Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves

James Nestor, a journalist, follows the world of freediving, where athletes dive on a single breath to extreme depths. He meets divers like William Trubridge and Herbert Nitsch, and visits a competition in the Bahamas, while describing the mammalian dive reflex that slows the heart and shifts blood to the organs. Along the way he covers the history of diving, the story of Jacques Mayol, early research on pressure and the work of scientists studying marine mammals. He also writes about learning to dive himself, with fear and wonder.

It suits readers who like immersive science and adventure writing. Anyone curious about the human body's hidden capacities and the underwater world will find plenty to learn.

Outward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Evidence Seeker. Which reader are you?