45 Best Scuba Diver Books to Read in 2023

In this post, I share with you my ultimate list of best scuba diver books. I’ve compiled over 45 books on scuba diving, marine life, ocean conservation, and exploration.

If you’re looking for books on scuba diving, whether to add to your personal collection or to give as gifts for scuba enthusiasts, here are my top recommendations for diver books.

III. Scuba Diving Novels

Are you on your surface interval and wanting to curl up with a good book? Here are some scuba diving novels you might enjoy.

15. The Last Dive by Bernie Chowdhury

What this scuba diving book is about:

A story about an experienced father-and-son scuba diving team who were obsessed to solve the the secrets of a mysterious, undocumented World War II German U-boat that lay under 230 feet of water.

Claim this title for free with your 30-day Audible Premium Plus trial.

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16. The Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson

What this scuba diving book is about:

The true story of two Americans who discover a World War II German U-boat sunk 60 miles off the coast of New Jersey. 

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17. Pirate Hunters by Robert Kurson

What this fiction book about scuba diving is about:

A story of two men in a quest is to find the Golden Fleece, the ship of the infamous pirate Joseph Bannister.

IV. Best Ocean Conservation Books

Here are some book recommendations for ocean lovers.

18. A Life on Our Planet by Sir David Attenborough

Reasons to love this ocean conservation book:

• written by an award-winning broadcaster and natural historian
• a scientifically informed account of the changes occurring in the world over the last century
• contains a lifetime of wisdom and a hopeful vision for the future

Claim this title for free with your 30-day Audible Premium Plus trial.

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19. Blue Hope by Sylvia Earle

Reasons to love this ocean conservation book:

• inspiring insights from international ocean icon Sylvia Earle and other notable ocean advocates
• a poignant tribute to the beauty and magic of the ocean and shedding light on its abundant gifts to the planet.
• stunning photographs of beaches, coral reefs, and underwater life

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20. The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson

Reasons to love this ocean conservation book:

• one of the most influential books ever written about the natural world
• made it to the top of The New York Times best-seller list
• provides a timely reminder of both the fragility and the centrality of the ocean and the life that abounds within it

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21. Plastic Soup: An Atlas of Ocean Pollution by  Michiel Roscam Abbing 

Reasons to love this ocean conservation book:

• beautifully-illustrated survey of the plastics clogging our seas
• discusses the impacts of plastic on wildlife and people around the world
• highlights a diverse array of projects to curb plastic waste and raise awareness

This book is also available on Amazon Kindle. Get your Free 30-day trial here.

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22. Plastic Ocean by Charles Moore

Reasons to love this ocean conservation book:

• About a researcher who discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, unveiling the secret life of plastics
• inspires a fundamental rethinking of the modern Plastic Age
• advocates for plastic pollution awareness

Claim this title for free with your 30-day Audible Premium Plus trial.

V. Best Coffee Table Books for Ocean Lovers

Here are some coffee table books showcasing the beauty of our oceans. These books are great addition to you home to entertain guests, spark conversations, or pass time. Ocean coffee table books are great to give as gifts for divers.

23. The Life and Love of the Sea Hardcover by Lewis Blackwell

Reasons to love this coffee table book for ocean lovers:

• showcasing underwater photography from the world’s leading marine and nature photographers
• a breathtaking visual tour of the ocean’s great diversity
• bonus footage via a scannable QR code from multi-award- winning underwater cameraman Steven Hathaway.

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24. Silent Kingdom: A World Beneath the Waves Hardcover by Kristian Vizl

Reasons to love this coffee table book for ocean lovers:

• an ethereal collection of black-and-white underwater photography
• an ode both to the beauty of the ocean and  the magnificent creatures that inhabit it
• calls to action to preserve the fragile underwater world of our planet.

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25. Pristine Seas: Journeys to the Ocean’s Last Wild Places by Enric Sala

Reasons to love this coffee table book for ocean lovers:

• dazzling array of photographs that capture the beauty of the water and the incredible wildlife within it
• shows you the brilliance of the sea in its natural state
• reminds you of what we have to gain by protecting our seas through impactful visuals

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26. Sharks by Michael Muller

Reasons to love this coffee table book for ocean lovers:

• one of the most spectacular portfolios of underwater shark photography
• images are contextualized with essays from Philippe Cousteau, Jr. and marine biologist Alison Kock
• discuss exploration and conservation of our oceanic kingdom

VI. Sea Creatures Books

Here are more scuba diver books you might want in their collection that focus on sea creatures.

