Titanic Adventure

An abusive first marriage, a remote father and the lifelong yearning for adventure combined to inspire Carter to become the first woman to dive to the wreck of the Titanic. After a brief recollection of an all too familiar litany--the squashing of her tomboyish tendencies, her husband's physical and mental abuse and her resulting depression--Carter fortunately turns her attention to her career choices. From bank teller to coordinator of the Titanic 1987 recovery expedition, she explains in a captivating narrative style the trials and tribulations of working in ""a man's world."" Carter describes her youthful fascination with the Titanic and the sacrifice and mental toughness she needed to actually visit the wreck. The turning point comes when she meets Ralph White, a scuba instructor and ""Professional Adventurer"" who pushes her toward her goals. The bulk of the book deals with the expedition itself: there are storms metaphorical and real, as well as intrigue and conflict, as she finds herself reconciling not only various personalities but also two governments. Between vivid descriptions of her dive and those of others during the expedition, Carter also details the findings, whether recovered objects or the first sighting of the gash that is believed to have sunk the liner. (Dec.)