THE AMPHORA: A Boat You Can Build for Underwater Research

Peter Stevenson and his son Mike (they collaborated on the Buffy-Porson coaster car in 1973) modeled the original Amphora after the Greek sponge divers' caique. The ""older helper"" they recommend is a necessity here, even though their tips on tool use and words of caution are designed for the inexperienced. For those few with the commitment to complete the boat building stage (or those others who choose to skip it), the authors add instructions for making a boom crane, air pump, viewer and other tools to carry aboard, and a sample log of one voyage to illustrate how they are all used. There's no promise of Spanish treasure at the end but not much about scientific investigation either; mostly this is a businesslike invitation for serious tackle-it-yourselfers like the Stevensons.