Wracks im Roten Meer, Tauchführer [Restexemplar] [Gebundene Ausgabe]

Putting these emotive issues to one side, one also finds the factual content to be lacking in so many areas. This is a great pity because the format has great potential. This is another book in the well-established A4 format we have come to expect from these publishers. Each chapter commences with an artist's impression of the entire shipwreck across two pages. No camera could capture such a picture - so we start each dive with a good feel for the entire dive site. These are followed by technical information, details of each vessel's loss and, of course, the diving - all lavishly supported by excellent photography (for which the book earns it's one star rating).

Unfortunately, the actual content is simply abysmal. There are 18 featured "shipwrecks" - one from Jordan, twelve from Egypt, three from Sudan and two from Eritrea. Problems begin with the choice of some of these so-called wrecks. Four were never even ships at all - one being Cousteau's abandoned undersea habitat "Conshelf" and another a pile of Amphorae which has long-since disappeared altogether. The remaining two are of vessels which were so small they were never classified as "ships."

The real problem, however, is one of detail and accuracy. Four of the wrecks are not identified at all, one has a fictitious name, another has a slightly incorrect name and several are confused with each other. All of which reveals considerable problems with identification accurate technical information. For example, on pages 74 & 75 are two photographs of the bows of the "Chrisoula K" and two of the stern of the "Kimon M" - all reported as being the same ship. These are followed by a wreck identified as the "Seastar" (No shipwreck of this name even exists!). This fictitious wreck is loosely based on the "Kimon M" - which is not mentioned at all, and commences with an artist's impression across pages 77 & 78 clearly showing a relatively intact ship, minus her bows, lying wholly on her starboard side. Having, therefore, set the scene with an artist's impression of a ship lying on it's side, we are now treated to actual photographs of this non-existent ship - and two of these show the stern to be upright! So which is it? Either she is on her side or she is not. On closer examination, however, we find these supporting pictures to be from different ships altogether. As any diver with a modest knowledge of Egypt's shipwrecks will recognise, two photographs are from the "Kimon M," two are from the "Chrisoula K" and one of the stern photographs is from the "Kingston" - and this book has placed them all together as the Seastar!

I could go on and on, describing the many problems with the other wrecks in this book - but the point is made. In confusing one, two and sometimes three vessels with each other, this book continues to frustrate the many Divers who enjoy their Wreck Diving in Egypt - and has done so ever since it first appeared.

Not for the first time, this particular Publisher has produced a very low quality product whereby the content appears to have been cobbled together from whatever information and photography was available from different sources. This is a book that is not worth buying - at any price.

This review relates to the English language version of the same book.

NM