This is one of those labours of love that fills a highly specialised niche in the diving canon. Madagascar is hardly a major dive destination, but no doubt there will be readers thirsting for knowledge of this Indian Ocean island's underwater heritage.
The Belgian author is a keen wreck-diver who, after diving two 18th century vessels sunk off Madagascar, realised that nothing had been published about them before - perhaps not surprisingly.
From the earliest wreck in 1506, we range through East Indiamen, pirate ships and British and French naval craft right up to 1943, when U197 was sunk off the island by the RAF.
Many dives are said to have gone into producing Van Den Boogaerde's record of some 100 ships, but this is very much a history book, and he rarely mentions what remains.
Steve Weinman
Strategic Book Publishing
ISBN: 9781606934944
Hardback, 336pp, US $30.50
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