Groupers and Gun Mounts - by Charlie Hudson & Don Altemus (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Non-Fiction/Maritime History/Scuba/Eco-tourism

From Cold War warriors to dive enthusiasts, mix a little history with underwater fun as you plunge inside the USS Spiegel Grove, the famous artificial reef in Key Largo, Florida.

"I've enjoyed the Upper Keys wrecks and have a lot of hours exploring and teaching on the Spiegel Grove. Charlie Hudson's Groupers and Gun Mounts is a great book for those of us who have been on the ship many times and I think is especially useful for anyone who is planning their first dive on the SG."

-Richie Kohler, Shipwreck historian, explorer, technical diver, television and film personality/consultant

"I have known Don Altemus for many years and have been diving with him in the Dominican Republic. I am proud of my influence on Don's spirit of exploration and for assisting in my work on Spanish treasure galleons of the 17th and 18th centuries. Even though the wreck of the Spiegel Grove is from a more modern era, Groupers and Gun Mounts will give divers an inside look at the personnel and activities occurring daily on each deck level while the ship was in service. Wreck divers coming to Florida need to know about the Spiegel Grove in Key Largo, Florida."

-Captain Tracy Bowdon, Undersea and Shipwreck Explorer

"My front door opens into the Atlantic Ocean. As an expert on diving wrecks in South Florida, I've often been involved in ships' deployments to create artificial reefs. The diving community is fortunate that Charlie Hudson has co-authored Groupers and Gun Mounts. Her book, Islands in the Sand, is the dictionary on the "business of artificial reef creation." Don Altemus has been photographing South Florida wrecks from my boat for 30 years. Don and Charlie are uniquely qualified to introduce divers of all skill levels to the story of the Spiegel Grove."

-Captain Mike Beach, RJ Diving, Inc., Miami, Florida

CHARLIE HUDSON, an Army veteran and avid scuba diver, joins again with Don Altemus to bring a special book for those who served on the USS Spiegel Grove, and those who dive her today. Charlie has authored Islands in the Sand: An Introduction to Artificial Reefs in the USA, as well as scuba-related novels. See all her books on www.charliehudson.net

DON ALTEMUS, a Florida native and longtime banker, has more than thirty years experience diving and photographing wrecks. His 100-plus dives on the Spiegel Grove have resulted in a thorough appreciation of the ship and most of the photographs seen in Groupers and Gun Mounts.