The Octopus's Garden: Hydrothermal Vents and Other Mysteries of the Deep Sea

Good general-public introduction to deep sea ecosystems from the point of view and experiences of one of the most recognized specialists in this field. Easy reading and entertaining.

Of course, science is itself an adventure, but Van Dover went far beyond the usual. Among other things, she became one of the few dozen people on earth rated to pilot Alvin, the deep-sea submarine. That elite group is almost as small as the cadre of space shuttle pilots, and Van Dover was the first woman to enter that group. This isn't directly about her science or her adventure, though. It's a bit harder to nail down, but I think it answers a question that many people don't think to ask of scientists: why do you do it? The pay isn't great, the bureaucracy can be crushing, and the rigors of career-building often conflict with family-building. And, I hate to say it, but it's not always a friendly world for a woman - especially the hairy-chested world of piloting the deep-sea submersibles. Some abstraction like "love of knowledge" can't really explain why someone does it. Van Dover conveys parts of it, though. Science, if you're doing it right, gives a daily experience of awe that defies description. There's an added excitement in the physical challenge of deep sea exploration, and a marvellous freedom in stepping outside the map of what is known. She manages to convey that about as well as words can hope to. Sometimes, her writing doesn't rise to the level of her inspiration. That might be asking too much of any mere mortal, though. She does well enough, and speaks clearly to a non-scientific reader about what it is that keeps her going. //wiredweird

Although no longer in print, I found a used copy of this captivating book. Join oceanographer Cindy Lee Van Dover, pilot of the Alvin, on an adventure to the deep-sea floor. The book is rich in detail with evocative black and white drawings. Especially enjoyable is the chapter: "A Chorus of Tubeworms" - "crimson plumes bloom atop long white tubes that emerge from cracks in glossy black lava...each worm a prize specimen arranged in a formal garden."

This is an excellent book on deep sea exploration! If you can find it, the hardcover version is definitely a keeper for future reference. In response to the review above...I believe that "Deep-Ocean Journeys" by Cindy Lee Van Dover is the paperback version of "Octopus's Garden" ("Deep-Ocean" is still available in-print). Also, if you enjoyed this book, read William Broad's "The Universe Below".

Too bad this book out of print! It is a neat little book on deep sea life, not just (but mainly) hydrothermal vent life. Very readable and while not too technical was very informative, with nice black and white illustrations. It added a very human touch to deep sea exploration, but was professional at the same time. It is truly an amazing world beneath the surface of the sea, which by some counts makes up something like 97 percent of the biosphere of this planet. Great books help bring this alien but important realm to life. Recommended.