WL Rating
Freediving is one of those sports, like big wave surfing, that is surrounded by an aura of danger, excitement, and adrenalin-fueled, colorful characters. After reading Deep by James Nestor, however, it’s clear to me that big wave surfing looks, by comparison, to be a safe, reasonable sport without consequence. In a nutshell, freediving is both reckless and serene, challenging and calming, dangerous and fucking bonkers. Now, to be clear, Deep is not just about freediving. Yes, freediving as a sport and lifestyle are eloquently covered by Nestor, but it’s freediving as a means to a deeper understanding of the ocean, and ultimately ourselves, that makes the book so good. Nestor starts Deep with an introduction to competitive freediving, a sport that leaves its competitors resurfacing from dives in one or more of the following states (from best to worst): Stoked, exhausted, disoriented, bleeding profusely, blacked out, nearly drowned, neurologically damaged, or dead. Nestor is justifiably appalled and fascinated. The book’s narrative then takes off into the world of deep water research with freediving as a vehicle for truly studying the elusive ocean world. Nestor covers various depths, plunging into cetacean communication, swimming with Sperm whales, taking a sketchy submarine voyage down nearly ten atmospheres, and exploring the theory that deep water hydrothermal vents were the basis of life. Deep offers a lot, and is a compelling, intelligent read. Now, as a person who spends a lot of time in/on the water, I can say that I was most fascinated by Nestor’s description of how, at about 30 feet deep, a swimmer’s natural buoyancy turns negative. At this point, with your sinuses equalized, you can float downward as the sea welcomes you in a deceptively soft, yet potentially lethal embrace. That’s something I’ve got to try...just not in San Francisco, and not alone. (November 2014)
