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Book Review: Deep Water By Watt Key
A deep dive, to almost thirty metres, thirty miles off the coast of Alabama, USA goes horribly wrong. In strong current, their anchor line – their safe route to the surface and back to the boat – breaks free. Three divers are separated and eventually surface – only to find themselves alone and adrift in the water. Their boat and the skipper are nowhere in sight and their fight for survival, against the odds, starts.
However, Deep Water by Watt Key is not merely about the trials and tribulations facing the divers. The author brings several strands together that make up the story. The main character and narrator is Julie Sims, the twelve year-old heroine, growing up and coping with the divorce of her parents and being torn between them. During the story she grows into a compassionate young woman who displays a level of resolve and resourcefulness that would flatter the most experienced adult diver. The other two main characters, also adrift in the ocean, are Mr Jordan and his son Shane; a domineering father and antagonistic son who “are reckless enough to get themselves into trouble down there” (pp 6-7). Neither of these two characters are likeable.
It is the interplay between Julie and Shane, and their reconciliation that sets this book apart from a mere survival story. I suspect that initially a reader wouldn’t be bothered about the fate of the Jordans.
However, as the story progresses you want Julie and Shane to survive. Skilfully, the author keeps his audience waiting almost to the bitter end before the book reaches a conclusion. You will have to read it to see what happens!
On the back cover of Deep Water, a quotation from the Wall Street Journal describes the book as a “gripping tale of endurance for young readers”. It certainly is – even though I am sure much older readers, even those of my age, will enjoy and appreciate it. Whilst Deep Water may have been directed towards a younger audience it is definitely not restricted to them.
Also, on the back cover, is a quotation from Booklist, the American Library Association’s review publication. It notes that “Readers hungry for an epic tale of gruelling odds will also find lessons in bravery, resourcefulness, and practical survival skills”. As the tale unfolds I suspect readers, like me, will start to consider what they would do, how they would act if put in a similar perilous diving situation. I would like to think I would behave in a similar way – but I’m not sure I would have survived before hypothermia claimed me.
The attention to detail, and simple, logical explanation of vital survival skills, makes this book worthy of reading. Certainly, the story confirms my practise of always carrying a couple of scuba straps and carabiners … line cutter and SMB. What emergency kit do you carry?
- Deep Water (2018)
- By Watt Key
- ISBN 9781250294395
- 264 pages
About Watt Key:
Watt received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Birmingham-Southern College, Alabama, USA. He subsequently earned his MBA from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. While working as a computer programmer, he began submitting novels to major publishers.
His debut novel, Alabama Moon, was published in 2006. Watt currently lives with his wife and three children in Mobile, Alabama. Other books written by Watt Key include: Dirt Road Home (2010), Terror at Bottle Creek (2016), Hide Out (2017)
Further information about Watt Key, and other books he has written, can be obtained from his website www.wattkey.com
Find out more about Professor Fred Lockwood, who is also a published author, at www.fredlockwood.co.uk.
The Ocean Cleanup, the global non-profit project, has removed a verified all-time total of ten million kilograms (22 million lbs.) of trash from oceans and rivers around the world – approximately the same weight as the Eiffel Tower.
To complete its mission of ridding the oceans of plastic, The Ocean Cleanup uses a dual strategy: cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) to remove the plastic already afloat in the oceans, while stopping the flow of plastic from the world’s most polluting rivers.
Through cleaning operations in the GPGP and in rivers in eight countries, the cumulative total of trash removed has now surpassed ten million kilograms. This milestone demonstrates the acceleration of The Ocean Cleanup’s impact, while underlining the astonishing scale of the plastic pollution problem and the need for continued support and action.
While encouraging for the mission, this milestone is only a staging point: millions more tons of plastic still pollute our oceans and The Ocean Cleanup intends to continue learning, improving and innovating to solve this global catastrophe.
This announcement comes as governments from around the world meet to continue negotiations to develop a new legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution at INC4 in Ottawa, Canada. Representatives of The Ocean Cleanup will be in attendance and the organization will be urging decision-makers to collaborate towards a comprehensive and ambitious global treaty which addresses plastic at all stages of its life cycle and in all marine environments worldwide, including in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
It is encouraging to see that the need for remediation is reflected in the various options for potential treaty provisions. It is essential that the final treaty contains clear targets for the remediation of legacy plastic pollution, and reduction of riverine plastic emissions.
