Shipwecks from the Egyptian Red Sea
A book by Ned Middleton
For over 8 years Ned Middleton has
been engaged in researching those shipwrecks found in the Egyptian sector of the
Red Sea. During that time he has uncovered new information which is of
considerable interest to scuba divers and shipwreck enthusiasts. Furthermore, he
has visited Egypt many, many times in order to produce a definitive guide to
those shipwrecks currently enjoyed by visiting divers. The results of these
endeavours is a book entitled “Shipwrecks from the Egyptian Red Sea.”
There are a number of important factors which will set this book apart from
other works; Firstly, the accuracy of information. Each subject shipwreck has
been studied and scrutinised in great detail to provide the reader with the best
possible assessment. Secondly, the credentials of an author who has enjoyed over
30 years as a leading British scuba diver, writer and underwater photographer -
and one who is well known for his very “readable” style of writing. As an
example, one British television producer described the introduction chapter of
Ned's previous book “Maltese Islands Diving Guide” (over 30,000 copies sold
in the first 5 years!) as one of the best potted histories to any country he had
ever read. Thirdly, this latest work is well supported by both historic and
up-to-date photography.
Finally - and probably the most important of all, Ned has secured the services
of Rico Oldfield - a marine artist of the highest calibre (Rico from Diver
magazine) to illustrate each of the main featured shipwrecks. In order to
provide Rico with the necessary background information to each vessel, Ned spent
over 3 years returning to Egypt time after time after time - just to photograph
each subject shipwreck from stem to stern in black in white in order to produce
an accurate montage for each of those shipwrecks from which the final paintings
were then made. The result of this artwork will move shipwreck guides for scuba
divers onto a new and higher plane as all other publishers rush to compete. In a
sentence, Ned's new book is on a par with anything produced by Bob Ballard in
the form of his international best-sellers (Titanic, Bismarck, Lusitania etc).
Altogether, Rico has provided a fully detailed painting of each of the 19 major
shipwrecks, an additional painting of the Thistlegorm under attack, something
for the book’s cover and an artistic impressions of the Kingston (lost in
1881) and Zealot (lost in 1876) as they were when afloat because there are no
known historic photographs of either of these ships.
The book itself contains chapters dedicated to revealing the full details of (a)
19 important and diveable shipwrecks – many of which have not appeared in any
book before. (b) An additional chapter giving brief information about all those
minor wrecks (tugboats and other small craft). (c) Finally, the work concludes
with a list of approx. 250 ships names; Vessels that cannot be dived (too deep,
not yet discovered, etc) and all the misnomers which have appeared over time.
Altogether, the author has submitted 62,225 words, 23 individual works of art
(especially commissioned for this book), 50 historic photographs, 1,000 original
colour slides plus a number of charts, letters and other documents from which
the final selection will be made by his publishers.
The following information for each of the major featured wrecks is also
included; (a) An historic picture of the original ship. (b) Technical
information - when/where built, dimensions, machinery etc. (c) A narrative of
the ship’s final journey - including details of cargo, port of embarkation and
intended destination - followed by an immensely readable account of “what
happened” to cause the ship to become lost. (d) A description of the vessel -
as she is today, underwater.
ISBN : 1898162719