The Noaa Diving Manual: Diving for Science and Technology [Englisch] [Spiralbindung]

Reading and owning it is a must for serious divers everywhere, if only for its latest contribution: updated and simplified nitrox tables, designated NN32-A and NN-36A. Readable and comprehensive, it covers nearly all skills for recreational SCUBA, and more. Its akin to getting many certification agency courses in one text, but speaks with the safety record and thoroughness of NOAA procedures [ no inter-agency rivalry here.]

In my readings, it has all useful civilian elements of 1999 USN Diving Manual FM 20-11, such as USN no-stop and decompression tables, advance staged decompression diving, nitrox, recreational diving equipment, mapping procedures, and search and recovery in more detail [ the USN Manual appears to have ommitted tables on whole body oxygen toxicity, potentially a serious omission.]

The USN Diving Manual is written in an easier to read format, and is competitive as a pocket synopsis [ USN Diving Handbook] but is outclassed by the relevance of the NOAA material to civilians. From emergency care to the mechanics of underwater habitats, this book was carefully prepared, beautifully printed in heavy stock paper and bound to last >~10 year cycle between editions. I can't be sure if this is the best format where technology changes quickly, but it is handsome and sturdy.

For DIR aficionados: encyclopedic work tends toward widespread practices rather than pioneering work. So, if Hogarthian diving becomes de rigour its likely to be part of this manual, just as cave and tech diving are represented, regardless of critics of DIR and NOAA.

Reading and owning it is a must for serious divers everywhere, if only for its latest contribution: updated and simplified nitrox tables, designated NN32-A and NN-36A. Readable and comprehensive, it covers nearly all skills for recreational SCUBA, and more. Its akin to getting all the certification agency courses in one text, but speaks with the safety record and thoroughness of NOAA procedures. In my readings, it has all useful civilian elements of 1999 USN Diving Manual FM 20-11, such as the USN no-stop and decompression tables, but also dives into advances in staged decompression diving, nitrox, recreational diving equipment, mapping procedures, search and recovery in more detail [ the USN Manual lacks a discussion and tables on whole body oxygen toxicity, potentially a serious omission.]

The USN Diving Manual is written in an easier to read format, and is competitive as a pocket synopsis [ USN Diving Handbook] but is outclassed by the relevance of the NOAA material to civilians. From emergency care, to underwater habitats, this book was carefully prepared, beautifully printed in heavy stock paper and bound to last >~10 year cycle between editions. I can't be sure if this is the best format where technology changes quickly, but it is handsome and sturdy.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Jim Joiner, as the Senior Editor, had not fallen into that trap. Jim did an excellent job of getting his individual contributors and reviewers to put fresh thought, material, and graphics into their work, measurably improving the content and readibility of the text. Already one of the "standard" texts on diving, this edition of the NOAA Manual far surpasses the previous editions, and provides up to date information on a wide range of subjects and procedures.

If you are at all serious about diving, this book is a "must have." Buy one now, even if you already have the earlier editions... it is well worth the money!