27. What You Should Know About Sharks by Ocean Ramsey and Juan Oliphant

Reasons to love this sea creature book:

• bestselling book with full-color
• goes into shark language and safety
• great read for those interested in sharks and ocean conservation

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28. The World Beneath by Dr. Richard Smith

Reasons to love this sea creature book:

• 300 color photos and extraordinary text from a leading marine biologist and underwater photographer
• learn about fish and coral species that are often overlooked.
• learn about fish behavior: what they eat, how they care for one another, how they play, how they live on one another, how they mimic others when they’re afraid and many more

This book is also available on Amazon Kindle. Get your Free 30-day trial here.

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29. Citizens of the Sea by Nancy Knowlton

Reasons to love this sea creature book:

• captures the astonishing diversity and the most intriguing organisms in the ocean
• learn about sea creatures’ names, defenses, migration, mating habits, and many more.
• beautifully photographed and written in an easygoing style

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30. Shark by Brian Skerry

Reasons to love this sea creature book:

• showcases the amazing work of Brian Skerry, an award-winning National Geographic photographer
• spectacular photo collection featuring 4 shark species- great white, whitetip, tiger, and mako sharks.
• text by top National Geographic writers
• encourages its reader to change their attitude toward these top predators

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31. The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

Reasons to love this sea creature book:

• book explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus and the remarkable connections it makes with humans
• chronicles the growing appreciation of this mollusk was she tells a unique love story
• New York Times Bestseller, A Huffington Post Notable Nonfiction Book of the Year, One of the Best Books of the Month on Goodreads, An American Library Association Notable Book of the Year

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32. The Marine World: A Natural History of Ocean Life

Reasons to love this sea creature book:

• a book for everyone with an interest in the ocean
• encompasses all those organisms that live in, on, and around the ocean
• contains color illustrations, line drawings, more than 1,500 color photographs, and clear accessible text, this book

VII. Best Cave Diving Books

If you’re in cave diving or curious about it, here are some cave diving book you can check out.

33. Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver by Jill Heinerth

Reasons to love this cave diving book:

• written by one of the top female cave divers
• blends science, adventure, and memoir to bring readers face-to-face with the terror and beauty of earth’s remaining unknown
• transports readers deep into inner space, where fear must be reconciled and a mission’s success balances between knowing one’s limits and pushing the envelope of human endurance

Claim this title for free with your 30-day Audible Premium Plus trial.

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34. Essentials of Cave Diving by Jill Heinerth

Reasons to love this cave diving book:

• contemporary cave diving instructional guidebook written by Jill Heinerth, Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Inductee
• contains practical, 21st century underwater knowledge, including side-mount techniques and the latest in rebreather technology
• Encompasses all levels of cave diving, from entry-level to expert

This book is also available on Amazon Kindle. Get your Free 30-day trial here.

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35. The Boys in the Cave: Deep Inside the Impossible Rescue in Thailand by Matt Guttman

Reasons to love this cave diving book:

• definitive account of the the miraculous rescue of twelve Thai boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave miles underground for nearly three weeks
• recounts the amazing story in depth and from every angle, and the daring mission that ultimately saved them
• the author, Matt Gutman covers the story intensively with accounts of how he went deep inside the caves himself, and interviews with rescuers, experts and eye-witnessed around the world

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36. Caverns Measureless to Man by Sheck Exley

Reasons to love this cave diving book:

• the story of the passion of an extraordinary individual who spent his life exploring underwater caves
• written by a cave diver who has set records, developed the techniques, and he maintained the highest standards of excellence in cave diving
• accounts the fear and joy of diving diving into the depths of the earth

VIII. Best Underwater Photography Books

Do you love underwater photography or want to venture into scuba diving with a camera? Here are some underwater photography books you might want to check out.

