Shadow Divers

The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II

By: Robert Kurson

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1991, acting on a tip from a local fisherman, two scuba divers discovered a sunken German U-boat, complete with its crew of 60 men, not too far off the New Jersey coast. The divers, realizing the momentousness of their discovery, began probing the mystery. Over the next six years, they became expert and well-traveled researchers, taught themselves German, hunted for clues in Germany, and constructed theories corrective of the history books, all in an effort to identify this sunken U-boat and its crew. During that time, three of their colleagues died exploring the wreck, including a father and son team. In 1997, when it all seemed in vain, the two divers came up with a final plan, so dangerous that the book ends with this last dive.

Listen to an interview with Robert Kurson on C-SPAN Booknotes from July 11, 2004.

©2004 Robert Kurson (P)2004 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

• Alex Award Winner, 2005

"While Kurson doesn't stint on technical detail, lovers of any sort of adventure tale will certainly absorb the author's excellent characterizations, and particularly his balance in describing the combat arm of the Third Reich. Felicitous cooperation between author and subject rings through every page of this rare insightful action narrative." (Publishers Weekly)
"A fascinating look at the sometimes communal, sometimes bitterly competitive psychology of wreck-divers, weekend warriors in wet suits whose dangerous hobby is often an antidote to the frustrations of the workaday world." (Booklist)
"The story told in Robert Kurson's new book features undersea thrills, a gripping mystery, incredible discoveries, true-blue friendship, life-or-death crises and history unfolding....Written with great you-are-there intensity and dynamic verve." (The New York Times)
"From U-boat history to the mortal dangers of diving (disorientation is so common that you wonder only three men drowned on this quest), Kurson explains it all, even as he's spinning a fantastic yarn that happens to be true. All he leaves out are the boring parts." (Newsweek)

Must Have This Book

Bottom line is that I never ever answer reviews, but this is the best book I have ever read. I wished it was 40 hours longer.

Enlightening and engaging

Shadow Divers is the compelling story of two deep sea divers who stumble upon a U-boat wreck in the early 1990s, and then work to identify the wreck for many years. Their perseverance is laudable, the risks they took were insane, and the costs of their quest were great.

The story telling reminds me of “Into thin air” by Jon Krakauer. Shadow Divers is well researched and provides great detail into the specifics of diving, experiences on specific dives, and how some divers met their fate. As a non-diver, some of it was just too much information for me, but appreciated the level of detail the author sought to convey as it was evidence of the extensive research.

The other lingering thought from this book is that there were U-boats of the American coast. I truly had no idea. While I wasn’t around for WWII, I always believed the war was “over there,” wherever “there” may have been. It was unsettling to me to realize the war was also be brought “here,” and I am grateful for those who served our country during that time and in the generations since.

Ended up loving it

I was afraid I had made a mistake when I first started listening. The opening seemed overly dramatic and verbose in language and the narration seemed to accentuate the slowness of story by stretching it out. But, I was really interested in the subject matter. So, I did something I've never done before - I increased the narration to 1.25 speed. Once the story found it's focus I was hooked. It was fascinating and moving. I am filled with admiration for the divers. I miss seeing any photographs that might have been included with a print version but, the author interview at the end was nice.

Recommended

I really enjoyed this book and even did some extra study on U boats afterward. The reader isn't great and there are a few parts that drag. But, overall, it is a good book, informative and intriguing.

Hey! Come up for air.

Any additional comments?

This is a great story from start to finish. I have friends that are part of the U.S. Navy diving community, and have talked with them about this adventure. Both of these men in the book who were the primary divers have went on to become famous in their own right and television on the history Channel, as deep-sea detectives. This book read like a thriller, once the submarine was found then the race was on to find out what submarine was it? I had never really stop to consider all the diving that went on in the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the time when you think about scuba diving you think of beautiful tropical places. It's also amazing how these divers reached the depths of the ocean before mixed gas was popular. This is a great real life adventure story of some of many divers who made the discovery possible of the submarines identification.

Wished that it wouldn't end!!!

This book is simply the best audiobook that I can remember. It was engrossing, exciting and had me listening in every waking moment, right up to the end of the epilogue. I just wish that I could find more books of this caliber- it was superb! I recommend it to men, women, divers, non-divers, history buffs and non-history buffs, alike. I wouldn't have ever thought myself interested in WWII history but after following the story of these two men, I have found myself interested in learning more of U-boats and the personalities of those affected at the time. Also really interesting was the male closeness of the two main characters as they divulged the closeness of their friendship in a way not often done in a world that often scorns male intimacy. I found that very appealing and think that other women would as well. These men were brave on so many levels and I relished their story. Brilliantly written and the reading of it was nicely done!!!! Enjoy...

Gripping from start to finish!

I couldn't stop listening. Went out and visited museum of science and industry U505 and watched "Das Boot" to get further visuals about what it just have been like to be on the U869!

A glimpse of history

Exciting and interesting story, recapturing the the determination to fill in blanks of lost WW11 history.

Get ready to learn something new about diving.

Book was great, story kept me hooked the whole time. The narrator will grow one you, fits the story very well after about 30-45 minutes. Will definitely listen again.

Fascinating!!!

One of the best non-fiction I've ever read, and I've read alot. I had to keep reminding myself that these events and characters are real! A Great Read!