to my lists of topics to find a book about him.
2026-023
This is the second book relaying some of NUMA's expeditions - most of what he and his people are looking for are Civil War wrecks - but there is a chapter on Sam Houston's Twin Sister cannons that contributed to the Republic of Texas' victory at the Battle of San Jacinto as well as a couple aircraft: the U.S.S. Akron (dirigible) and The White Bird which with its pilot Charles Nungesser and Francois Coli disappeared as it made the first non-stop transatlantic flight from Paris to New York but crashed somewhere in the forests of Maine in 1927.
Sadly, most of the explorations written about - he creates a preliminary drama tale so that readers would connect with the intended target of the search and then relays what NUMA and his accomplices experienced while searching. Many of the Civil War wrecks - especially in the Mississippi and other rivers have likely been buried a distance from the current river's course and/ or its resting place has been scoured clean as the river is widened or dredged.
They had a couple "finds" that they felt were their objective but due to various circumstances (current, salvaging as such), nothing could be absolutely confirmed. The book finished with a listing of all the expeditions over the years with their objective. None state they were definitively found.
And then there was a epilogue regarding Samuel Morey who Cussler called the "deVinci of America". The man who actually created the first steam engine as well as internal combustion engine using turpentine vapor. Some of his earliest patents was in 1795, 1799 and 1800. He sounds like a fascinating individual and I have added him to my lists of topics to find a book about him.
2026-023
August 26, 2023
After a good first book but maybe a little too much focused on the Civil War, this second book fixes it with 14 new wreck stories to discover, from 17 century to World War II and all around the world, with not only ships but also a plane, a dirigible, a plane and even a pair of famous cannons. Obviously, there's Civil War again, but only for three chapters. Everything is put in chronological order, so we travel as time passes, jumping from battles to incidents that might sometimes have been prevented...
It's more varied and balanced than in the first book, and with a five-star gurst list : no less than Carpathia, Mary-Celeste and the future president Kennedy when he was castaway on a tiny island in the Solomon archipelago. This chapter was the less appealing to me, but, ended to be the best of the book, with the suspense of the sinking then the survival. But all are not as gripping. Some are even a bit dull (the whole life of Akron, even told by Clive Cussler, isn't very interesting...), and less immersive than in the first book, and the horror feeling we could occasionally have totally disappeared.
And that's maybe why this second book is not better than the first, just « as good » and for different reasons.
There's again a central section with photos and illustrations, plus introduction and postcript with some additional anecdotes.
Overall, this duology is a good read. If only history could be always as interesting as when Cussler and Dirgo tell it, either in the past or in real life, magnetometer in hand...
It's more varied and balanced than in the first book, and with a five-star gurst list : no less than Carpathia, Mary-Celeste and the future president Kennedy when he was castaway on a tiny island in the Solomon archipelago. This chapter was the less appealing to me, but, ended to be the best of the book, with the suspense of the sinking then the survival. But all are not as gripping. Some are even a bit dull (the whole life of Akron, even told by Clive Cussler, isn't very interesting...), and less immersive than in the first book, and the horror feeling we could occasionally have totally disappeared.
And that's maybe why this second book is not better than the first, just « as good » and for different reasons.
There's again a central section with photos and illustrations, plus introduction and postcript with some additional anecdotes.
Overall, this duology is a good read. If only history could be always as interesting as when Cussler and Dirgo tell it, either in the past or in real life, magnetometer in hand...
June 25, 2023
First of all, I want to point out that. I really like this type of content. Boating, yachting, sailing, fishing and anything that falls under the concept of a marina.
I leave this information below for those who want to read it. A look at Boat and Yacht History:
the ships we encounter today are; They are large, robust and self-propelled watercraft used to transport cargo across the seas and oceans. This was not the case hundreds of years ago, and current ships went through centuries of development until they became what they are today.
In ancient times, sailors used rafts, bamboo logs, reed bales, inflated animal hides, and baskets covered with pitch to cross small bodies of water.
As a matter of fact, the first boat; it was in the form of a simple frame made of interconnected rods and sewn animal hides that skillfully covered them. These boats could easily carry large and heavy loads. Information about similar old boat examples; You can find it among bull boats, Eskimo canoes, and British Islander merchant ships on the North American plains. In addition to these, another old-style boat is the one carved from the log and the ends of which are sharpened. Some of these were 60 feet (approx. 18 m) long.
