Explorations: My Quest for Adventure and Discovery Under the Sea

Ballard's discovery of the remains of the Titanic in 1985 finally brought him worldwide fame, yet he had pioneered in deep-ocean exploration for nearly two decades. A marine geologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts, he has participated in numerous expeditions using deep-diving submersibles. Here he and McConnell (Challenger: A Major Malfunction) give a gripping account of his undersea adventures. He has worked with French expeditions mapping the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Galapagos Rift; at the latter site, he discovered molten lava on the sea floor and an unexpected oasis of life--giant clams and tube worms. Ballard examined the sunken ships of WWII's battle of Guadalcanal; he found the lost submarine Thresher and the wreck of the Bismarck. Deep-sea explorers and astronauts share extreme hazards and dependence on high-tech equipment; for the excitement of discovery, Ballard and his fellow scientists have the edge. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (Apr.)