Description

Book Synopsis

Deep underwater lurks a mysterious man-made illness. It has gone by many names over the years Satan's disease, diver's palsy, the chokes but today, medics call it decompression sickness. You know it as the bends.

In the winter of 2012, British diver Martin Robson joined an expedition to southern Russia which sought to find a submerged cave system never seen by the human eye. On their final day, as Robson attempted to surface after reaching a record depth in the Blue Lake, disaster struck: just seventy-five feet down, he was ambushed by the bends. Forced to gamble on an underwater practice most doctors believe is a suicidal act, he sank back into the water. Soon, his only hope for survival was a dramatic mercy mission organised at the highest levels of the Russian government.

Between the Devil and the Deep is the first book to tell the terrifying true story of what it feels like to get the bends, taking you inside the body and mind of a man who suffered the unthinkable. Writer Mark Cowan also explores the fascinating history of decompression sickness, the science behind what causes the disease, and the stories of the forgotten divers who pushed the limits of physical endurance to help find a solution.

Between the Devil and the Deep

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    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 9 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback by Mark Cowan

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      View other formats and editions of Between the Devil and the Deep by Mark Cowan

      Publisher: Unbound
      Publication Date: 6/5/2025
      ISBN13: 9781800183353, 978-1800183353
      ISBN10: 1800183356

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Deep underwater lurks a mysterious man-made illness. It has gone by many names over the years Satan's disease, diver's palsy, the chokes but today, medics call it decompression sickness. You know it as the bends.

      In the winter of 2012, British diver Martin Robson joined an expedition to southern Russia which sought to find a submerged cave system never seen by the human eye. On their final day, as Robson attempted to surface after reaching a record depth in the Blue Lake, disaster struck: just seventy-five feet down, he was ambushed by the bends. Forced to gamble on an underwater practice most doctors believe is a suicidal act, he sank back into the water. Soon, his only hope for survival was a dramatic mercy mission organised at the highest levels of the Russian government.

      Between the Devil and the Deep is the first book to tell the terrifying true story of what it feels like to get the bends, taking you inside the body and mind of a man who suffered the unthinkable. Writer Mark Cowan also explores the fascinating history of decompression sickness, the science behind what causes the disease, and the stories of the forgotten divers who pushed the limits of physical endurance to help find a solution.

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