|
|
|
|
|
Revieuwed by Rik Rösken Quite contrary what some people expect, Homo Delphinus, The dolphin within Man, is not about learning freediving. It is much more a philosophical book to learn to understand why breath-hold diving is such a natural sport, and to appreciate it. In his masterwork, Jacques Mayol tries to describe all his experiences over the last fifty years he got with freediving in all its different forms. He tells about science, the dolphins, le grand bleu and the aquatic ape theory. Almost every general topic of freediving is included in the book accompanied by beautiful pictures of what he has met. The first sentences of the book where written during the years Mayol lived on the Turks
and Caicos islands. To some extend, the amount of time to write the book did had its
impact at its structure. The changing views did not left the book untouched, and through
the pages, you can find a trace of the development of the author. Through the years,
much has changed and although most of the philosophies are still current, the book is
also very worthwhile because it also does describe some of the parts of freediving who
are almost forgotten in today's world. During the whole book, a romantic view breath-hold diving is preserved with care by
emphasis the relation between men and the sea, in particular the dolphins. People
looking for more info on the current competitive sport could be disappointed due that
the author did change his opinion through the years and explain why he doesn't like
its growth. Instead he favors breath-hold diving as an art and its means of
exploration. With its abundance of information, about breath-hold diving and the author, the
book does belong in the library of the breath-hold diver wanting to know breath-holding
to a deeper level, in philosophy and history. Read: Also on this site about Jacques Mayol: |
|
| Update: 25 Januari 2004 | Copyright / Disclaimer / Main Page / Sitemap / Contact |