Deep Dark and Dangerous: On the Bottom with the Northwest Salvage Divers
Rebecca Harrison Probes the Depths in Deep Dark and Dangerous: On the Bottom with the Northwest Salvage Divers, BookSurge, LLC. December 2006
On the heels of the popular "Deadliest Catch," the Discovery Channel's hit series of king crab harvesting, comes Rebecca Harrison's Deep Dark and Dangerous: On the Bottom with the Northwest Salvage Divers.
Ms. Harrison delves into the lives and personalities of these rugged, courageous individuals who've dove to the depths to repair, salvage, recover, and even fight wartime battles.
Each chapter is a standalone tale such as Chapter One's "The Finch Family: Four Generations of Salvage Diving." The Finches dove the world's seas and were the first to explore beneath the Alaskan ice packs with scuba gear.
Chapter Eight recalls the "Diamond Knot Disaster," where the M/V Fenn Victory smashed fourteen feet into the Diamond Knot's hull prompting immediate distress calls picked up by the Coast Guard who then called Pacific Salvage Company out of BC and Foss Launch & Tug out of Port Angeles. Deep Dark and Dangerous is available at Amazon.com, Abebooks, and a number of retail outlets.
Dan Wedin ELKHORN, January, 2007
The Northwest’s most dangerous profession
Author presents book on salvage divers at Canby Library Jan. 18
Author Rebecca Harrison will read from her book, “Deep Dark and Dangerous: On the Bottom with the Northwest Salvage Divers” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Canby Public Library.
The presentation by the author, who also will sign copies of her book, is the first adult reading the library has presented.
Her book deals with the men and women who practice salvage diving, the northwest’s most dangerous profession. More than half of salvage divers perish while diving in the treacherous, frigid waters.
Harrison, who does not even scuba dive, began writing about the trade after meeting a salvage diver. After wiring articles for Oregon Coast and Pacific Builder magazines, she realized she had material for a good book.
The subjects of her book include four generations of the Finch family, who have been diving the world’s seas since 1813 and Northwest Salvage master and diver Fred Devine, who conducted more than 300 salvage operations during hid lifetime. She also tells the story of Robert Sheats, who was captured in the Philippines by the Japanese who forced him at gunpoint to dive for them.
Despite her familiarity with the subject, she won’t be making any dives herself, she said. “Too claustrophobic.” For more information on the reading, call the library at 503-266-3394.
Ray Hughey, Canby Herald /Woodburn Independent, January 6, 2007
Find out what it is really like to work underwater- August 3, 2007
I am a Pacific Northwest diver with an interest in the history of diving and in particular, the hard hat divers who were pioneers in the fields of underwater construction, demolition and salvage. I was lucky to find Deep Dark and Dangerous by Rebecca Harrison.
It is hard to explain to people what it is like to dive in the swirling current, low visibility and bone chilling cold of the pacific North West. It is hard to explain to people the fears that arise underwater and the bravery of those people who made their livings or lost their lives working as hard hat divers. However, regardless of whether you are a diver or not this well written and well researched book can take you there in words and striking pictures.
Go ahead and meet the McCray's. Walter and his son Art were a diving dynasty, even after the son had to recover his fathers lifeless body from and underwater trench one day and go back to finish the job the next day. Another character you will meet is Fred Devine whose exploits covered diving on a train wreck in a river in central Oregon to building the most powerful salvage barge on the west coast (and that you can still see in Astoria, Oregon).
As a diver the story of the sinking and then the ingenious salvaging of the cargo of the Diamond Knott is special because shortly after reading the story I was able to dive that famous wreck and examine the work that they did for myself.
If you are an actual diver, an armchair diver or just have an interest in how men explored and worked underwater in the early 1900's I strongly recommend Deep Dark and Dangerous: On the bottom with the Northwest Salvage Divers by Rebecca Harrison.
It's easy to be amazed at what we see. It's even more amazing to learn of the challenges and sacrifice of the men who have worked below the waves in the Pacific Northwest. Indeed, if you live in the Northwest and are interested in its history at all, this book is a must read. If you're interested in true stories of pure bravery and grit, read this book! Ms. Harrison has interwoven the lore of the deep diving profession with the intrigue of its suspense and dangers. Have you ever seen a ship? Have you ever crossed a bridge? Learn how they are affected by the work where few ever dare to go.
Andy Burlingham, diver
GARIBALDI READING FROM “SALVAGE DIVERS”
“Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, only backwards and in high heels.” Or so the saying goes. With apologies to that elegant pair, a similar axiom applies to salvage divers. They must be adept at many building trades - carpentry, masonry, rigging, ironworking, welding - and do it underwater.
To learn more about salvage diving, join author Rebecca Harrison at the Garibaldi Museum on Thursday, Sept. 20. She’ll be reading from her book, “Deep, Dark and Dangerous: On the Bottom with the Northwest Salvage Divers,” from 7 to 9 p.m.
“A frightening yet fascinating trade, salvage diving stands as the Northwest’s most dangerous occupation. Over half of salvage divers perish on treacherous dives in frigid waters. With her compelling and illuminating book, Rebecca Harrison chronicles the adventures of intrepid men and women as they salvage sunken cargo, repair bridges or lay underwater cable,” said Craig Lesley, author of “Burning Fence” and “The Sky Fisherman.”
The Garibaldi Museum of Maritime History is located at 112 Garibaldi Avenue, on the east side of Garibaldi just off of HWY 101. For details, call 503-322-8411.
Oregon Coast Today, September 14, 2007
GARIBALDI-
The Garibaldi Museum hosted a book reading by Rebecca Harrison, author of “Deep Dark and Dangerous: on the Bottom with the Northwest Salvage Divers,” Sept. 19.
Harrison related stories told to her by salvage divers of the Pacific Northwest, where more than half of the salvage divers perish on treacherous waters. She chronicled the adventures of the men and women who salvaged sunken cargo, repaired bridges, laid underwater cable and repaired ships.
Twenty residents of Tillamook, Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach attended the function. After signing, guests toured the museum and socialized. Light refreshments were served.
Harrison donated $7 of the sale of each book to the museum. For information on scheduling Harrison for a book reading, she may be contacted at salvagedivers@canby.com.
Headlight Herald-Tillamook, Ore. October 3, 2007
For more information, you can email me at: salvagedivers@canby.com