Tackling plastic pollution requires innovative and impactful solutions. The treaty should therefore incentivize the innovation ecosystem by fostering innovations that make maximal use of data, technology and scientific knowledge – such as those designed and deployed by The Ocean Cleanup.
‘After many tough years of trial and error, it’s amazing to see our work is starting to pay off – and I am proud of the team who has brought us to this point.’ said Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup. ‘While we still have a long way to go, our recent successes fill us with renewed confidence that the oceans can be cleaned.’
The Ocean Cleanup was founded in 2013 and captured its first plastic in 2019, with the first confirmed catch in the GPGP coming soon after the deployment of Interceptor 001 in Jakarta, Indonesia. After surpassing one million kilograms of trash removed in early 2022, the non-profit project has since progressed to the third iteration of its GPGP cleaning solution, known as System 03, and a network of Interceptors currently covering rivers in eight countries, with more deployments set for 2024.
About The Ocean Cleanup
The Ocean Cleanup is an international non-profit organization that develops and scales technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. They aim to achieve this goal through a dual strategy: stemming the inflow via rivers and cleaning up the legacy plastic that has already accumulated in the ocean. For the latter, The Ocean Cleanup develops large-scale systems to efficiently concentrate the plastic for periodic removal. This plastic is tracked and traced through DNV’s chain of custody model to certify claims of origin when recycling it into new products. To curb the tide via rivers, The Ocean Cleanup has developed Interceptor™ solutions to halt and extract riverine plastic before it reaches the ocean. Founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, The Ocean Cleanup now employs a broadly multi-disciplined team of approximately 140. The foundation is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
For more information, visit: theoceancleanup.com and follow @theoceancleanup on social media.
Marine Life & Conservation
Steve Backshall to headline Shark Trust’s flagship event: For the Love of Sharks
Join a host of amazing, shark loving, speakers including Steve Backshall and the Shark Trust team for an evening celebrating shark conservation at the Royal Geographical Society in London this November.
Date: 29th November 2024
Time: 6-10pm
Location: Royal Geographical Society, London
Tickets: https://www.sharktrust.org/Event/flos24
The event will be a celebration of all things shark. Those lucky enough to get hold of tickets will hear from engaging guest speakers with a passion for sharks.
The line-up includes (*subject to change if unforeseen circumstances arise)
Steve Backshall: One of television’s busiest presenters, BAFTA award-winning wildlife expert Steve has been passionate about the wild world ever since he was young.
Steve’s impressive TV career has taken him all around the world, investigating a wide array of species and environments. Steve has filmed over 100 hours of children’s wildlife programmes with the BAFTA award winning Deadly 60 franchise and recently, with Sky Nature, for his new series ‘Whale with Steve Backshall’. He has been a patron for the Shark Trust for 10 years.
Simon Rogerson: is a photojournalist specialising in natural history, diving and the sea.
He is editor of SCUBA magazine, the official journal of the British Sub-Aqua Club. Simon started his career as a crime reporter but gravitated towards his ‘less depressing’ interest in underwater exploration, joining the staff of DIVE magazine in 1999. In 2005 he was named ‘Editor of the Year’ in the PPA’s Independent Publishing Awards. Simon also works as a freelance writer, contributing frequently to the Sunday Times and Telegraph, in addition to BBC Wildlife, Esquire, and a host of international diving magazines. He is the author of a book, Dive Red Sea, published by Ultimate Sports. Now based in Berkshire, Simon has been a Patron of the Shark Trust for 20 years.
More speakers to be announced soon. Head to the Shark Trust website to learn more.
The evening will also allow guests the final chance to see the Oceanic 31, shark art exhibition. Some of the artwork will be auctioned/raffled at the event, while the rest will be auctioned online to raise money for the Shark Trust Oceanic Programme.
For the Love of Sharks is an evening with something for everyone who is interested and fascinated by sharks. Join the Shark Trust, their Patrons, Trustees and Staff, along with a host of supporters for this celebration of shark conservation.
For more information or to buy a ticket: https://www.sharktrust.org/Event/flos24
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