DaleC
Contributor
First published in 1954, this second book by Philippe Diole (his first being The Undersea Adventure) describes some early archeological explorations of the Mediteranean and the hypotheses of ancient life derived from them. He takes the reader from Marseille to Northern Africa and by using clues uncovered in the sea he illustrates many notions related to the effect of water transportation on culture. The "Romanization" of the Mediteranean, the pre existing civilization of Gaul, the influence of seafaring Phoenicians and Greeks and much more. Throughout the book Philippe makes it clear that he is primarily an archeologist who uses diving to advance his studies. But he's still one heck of a diver. There are passing references to JYC, Philippe Tailliez and the "Club Alpin Sous-Marin" to name a few icons from that era.
This is more of an archeological book than a diving book per se, but Philippe clearly love of the sea; and the importance he places on the scientific exploration of it is echoed on nearly every page. It is a bit wordy, and definately isn't a casual dive a log. I would say it is more of a snapshot look into early UW archeology, told by one of its pioneers.
As Philippe would say:
"one needs to have a wild enthusiasm, a vocation for self sacrifice, to spend one's days in this incessant search, surrendering all else to its pursuit. Since its foundation, the Club Alpin Sous-Marin has registered 7000 dives between Cannes and the Islands of Lerins, but, has but a partial knowledge of the depths, so vast is the sea. More often than not, our only trophies are treasured scraps of animal life which we carry before us in cupped hands, only to see their colours fade as we approach the light of day.The boat is far off: the air in our cylinders is giving out, but we swim with our legs alone rather than risk the loss of such jewels... and then, when evening comes, we fall asleep with our arms flung out upon the table, exausted as the result of too much blue water, relaxed, and with the fingertips as wrinkled as those of any washerwoman."