When we look at the history of seafaring in ancient times, we come across a very interesting study of human strength and survival instincts. For example, in ancient times, the simple shovel mechanism we know was not used. Instead, people used their hands to move through the water in tiny boats. They propelled their rafts forward, pushing the masts to the bottom of the rivers. Increasingly, using his creative instincts and ingenuity, man redesigned the posts by straightening them and widening one end, thus making it usable in deeper waters. Later, this form was masterfully redeveloped and the blade fixed to the sides of the boat was transformed into the shape of a wide oar.
Invention of the sail
The invention of the sail was the greatest turning point in maritime history. Sails replaced human muscle movements, and sailboats were able to travel longer with heavier loads. The first ships used square sails, which were best suited to sail downwind. Side sails were invented later.
The Egyptians credit the emergence of advanced sailing cargo ships. These were made by connecting and stitching together small pieces of wood. These cargo ships were used to transport large stone pillars used in the construction of monuments.
Here are the contents I love about two beautiful marinas.
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-legen...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-leg...
https://theboatyacht.com/boats-for-sa...
https://numberoneboats.com/boats-for-...
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-chann...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-cha...
https://theboatyacht.com/boats-for-sa...
https://numberoneboats.com/boats-for-...
https://numberoneboats.com/24-sea-hun...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-leg...
I leave this information below for those who want to read it. A look at Boat and Yacht History:
the ships we encounter today are; They are large, robust and self-propelled watercraft used to transport cargo across the seas and oceans. This was not the case hundreds of years ago, and current ships went through centuries of development until they became what they are today.
In ancient times, sailors used rafts, bamboo logs, reed bales, inflated animal hides, and baskets covered with pitch to cross small bodies of water.
As a matter of fact, the first boat; it was in the form of a simple frame made of interconnected rods and sewn animal hides that skillfully covered them. These boats could easily carry large and heavy loads. Information about similar old boat examples; You can find it among bull boats, Eskimo canoes, and British Islander merchant ships on the North American plains. In addition to these, another old-style boat is the one carved from the log and the ends of which are sharpened. Some of these were 60 feet (approx. 18 m) long.
When we look at the history of seafaring in ancient times, we come across a very interesting study of human strength and survival instincts. For example, in ancient times, the simple shovel mechanism we know was not used. Instead, people used their hands to move through the water in tiny boats. They propelled their rafts forward, pushing the masts to the bottom of the rivers. Increasingly, using his creative instincts and ingenuity, man redesigned the posts by straightening them and widening one end, thus making it usable in deeper waters. Later, this form was masterfully redeveloped and the blade fixed to the sides of the boat was transformed into the shape of a wide oar.
Invention of the sail
The invention of the sail was the greatest turning point in maritime history. Sails replaced human muscle movements, and sailboats were able to travel longer with heavier loads. The first ships used square sails, which were best suited to sail downwind. Side sails were invented later.
The Egyptians credit the emergence of advanced sailing cargo ships. These were made by connecting and stitching together small pieces of wood. These cargo ships were used to transport large stone pillars used in the construction of monuments.
Here are the contents I love about two beautiful marinas.
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-legen...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-leg...
https://theboatyacht.com/boats-for-sa...
https://numberoneboats.com/boats-for-...
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-chann...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-cha...
https://theboatyacht.com/boats-for-sa...
https://numberoneboats.com/boats-for-...
https://numberoneboats.com/24-sea-hun...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-leg...
October 20, 2024
I found the vignettes to be interesting, but early on I was concerned about the accuracy of the information contained in the book. This is a non-fiction book that is supposed to recount historic shipwrecks, before focusing on Cussler's attempts to locate and explore them.
In the course of the 'flashback' to the sinking event, dialog from key personnel will be brought into the story. At first I did not know if I should assume the dialog was drawn from firsthand accounts, or if he used artistic license to give us the impression of what it would have been like. Some of the dialog seemed contrived in hindsight, some seemed very uncharacteristic for the time period, or what we know of some of these men. Some dialog seems made up - and details which would seem to be impossible to know (as retold in the book) make one pause to wonder what is fact and what is fiction. I like my fact and fiction kept separate.
In the chapter on PT-109. Cussler stated that John F. Kennedy was wearing his orange kapok. I had to stop to comprehend that throwaway sentence. The US Navy did not issue or contract for orange kapoks when PT-109 was in service. Naturally going into combat at night with a bright orange kapok would be a bad idea, and orange was not adopted by the US Navy until after WWII ended.
