Scuba diving is a very popular recreational activity. Scubanomic estimates there is around 6 million active scuba divers worldwide, not to mention countless snorkeling enthusiasts who explore sunken wrecks, swim alongside majestic whales and turtles or venture into underwater caves.
There are even experiences like Seawalker on Green Island in the Great Barrier Reef. This allows people without formal diving certifications to go underwater while wearing large glass helmets, encouraging the rise in underwater tourism and scuba-like adventures.
Whether you’re a certified diver or just dipping your toes casually, audiobooks make the perfect companion between these experiences. From non-fiction works inspired by real-life experiences to heart-pounding fictional thrillers, adventure audiobooks can inspire your next underwater exploration while providing an exciting escape in between dives. To begin your audiobook discovery, we’ll dive into some thrilling titles to help you make the most of your time on and off the water.
Why listen to audiobooks?
Reading can be a fantastic way to pass the time between scuba trips. Through it, you can either learn more about your craft or get lost in a well-crafted tale. However, this can sometimes lead to motion sickness, especially when you’re on a boat. That’s where audiobooks come in! With audiobooks, you can immerse yourself in captivating stories without straining your eyes. Everand hosts a wide variety of audiobooks, from New York Times bestsellers to editors’ picks and the buzzy reads of the week. This includes titles like Lisa See’s The Island of Sea Women: A Novel and Nick Sullivan’s Deep Shadow. You can also download your favorite water-themed adventure titles in advance, allowing you to listen and get inspired while traveling to dive sites or during surface intervals — even without internet access.
All you need to do is find an audiobook app compatible with your device. Most apps are compatible with both Android and Apple phones, but only the Apple Watch supports its local Audiobook app or Everand, while Wear OS allows Audible on Google smartwatches. Once you’ve done that, just pack your device in your dive bag and hop aboard your boat, leaving behind the heft of hardcopy books.
What adventure titles to listen to?
With the convenience and variety of audiobooks, it’s easy to get excited for your next dive. Here are our four recommended titles to start with.
The Family Retreat by Bev Thomas
Psychologist and author Bev Thomas had a near-death experience while scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. She channeled this trauma’s resulting lessons into her writing, becoming a successful author. In The Family Retreat, the author tells the fictional story of a family on a remote retreat as they confront buried tensions and hidden dangers, much like the unexpected currents and risks divers face. By reflecting the emotional depths we may confront during our own adventures, this story can be particularly resonant for divers who often navigate their fears beneath the surface.
The Sail: A Thriller by Landon Beach
The fictional tale of The Sail revolves around father-son duo Robin and Tristian Norris who planned a joyful trip of wreck diving, camping, and hiking around Lake Superior — that quickly turned into a nightmare and fight for survival. This tantalizing audiobook is a perfect prelude to your own wreck dive, especially at famous dive sites like the SS Thistlegorm in Egypt. Beach’s vivid descriptions of the sea’s dangers will have you anticipating the awe-inspiring power of the ocean you will soon encounter firsthand.
Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
If you struggle to finish any storybook, then Shadow Divers is a must-listen. This nonfiction bestseller has a ‘hundred-percent hit rate,’ according to book whisperer Jon Finkel, telling the true story of two deep-sea wreck divers who discover a sunken German U-boat off the coast of New Jersey. The themes of underwater exploration, historical intrigue, and personal risk combine into a fascinating blend that can captivate any diving enthusiast.
Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver by Jill Heinerth
Did you know that more people have died exploring underwater caves than climbing Mount Everest? For a peek into the equally dangerous and bewitching world of cave diving, look no further than Into the Planet by world-renowned underwater explorer Jill Heinerth. This 2019 autobiography would inspire thousands of dive enthusiasts, including Australian director Nays Baghai, who would develop the story into the 2024 film . Whether through text or visuals, explore the limits of human and oceanic exploration and be inspired as Heinerth descends farther into the inner depths of our planet than any other woman.