37. Underwater Photography Masterclass by Dr. Alex Mustard

Reasons to love this underwater photography book:

• this book provides all the background you need before you take the plunge into underwater photography- information about diving equipment and cameras, to crucial advice on understanding and controlling light underwater
• covers topics on wide-angle light, macro lighting, ambient light and macro techniques
• written by marine biologist Dr. Alexander Mustard, with 30 years of experience taking underwater photographs

This book is also available on Amazon Kindle. Get your Free 30-day trial here.

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38. Underwater Photographer by Martin Edge

Reasons to love this underwater photography book:

• definitive guide to underwater photography- covers everything from the basic principles, the equipment and approaches to composition and lighting through to creating an individual style
• features over 400 updated colour images – taken on numerous dives around the world with an accompanying narrative that provides detailed information on how the shots were taken, their strengths and weaknesses and how to fix mistakes
• packed with inspiring examples from global diving destinations and speciality chapters written by professionals in the field

This book is also available on Amazon Kindle. Get your Free 30-day trial here.

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39. Advanced Underwater Photography: Techniques for Digital Photographers by Larry Gates

Reasons to love this underwater photography book:

• Designed for photographers who already have strong diving skills and understand basic photographic techniques
• has a quick overview of the basics—such as exposure, focus, subject selection, and composition
• shows the techniques pros use to achieve truly stunning images

This book is also available on Amazon Kindle. Get your Free 30-day trial here.

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40. Underwater Photography for Compact Camera Users by Maria Munn

Reasons to love this underwater photography book:

• a step-by-step guide to taking professional quality underwater photos with a point-and-shoot camera.
• advice for both beginners and more advanced compact camera users
• easy-to-follow techniques accompanied by hundreds of photographs that show you how it is done and the results you can achieve.

This book is also available on Amazon Kindle. Get your Free 30-day trial here.

Need some quick read about underwater photography? Here are 85 best tips on underwater photography for beginners.

IX. Reef Fish Identification Books

Scuba divers love fish and any fish-nerd would love any of these reef identification books.

41. Reef Fish Identification Tropical Pacific by Paul Humann

Reasons to love this reef fish identification book

• includes 2,000 species with 2,500 photographs of fishes in their natural habitat from Thailand to Tahiti
• multiple photographs for many species show variations in color and markings, life cycle phases and gender
• include common and scientific names, family, size, visual descriptions, geographical ranges and distinctive characteristics

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42. Corals: A Quick Reference Guide by Julian Sprung

Reasons to love this reef coral ID book

• detailed full color photographs of hundreds of species, encompassing the majority of coral genera one is likely to encounter on reefs around the world
• corals are described and compared to similar looking species, and their range and the correct pronunciation of the Latin name
• quick reference charts concerning each coral’s requirements for light, water movement, and food, hardiness

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43. Nudibranchs of the World by Helmut Debulius

Reasons to love this reef fish identification book

• identification of most Nudibranchs known to species level with over 2500 color photos of Nudibranchs in their natural environment
• over 1180 species of Nudibranchs illustrated, in large letter format, 360 pages, hardcover bound, it is a comprehensive photo identification guide to Nudibranchs of the world seas
• explains the relationships between species from different oceans, and it gives information on behavior (defense, camouflage, mimicry and more).

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44. The Reef Set: Reef Fish, Reef Creature and Reef Coral (3 Volumes) by Paul Humann

Reasons to love this reef fish ID book

• 3 books are Flexibinding – pages are stitched in like a hardcover
• Copies of: Reef Fish Identification, Reef Creature Identification, Reef Coral Identification: Florida, Caribbean & Bahamas

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45. Reef Creature Identification Tropical Pacific by Paul Humann

Reasons to love this reef identification book

• the most comprehensive visual field guide to marine invertebrate life inhabiting the waters from Thailand to Tahiti with over 500-page reference detailing 1,600 animals with 2,000 photographs and descriptive text
• focuses also on crustaceans, mollusks, worms and echinoderms and also explore facets of marine invertebrate behavior
• provides information for diving photographers and critter hunters

Bookends for your Scuba Diver Books

Grab these unique bookends to help display your scuba diving book collection!

Do you have recommendations for the best scuba diving books? Leave a comment below!