Why this book:  Proposed multiple times by several participants in my SEAL reading group, and finally selected, 

Summary in 2 Sentences:  Three men who were leaders of the elite wreck diving culture of New England discover a German Submarine in deep water off the coast of New Jersey,  and then endeavor through many dives and much research to determine what submarine it was and what was it doing there.  The mystery of the submarine is a lens through which the author takes us into the arcane culture of wreck diving, into the personalities, character and lives of the three main characters, and ultimately into the elite and tragic world and culture of the German submarine force in WWII.

My Impressions:  I listened to (rather than read) this book and loved it.  It started off a bit slow for me, as he explained SCUBA diving with which I’m pretty familiar – I assume this was to serve as an intro for audiences with little or no diving experience.  But then he got into the series of events that led to the discovery of a German U-Boot lying in 220 feet of water 60 miles off the coast of New Jersey.  There were no known U-Boots attacked or sunk in those waters, and so began the process of not only exploring the U Boot itself, but figuring out WHICH German U Boot it was and how it ended up sunk and lying unknown in this location for so long.

At this point the author takes a break from the story to describe the lives of the three main characters in his book  Bill Engle, John Chatterton, and Richie Kohler.  Each in his own way had become obsessed with the very demanding and dangerous hobby of diving on deep water shipwrecks, each for somewhat different reasons, which we learn as we get to know these men.  All working class men from New England, all consumed by their hobby which had become a passion. Diving on wrecks lying in deep water – more than 150 feet is no casual hobby – it requires a lot of training, discipline and is quite dangerous – much more so than recreational scuba diving.   Bill Engle one of the leading figures in New England wreck diving had become a hopeless alcoholic; John Chatterson rebelled against his wealthy father, joined the army and became a a successful ground combat medic in Vietnam and struggled with PTSD when he returned;  Richie Kohler grew up admiring his German heritage, had a broken home growing up, and eventually found community amid the deep water divers of New England.  I found these mini- bios fascinating – adding depth and flavor to the story.

Over 8 years and more than 20 dives they were unsuccessful finding anything that would identify which submarine they’d found.  When word leaked that they’d found a German U-boat, the best divers wanted to join them – it was a matter of prestige in that community to dive on difficult wrecks in challenging waters.  During those many diving trips, which included other experienced divers 3 men lost their lives – in each case due to the hazards to the body and mind of diving in water that deep.  Dives could only be scheduled during certain periods of hte year when weather was likely to permit such diving.  After multiple dive visits and more than a hundred hours of research in the Naval They researched National Archives, Naval History and Heritage Command, communicating with clubs and organizations in the US and Germany focused on German U-boat history and culture, they came up with a few theories, but nothing conclusive.  

Also in the story, Kurson takes us with the divers on their dives to 200+ feet – what it’s like to have nitrogen narcosis distort one’s thinking and judgment, to work in near zero visibility due to silt in the water,  inside a ship wreck filled with debris, collapsed walls and dangling wires,  in strong currents, having no more than 20 minutes of bottom time and over an hour of decompression time. 

This wreck was considered inordinately dangerous – not only because of the depth, but also because of the carnage inside the submarine – wires and broken pipes that could snag and hold a diver. In the case of this wreck, unlike other wrecks commonly visited by wreck divers off the coast of New England, this one contained the remains of the men who had manned the sub when it went down – the divers referred to it as a bone-yard, and they and the authorities insisted that it be treated as a maritime grave.   They had to be very creative in how they did their searches and while also being resolved to do their best to respect and not disturb the bones of the crew, even though the clothing that was still attached to some of them, potentially held the secret to the submarine’s demise. 

Kuson’s description of the dives,  what the men encountered during their dives, their close calls take the reader there.  We admire their fervid research into Naval archives to help find clues that might lead them to identify the U-boat. They searched out and interviewed those still living (this was the early 1990s ) who might have clues or insights that would help them identify the sub.  

Not to give it away, but eventually and through surprising effort and challenge, they were able to identify conclusively which submarine it was, and Richie Kohler made a point of visiting the living relatives of those who had been on the U-boot, whose remains he’d swum around inside the sub, looking for clues.  

A great, compelling and fully engaging read. I had difficulty stopping the audio when I had other things to do.  Additionally, it provides insights into the world of deep water wreck diving, the fascinating lives of the men who do it, and into the secret and heroic world of the German submarine force during WWII.