The new book is currently being printed – it will be in my publisher’s warehouse in about 2 week’s time and ready for distribution.

The final proof has now been checked and approved – and the full cover is now sorted out, sneak preview of the whole thing below.

Just a few little things now to be squared away – and then we go to print! Exciting times!

Pre-orders here: https://www.whittlespublishing.com/Dive_Truk_Lagoon_2nd_edition

The final 400page proof of the new 2nd edition of Dive Truk Lagoon has arrived from my publishers for me to check. Better get kettle on and get my head down. Its a full rewrite of 1st edition with loads new info, photos and wreck illustrations. pre-orders available here:

Putting my offshore cruising RIB up for sale – brilliant dry heavy duty RIB (2010). Suzuki DF140 serviced professionally each year, last in May 2023 – about 500 hours. Rollercoaster trailer serviced professionally annually with new bearings at 2022 service and new brakes in 2023. Price: £25k

If interested, contact me on rod@rod-macdonald.co.uk

Advance Information now available in the Downloads Section of this site

Press Release now available in the Downloads Section of this site

It has been quite a journey over the last 33 years since the 1st paperback edition of Dive Scapa Flow was published in 1990. My then publishers, Mainstream Publishing, felt they were taking quite a risk with the publication and did an initial print run of 2000 paperback copies. That sold out very quickly and other similar 2000 copy print runs followed before they decided it was selling well enough to merit going to a hardback cover in 1993. At that time there were about 12 dive boats working the Flow full time throughout the dive season.

The cover got changed in about 1998 for the 3rd, 4th & 5th editions – Derek Miller beside the upturned triple expansion engine of the Tabarka – sadly no longer accessible.

In anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the scuttle on 21 June 2019, the book was fully rewritten and updated with new wreck illustrations and the latest digital scans courtesy of Chris Rowland and ADUS Deepocean. Its hard to think back to just how little we knew about the wrecks in the early 1980’s, when I started diving them – compared to the wealth of knowledge now available.

Release date – end June 2023

My new book was released in the UK and Europe last week – it’s publishing in the USA in April. I’ve just received my author copies – and they’re causing much excitement at Chateau Macdonald! What a beautiful production by Frontline Books and Pen & Sword. It’s a funny feeling reading your own finalised published book for the first time!

My new book about how 6 of the 8 US battleships (sunk or damaged during the surprise Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor) returned to war has now been published in the UK. It’s a fascinating story that covers the raid itself, the amazing feats of salvage – and then follows each of the 6 OBBs as they are repaired, modernised and returned to the fight. Publishing in USA next month.