JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS PRINTED as fact in a book doesn't make it true. It can be very irritating to hear what you know is misinformation repeated by a third party who 'read it somewhere'.
It's worse when an author starts to believe his own fiction after seeing it reproduced in print.
Ned Middleton is obviously a stickler for detail and I, and others, have often fielded anxious phone calls from him because some other self-appointed Red Sea wreck expert has got it wrong.
After eight years of research, his long-awaited Shipwrecks From The Egyptian Red Sea has been published (why 'From'? Surely 'Of' would be more appropriate). I read it from cover to cover just in case he got anything wrong. As far as my knowledge goes, I found not one error.
I took a photograph of the bow of the Chrisoula K, protruding from the water at Sha'ab Abu Nuhas, the name still clearly legible. I have photos of my youthful self standing on its submerged bridge. He got that right. I remember diving the wreck of the Kingston long before it miraculously became the Sarah H. That's another myth he's put to rest.
He has included photographs by Lawson Wood, who witnessed the sinking of the Giannis D from a liveaboard. There is a good account of the loss of the Carnatic, and the Kimon M.
Of course, Thistlegorm takes pride of place, though there is no mention of Shimshon, the Israeli skipper I believe really rediscovered it.
The Rosalie Moller is fully accounted for, and I learned something new about the El Mina. The Zingara is here, though I think it's hardly worth diving; the Salem Express; Numidia, Aida and all the others.
I have no reason to disbelieve the well-researched account of how the aft part of the Turbo came to lie at Ras Banas, and Ned Middleton seems to have covered all the other wrecks, from Tiran to Rocky Island, including the Dunraven.
Rico Oldfield has lovingly executed the evocative illustrations. Grant Searancke and Kimo Haagman supplied material for the last section about the Maidan. Major Ned's commentary is detailed and can be a little turgid at times (unsurprisingly, considering his military background) but it is complete.
This volume reflects a painstaking labour of love, and includes many finely reproduced photographs. I think it could become the standard reference work used by dive guides for wreck dives in the Egyptian Red Sea.
John Bantin

(Immel Publishing, ISBN 1898162719). Hardback, 160pp, £35