I recall when DIVER contributor Jeffrey Gallant confided in me that he was working on a book about which he could not reveal anything at the time except to say that upon publication, it would be unique in the diving world. That was in early 2006 and the volume he produced was the Diving Almanac & Yearbook, launched last fall at the Orlando, Florida, DEMA show. Now, a year later, the 2008 DAY, in acronym-ese, is off the press and it's fatter, filled with more facts, figures and fascinating stuff about our underwater world and is truly earning a place for itself on the shelf as an indispensable reference.

I make no claims to being a historian of our sport but I do enjoy books and I can say that in my day-to-day work editing this magazine, the Almanac has proven itself a trusty companion. In fairness though, it’s an engaging read for anyone, diver or not, keen to know more about man-in-the-sea. A quick flip between its softbound covers immediately gets you in over your head.

There is a perception that this sort of reference isn’t a real 'hunker down in your favourite chair' kind of reading experience. I concede this to be my view of many a reference but this one, focused as it is on a subject utterly captivating to me since I was about tank valve high, is an exception. One big reason is the Dive Chronicle 'year in review' section that details significant diving events around the world as they occurred month by month. It’s a thoroughly engaging dive news summary wide-ranging in its scope of deep-sea and freshwater subject matter. The Chronicle was 18-pages in the inaugural DAY; 100 pages or 20 per cent of the 2008 book, a compelling reason to get a copy each year.

The new edition, at over 600 pages, offers a good deal more in its many other sections, too. Featured on its 100 added pages are 150 new personalities and 100 new records. New features include the DAY Blue Pages, a thorough listing of dive resorts, liveaboards, charters and dive centres around the world, listed by country. From ‘at a glance’ statistical data, to equipment, diving professions, history, training, medicine, associations, personalities, the physical and biological water world, entertainment and more – such as a new colour section on underwater artists – this book is, hands down, the best ‘one stop shopping’ text on the subject to have at arm’s length. And it’s a no-brainer to inform and entertain during those intermittent, usually brief, but essential visits to the smallest room on the premises.

Bulk of the volume is text, written with economy, and easy to read in a two-column format. General subject areas and sub categories are listed in the table of contents and on every page these topics are easily located thanks to high visibility headlines that flag each new subject and bold face type that highlights important identifying words, names, phrases etc. Topics are liberally illustrated with black and white photographs, maps and diagrams. The new edition features 72 full colour pages.

Of necessity, entries in this compendium on all things underwater are to the point. But because the content offers specifics the book is an excellent starting point for key search words that, mercifully, expedite more exhaustive internet-based detective work. If time is money, this alone makes DAY worth the price.

The Diving Almanac & Yearbook can be ordered from DIVER Magazine or online at www.divingalmanac.com.