Details like the above have acted as confirmation that artistic license was used in the retellings, and that is a shame because the book would have been excellent without it. I'm sure the author was unaware of such details, but it made me skeptical of some of the conversations he wrote about that happened 100 or more years ago, long before he was born. Perhaps the conversations were taken from historical accounts verbatim, perhaps the author paraphrased in the interest of telling the story, either way I could not be sure by reading his book alone.
There were also points where trivial events were expounded on with too much emphasis, be it a motel clerk, or boat captain on his expedition. At least it seemed like such trivial things could have been left out of the story.
His talents may best have been tailored to fiction - one should let facts speak for themselves. Other than needing to double check the factual evidence in the 'flashback' sequences, the story telling of the wreck searching expeditions was usually interesting.
In the course of the 'flashback' to the sinking event, dialog from key personnel will be brought into the story. At first I did not know if I should assume the dialog was drawn from firsthand accounts, or if he used artistic license to give us the impression of what it would have been like. Some of the dialog seemed contrived in hindsight, some seemed very uncharacteristic for the time period, or what we know of some of these men. Some dialog seems made up - and details which would seem to be impossible to know (as retold in the book) make one pause to wonder what is fact and what is fiction. I like my fact and fiction kept separate.
In the chapter on PT-109. Cussler stated that John F. Kennedy was wearing his orange kapok. I had to stop to comprehend that throwaway sentence. The US Navy did not issue or contract for orange kapoks when PT-109 was in service. Naturally going into combat at night with a bright orange kapok would be a bad idea, and orange was not adopted by the US Navy until after WWII ended.
Details like the above have acted as confirmation that artistic license was used in the retellings, and that is a shame because the book would have been excellent without it. I'm sure the author was unaware of such details, but it made me skeptical of some of the conversations he wrote about that happened 100 or more years ago, long before he was born. Perhaps the conversations were taken from historical accounts verbatim, perhaps the author paraphrased in the interest of telling the story, either way I could not be sure by reading his book alone.
There were also points where trivial events were expounded on with too much emphasis, be it a motel clerk, or boat captain on his expedition. At least it seemed like such trivial things could have been left out of the story.
His talents may best have been tailored to fiction - one should let facts speak for themselves. Other than needing to double check the factual evidence in the 'flashback' sequences, the story telling of the wreck searching expeditions was usually interesting.
September 6, 2021
Clive Cussler and his group from NUMA - the further adventures. More historical wrecks found - and some not found. Several more ships involved in the Civil War. A ship of French explorers trying to find where the Mississippi enters the Gulf of Mexico (they missed and wrecked in Texas islands). Also, finding the Carpathia (sunk by a U-boat off Ireland) years after saving survivors of the Titanic. Also - looking for the USS Akron - a dirigible lighter than air airship. Also looked for the airplane of two men that would have beat Lindberg if they hadn't crashed in Maine due to bad weather - the plane was not yet found as of the publishing of the book.
I don't know if any other wrecks were written about by Clive Cussler (Mr. Cussler passed 2020 or 2019.)
Enjoyed, as I enjoy his fiction.
I don't know if any other wrecks were written about by Clive Cussler (Mr. Cussler passed 2020 or 2019.)
Enjoyed, as I enjoy his fiction.
March 14, 2020
Similar to volume I this is a combination of factionalized real life events plus the search for the wrecks or remains of the vessel or other artifact. I loved the first book and this is more of the same. I am always surprised at the important historical events are have faded from our collective memory. The odyssey of the New Orleans is amazing, the career of the USS Mississippi impressive, the stories of the Mary Celeste and SS Waratah spooky, and lastly the heroic efforts of RMS Carpathia to rescue Titanic survivors are all in this book.
If you like history, mysterious disappearances, and looking for lost parts of history, this book is for you.
I loved it and hope there is a Volume III some day.
If you like history, mysterious disappearances, and looking for lost parts of history, this book is for you.
I loved it and hope there is a Volume III some day.
May 10, 2024
I don't know how I found out this book. It is a real gem. I have always been fascinated with shipwwrecks. I must have read the Andrea Doria five times. Seeen the movie multiple times. Ditto with all oovies about the Titanic. When we went to Pr9ince Edward Island there is site where a lighthouse stands with a plaque announcing how many ships have gone down because of surprise storm. This is the first book that I read written by Cussler. All his expeditions for lost sunken ships he has paid through royalties he has gotten from books he has written. Along the ways he gives background info on the ship in question. It is truly a good book. Read it. I will look up his books and read them. He is a good writer.
