THE ART OF DIVING

A new book for divers, written by Nick Hanna and lavishly illustrated by photographer Alex Mustard, is published this month - here is a brief taster

"EVERYBODY REMEMBERS HIS OR HER FIRST DIVE. Fuelled by a heady mix of apprehension and excitement, it heralds your evolution from a naturally
air-breathing mammal to Homo aquaticus, whose life support is scuba gear," writes Nick Hanna in The Art
of Diving.
"I was fortunate enough to make mine in the Red Sea, and I can still vividly recall that moment when I deflated my buoyancy jacket and sank slowly beneath the surface. Fear of drowning soon gave way to awe, as amazing scenes unfolded in front of me. Seen from below, the surf frothing over the reef crest looked like a champagne whirlpool.
"I felt as though I had dropped through a watery ceiling into someone else's universe, populated by a weird and wonderful cast of thousands.
"There was so much to see, so many bright colours, fabulous plants and bizarre creatures. Even now, many years later, I still have a sense of wonder at leaving the surface world and descending into this other dimension.
"It's a glorious feeling, that first dive of the holiday
or season. You may have travelled thousands of miles to reach your destination, or you may simply be diving off your local beach. Either way, the point of your painstaking preparations becomes clear as soon as your field of vision changes from sky to sea.
"That wonderful sensation of being in another world has captivated divers ever since someone first worked out how to see (and later, how to breathe) under water..."