"Strange as it seems
the Caribbean, perhaps the most popular diving area in the world for the greatest number
of divers, has had no guide, island by island, to its splendid dive locations. There have
been several fish identification books but an objective, non-commercial description of the
islands’ dive spots and facilities has been sadly lacking.
Until now, no one with
wide-ranging knowledge of the islands and the creative energy to produce such a guide has
come forth.
Martha Watkins Gilkes has
done just that in Diving Guide to the Eastern Caribbean. Her work as a
consultant with the US State department over a period of more than 20 years provided an
intimate acquaintance with most of the islands. Stationed in Barbados she ranged
throughout the Caribbean on diplomatic and policy missions. During those years she fell
wildly in love with the underwater marine world and honed her skill as a diver and an
underwater photographer.
We have both dived and
worked with Martha on many productions and watched with pleasure her superb grace in the
sea and her unremitting sense of responsibility as a dive buddy. She is the penultimate
dive companion.
It came as no surprise to
us that she ultimately became the driving force behind the establishment of the first
diver recompression chamber on Barbados and the formation of the first Caribbean Safe
Diving Association.
Her dedication to diving
introduced her to the dive masters of those islands and in turn to exploring the finest of
the dive sites. The book is a treasure trove of accurate information from hands-on
experience by one of the most respected divers in the Caribbean.
Further, it is a loving
tribute to the beautiful, vibrant marine environment of the Caribbean and the lush green
islands that sit like jewels in the turquoise sea."