March 8, 2024
Excellent, entertaining, and educational read. Clive Cussler's writing is informative, hilarious, and inspirational to boot. He was quite the Renaissance man, and I loved every chapter in this second book on missions to find sunken ships of historical significance. The whole NUMA team is amazing. When Cussler wrote about his trip to Haiti to find the Mary Celeste, I was enthralled. He wrote, "I feel sorry for the people who never know the feeling of joy and bliss that comes from returning to the United States." That adventure was something else! A wonderful companion volume to his first book on Sea Hunters. Great adventure tales that might appeal and inspire a new generation of seekers.
May 25, 2020
In typical Clive Cussler's style, the narrative is entertaining and adventurous. I love the backstory before Clive's escapades. Even though I know all of the back stories end in tragedy I am inclined to root for the the shipmates and the aeronautics and the passengers. The stories were captivating and insightful and gave me a history lesson. Reliving the sinking of the Titantic from the Carpatia's point of view gave me chills. Reading John F Kennedy's Solomon Island tragedy was astounding in it's vivid capture of a piece of history which I did not know about.
March 2, 2025
The historical parts of this book were well written, easy to read, interesting and a lot of fun. The technical part of looking for the wrecks not so much. Caution: the Mary Celeste story is blatant fabrication as the whole thing of mystery about the ship is that no one knows what happened. Her humans actually did just disappear and the ship was found floating about completely unmanned and abandoned with nothing indicating what happened or why.
September 6, 2021
I didn’t realize this was non-fiction when I picked it up. However, I enjoy reading about real shipwreck diving adventures. Cussler makes it sound fun and like a fast paced adventure even though the truth is it is a long drawn out and boring adventure and can be very dangerous. Only when finding your shipwreck is it all worth it.
I will be looking and watching the shows of Sea Hunters as well as looking for Sea Hunters I.
I will be looking and watching the shows of Sea Hunters as well as looking for Sea Hunters I.
March 20, 2025
combination of historical fiction, as Cussler puts together a story based upon ships' logs and the authors' experiences during salvage. Some sections were not clear on which ship was being referred to until a few sentences into the first paragraph. Would have liked more current story on the searches .
October 20, 2017
Fascinating as it reads like a novel, describing several different lost or sunken ships that he and his NUMA team sought and most found. I'd heard about all but the first, a Civil War sub. The last was PT 109 which has yet to be located.
March 14, 2018
Nice to see that Cussler is using his royalties for something that benefits society. I also liked that not all of these searches were successful. Nothing too groundbreaking here but it's interesting and entertaining.
March 20, 2018
Interesting summary of circumstances for various shipwrecks and other interesting losses followed by a discussion of the search efforts made to recover the wreck. This is the second volume. Also presents the work of the real NUMA.
July 8, 2018
An amazing read. It is Clive Cussler, so it is extremely well written and entertaining. This book is very intriguing, covering everything from ship wrecks to dirigibles. Great read if you love history.
March 25, 2019
I really enjoy reading about their experiences finding these "Lost Shipwrecks". I enjoys hearing about the historical significance of each Find or even the ones that evade them. Hopefully the NUMA team will continue sharing these exciting experiences with the whole world.
May 31, 2024
De verhalen over de boten zijn leuk. De verhalen over de zoektocht wat langdradig en voor mij onnodige gedetailleerd; het maakt mij eigenlijk echt niet zoveel uit wat de onderzoekers als ontbijt of lunch kregen 🫢
September 23, 2017
Same formula as the first, but the stories aren't as good as the first. One can only find so many shipwrecks.
February 1, 2018
Descriptions and histories of the ships were very accurate and I loved it. His descriptiveness is so amazing.
August 14, 2018
A great deal of history as NUMA travels the world.
October 15, 2018
History, sort of
October 31, 2018
Fun book. I would have liked it more if it were a bit shorter, and they actually found more of the wrecks. The historical stories were excellent though!
September 9, 2019
Tales of great adventures and momentous discoveries with tedious and meticulous investigations
March 2, 2020
Great stories of true to life searches, and interesting reconstructions of historical events. Highly recommended.
April 5, 2022
Fascinating look into our past and what we can do to save our history
June 17, 2022
Strong non fictional read with great introductory stories to the wrecks they are searching for. Some found, some not, others possible.
August 21, 2022
A delightful description of sunken historical ships and modern day attempts to find them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews