[Darren]

Almost as much as I enjoy a desert island story, a treasure hunt story is right up there as well. This is another universally loved theme based on all the media about it. Some of the movies that spring to mind are the Indiana Jones' series, Alan Quartermain, National Treasure and The Deep (which book two was named as well). Throw in a dash of Benchley/Spielberg's "Jaws" (I did like that you chose not to use a Great White, although I'm not sure if they inhabit that geographic area anyway).

I found there to be a little more humour in this series in the dialogue than there was in Island or Everest. I enjoyed the scientific detail throughout the series as well. The back and forth from the present to the historical narrative was quite pleasing. Also loved the Flash Gordon reference with the use of "Ming the Merciless". As with the previous two series mentioned, it was exciting, edge-of-your-seat stuff that immersed me in that underwater world, wondering at times how long I could hold my breath.

A couple of questions arose for me:
1) With Dive, Everest and, to a lesser extent, Island, how did you conduct your research? I think I read that you haven't done underwater diving or mountain climbing, so was it just reading or did you talk to experts as well?
2) Iggy Ocasek. A combination of Iggy Pop and Ric Ocasek?

Hi,

Glad DIVE went over well with you. EVEREST research was with a real Everest conquerer by the name of Thomas Hornbein. His book was called EVEREST, and as I recall, it was about his climb via the west ridge. Fabulous tough old bird. Plus I read a lot. It's a fasinating topic! The hard part of ISLAND was knowing about boats and sailing and currents, etc. I met with a family in-law who was a sailor from Rhode Island. That's where I got onboard toilets, among other things. And DIVE -- I winged it, and it probably shows. But I was more into the story leading up to Menasc (was that the name of the friendly giant?) It was a long time ago. As for Iggy Ocasek, I have no recollection of him. Sorry. Can't remember everybody when the count goes up over 100!                                                                                 --G--

[Darren]

Thanks again for the response, Gord.

I had forgotten about all the boat and sailing terminology you had used on Island and was thinking more of the flora and fauna of the location. That's why I was thinking that perhaps there wasn't as much research as with Dive and Everest. My mistake!

I don't think it shows that you winged it in Dive at all (but then I'm no diver). You cover the different tanks and gases needed to dive to certain depths, the decompression involved, different hand signals used to communicate, and many sensory sensations relating to various aspects of diving. For me, it did not lack at all in verisimilitude.

Iggy Ocasek was a scientist working for Poseidon that was in the underwater habitat when the kids first go down there. A bit of a scatterbrain inventor, he also rigged up a vehicle to look deeper in the water for the wreck. I was just curious if the character name was a mash-up of the two musicians I mentioned or completely unrelated.

Hi, Darren,

How nice for me to get to know Iggy after all these years! You might be right about the two musicians. I don't recall, but it does sound like me.                                                        --G--