Publisher's Synopsis
Not everybody is aware that the ships that rounded the South African coast over the past five centuries are as closely linked to the history of South Africa as gold and diamonds. They were treasures then, they are all treasures today. The difference is that about 3000 ships were lost rounding the Cape of Good Hope some centuries ago on their way to and from the Spice Islands of the East. It has taken a rare brand of adventurer to discover the undersea locations of many of them and Al Venter and his friends detail their activities. Following War Stories, Shark Stories and African Stories in the series, this book about shipwrecks and diving will make riveting reading like all of Al J. Venter's books. There are hundreds of illustrations, sketches, photos, diagrams, plans as well as five color sections. The book runs to 30 chapters and is the fourth in Al Venter's series of Southern African "stories". Pulling together with a bunch of friends, Venter has created a book on shipwrecks that is both fascinating and beautiful.