Five Great Books About Diving

Looking for some good books (or audiobooks) that explore life underwater? Here are a few stories for scuba divers and freedivers that cover everything from dive science and historic wrecks to octopus consciousness and the psychology of being underwater. 

Neutral Buoyancy by Tim Ecott

A thoughtful mix of history, memoir, and underwater adventure. Ecott traces the evolution of diving, from ancient sponge divers to modern scuba gear, weaving in his own global dive experiences along the way. Calm, well-written, and surprisingly funny in places, it’s a great listen for anyone who loves diving not just for the sport, but for the stories.

The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

This isn’t a dive manual—but there's a lot to learn here for divers. Montgomery explores the emotional and cognitive world of octopuses through her experiences with them in aquariums and in the wild. It's poetic, curious, and full of strange and wonderful moments that only marine life can provide.

Deep by James Nestor

This book dives into the world of freediving, but it goes well beyond competition. Nestor explores the physiological limits of the human body underwater, joins whale researchers, and investigates the strange science of echolocation, deep-sea creatures, and the ways we’re still connected to the ocean. Insightful, easy to read, and often mind-expanding.

Under Pressure: Diving Deeper with Human Factors by Gareth Lock

Why do experienced divers still make mistakes? This book breaks down the non-technical skills that matter most—communication, decision-making, teamwork—and shows how small human errors often lead to major incidents. It’s grounded in research but packed with real-world dive stories. Essential reading for divers getting into tech, leadership, or teaching.

Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson

An intense true story about two American wreck divers who discover a sunken WWII German U-boat off the coast of New Jersey—and spend years solving the mystery of its identity. It's part detective story, part technical diving cautionary tale, and one of the most famous dive books out there. A must-read (or listen) for anyone drawn to deep water, risk, and real-life obsession.

These titles are all available online and at major bookstores and wherever you get your audiobooks. For more books and local marine life check out our book section!