Beach Haven

​​ADVANCED OPEN WATER DIVER MANUAL
By Professional Association of Dive Instructors
PADI, 2016, 328 pages
Reviewed by Michael Beach
 
This manual is the text used for divers seeking the advanced certification through PADI. I actually completed this course and certification decades ago as an undergrad. As I have been getting back into diving more recently I got a more modern copy of the latest manual to reacquaint myself.
 
The document assumes the reader already has some basic knowledge of SCUBA since this is a follow on certification after the standard open water program. The course and manual is intended to give some basic information about some of the specialty areas of diving. Each chapter is focused on a different specialty such as deep diving, night diving, wreck diving, and the like. Aside from adding competence to the diver seeking advancement, I think the manual is also designed to encourage even additional certification. Each of the specialty areas has its own certification program.
 
For all the reasons above, if a person has completed the basic open water course it would be wise for continued experience through the advanced class and manual. The more competent the diver, the more comfortable the diver, the more safe the diver.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
By Jane Austen
P.F. Collier & Son Company, 1917, 370 pages
Reviewed by Michael Beach


​Yes, I know. This is not the sort of book that would seem "normal" for someone like me to read. In fact I didn't really chose it. Last year Michelle and I found one of those 20 volume sets of classic literature at a local library used book sale. It was one of the few times I have actually seen one of these that was complete. It cost us something like $5 for the entire set, so we bought it. I have been working my way through this set and reached the volume that included this work and one other I've already reported on in an earlier entry.

If ever there was a romance novel, this is it. Thankfully it's not like so many "modern" romances that are more like a rated R, or worse, movie. First published in 1813, the sentiment is clearly of its era. The sisters of the main character family are mostly of marriageable age. There are a mixture of plots in their various courtships. Elizabeth Bennet, the main character, is quick to judge others, in particular Mr. Darcy. As you might guess they embark on a love-hate relationship that eventually culminates in love with a fairy-tale ending. Her female friend and one of her sisters does not fare so well. Her closest sister, Jane, also eventually gains her man, happiness, and a fortune, though not so big a fortune as Elizabeth.

Several characters are not very nice, or make poor choices. Like an old-fashioned Hollywood movie, they all get their come-upping's eventually. The likeable people have happy endings. The author seems to have a great deal of faith in Kharma. My dad would have called this story "too mushy". I'd have to say I agree. It's not my kind of read, but since the story has remained popular for more than 200 years I suppose that's proof that others would disagree with me.