True Adventures with Famous Shipwrecks

It’s been a long while since I read a book by Clive Cussler—nearly 18 months, in fact, since I gave up on the last novel I tried, Odessa Sea. I did read The Adventures of Vin Fizz to my kids about a year ago, but I didn’t enjoy that one too much either. Obviously, I was simply burned out after having consumed more than 60 of his published works! But this non-fiction read has always been on my list, and since I’m dabbling in other treasure hunting books (like Expedition Wydah) in my free time, I thought I’d finally give Sea Hunters a whirl.

This book is unique in the treasure-hunting genre, because it’s a mixture of both fiction and nonfiction. Not knowing every detail surrounding the loss of the shipwrecks this NUMA team is hunting, Cussler uses his novel-writing talent to weave plausible scenarios for what might have taken place in each loss, fit with real names and fictitious dialogue—all based off heavy research through the historical records, of course—before then talking about NUMA’s recoveries.

In fact, anyone familiar with Cussler’s novels will notice that these fictitious stories of loss are not dissimilar from the preambles that often begin his novels—the retelling of the loss of some historically significant artifact which plays a role in his other otherwise modern adventure plot. Oftentimes, the preambles are more memorable than the adventures themselves (I can think of dozen right now), so this book simply filled with such historical stories is sure to please avid Cussler fans.

The first several Parts to this book were interesting, but they honestly left a lot to be desired on the non-fiction side. They seemed too heavily focused on the “what might have happened?” and not nearly as much on the “how did we hunt for, discover, and salvage the wreck?” While treasure hunters like me certainly care about the historical values of the treasures they’re reading about, they must also care about the hunt and recovery of said treasures, and I thought the first half of this book was lacking in that regard.

But then I got to “Part 6: The Confederate Submarine Hunley,” and everything changed. This is by far the most informative chapter in the entire book, and it sucked me in like the downward pull of a sinking ship. The history was absolutely fascinating, and NUMA’s hunt for the wreck and estimations as to what must have happened were thorough and fascinating. In fact, I’d say that the whole book is worth this single Part. The rest is just decoration.

Throughout this book, we readers also learn a bit about Clive Cussler himself, his NUMA crew, and a few tips that Cussler’s willing to share. For example, we learn that Cussler grew up loving E.M. Forrester of Horatio Hornblower fame and that his favorite sandwich is (brace yourself) peanut butter and mayo with dill pickles (and I don’t even think he was pregnant when he admitted to that!). About his own personality, he writes:

A reporter who interviewed me several years ago wrote that I “follow the beat of a drummer playing with a marching band in a field on the other side of town.” I suppose that’s true. (Introduction)

About the NUMA crew, we discover that he accepted volunteers, but was often dependent on family, friends, archaeologists, sailors, and even psychics during his hunts. He describes the NUMA flag as “Nothing jazzy, just an old sailing ship on a red-, white-, and blue-striped background with the word EUREKA.” And he informs us that their motto is: “Do it big, do it right, give it class, and make ‘em laugh.”

Cussler also shares a number of tips about treasure hunting, research, and writing that I thought were worth sharing here:

Research: Threading the needle through investigation and study is my true love. I’ve often said that if my wife threw me out of the house, I’d take a cot and sleeping bag and move into the basement of a library.

Treasure Hunting Tip: One of the practices I’ve come to rely on when looking for a particular shipwreck is to research other ships that went down in the same general area. Should my primary target prove too elusive or impossible to find within my time schedule, or luckily, I stumble on it early in the game, I can use the extra days to hunt for a second or third wreck. There is nothing wrong with being extra ambitious when you’re given the opportunity of achieving an additional success by catching two or more fish on the same hook.

Treasure Hunting Tip: The best piece of advice I can give anyone who is looking for a historic site in a small town is to head directly to the sheriff or police chief’s office. Explain what you are hoping to accomplish and ask for his help and blessing. By being straightforward and honest, I have yet to encounter problems and have always received a warm welcome and friendly cooperation. Too often, strangers poking around a small town’s river or fields are treated with undisguised suspicion by the local residents, but if you tell them the sheriff is behind your project, you’re always greeted like an old friend.

Writing Style: If original sayings were worth a dime and cliches a dollar, I’d go for the big money every time.

Treasure Hunting: Despite stories by fiction writers like me, the search for historic treasure is seldom dangerous and all too often is downright tedious, but it is still an adventure that can be enjoyed by dedicated people or families out for a weekend of fun. Discoveries can be made anywhere and may take place within walking distance of your backyard. You’d be amazed at how many famous historical sites remain lost because nobody ever bothered to look for them.

All in all, this book was fun to read, imagining myself aboard those ships hunting the same wrecks and for the same preservation-over-pride reasons that Cussler did. I look forward to reading Sea Hunters II someday in the future.

Certainly, a book like this by an author like this makes a person think, “Oh to be a novelist who spends his days hunting treasure and writing stories!” but we can’t all be Clive Cussler, can we? Well, OK, maybe one or two of can be. Someday. In the future. Just you and me.

©2023 E.T.

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