If you’re a dive enthusiast or a nature lover, don’t let the title of this book mislead you into thinking it’s solely focused on Canada. It’s not! This is a captivating story of a man with an unwavering passion for scuba diving and marine life, dedicating his life to exploring, studying, and documenting some of the most incredible creatures in Canadian waters.
Here at Dive to Escape, I’m on a mission to devour every book and paper I can find about sharks and the people who study them. So, when I discovered this book was coming out, the Canadian in me was thrilled. A book about Canadian sharks, with a great white on the cover? My immediate reaction was, “Let’s go! This is going to be a great read.”
And a great read it is, though not quite the shark book you might expect. Dr. Chris Harvey-Clark shares his journey of falling in love with scuba diving and the ocean from an early age. His experiences as a commercial shell fisherman not only helped fund his education but also gave him ample time underwater to encounter and understand some incredibly rare species. The stories of his time as a fisherman are filled with colorful characters and humorous antics, adding a personal touch to his adventures.
After completing his studies, Dr. Harvey-Clark pursued a career as a veterinarian. As a veterinary technician who also shares a deep passion for scuba diving and marine life, this part of his story resonated with me on a personal level.
In Search of the Great Canadian Shark is a short, easy-to-read book composed of twelve chapters, each detailing one of Dr. Harvey-Clark’s life adventures in Canada’s cold waters. Through these chapters, we learn how he became the first person to document several species not previously known to inhabit these waters. One such experience involved encountering a spotted torpedo ray in Nova Scotia, at a dive site I’ve been fortunate enough to visit. The torpedo ray is electric and can shock and stun its prey or defend itself. Dr. Harvey-Clark’s account of devising ways to protect their camera equipment from the ray’s electric pulse while filming it is both fascinating and entertaining.
Another highlight of the book is his story of tracking and diving with the elusive sixgill shark. Without giving too much away, let’s just say there are some unexpected twists in that journey. And, of course, the book’s title refers to his open-water encounter with a great white shark in Nova Scotia—an experience that is potentially one of the first documented encounters in those waters, making it truly unique.
This book earns a 5 out of 5 from me. While it may not be the “shark book” the title suggests, it is so much more—a memoir of a man’s deep love and passion for scuba diving, marine life, and conservation. Dr. Harvey-Clark provides valuable insights into how human activities are impacting our oceans and highlights how much we still have to learn about the incredible animals we encounter while diving.
If there’s one drawback to this book, it’s the lack of images. Given Dr. Harvey-Clark’s recognition as a photographer and filmmaker, it would have been wonderful to see some of his work included, or even a link or QR code to a website where readers could view the scenes he so vividly describes. Nonetheless, if you’re a scuba enthusiast or a marine life lover, this book is the perfect companion for a cool winter day when diving isn’t an option, and you’re living vicariously through the adventures of others.