Taking the Tide Where it Serves

Dave's autobiography tells how, from simple beginnings, he manages to serve an apprenticeship in engineering, before deciding it wasn't for him and embarking on an adventure underwater. Firstly, with a bunch of friends salvaging scrap metal from shipwrecks, before blagging his way into the world of offshore oilfield deep diving. It was intended to be a short-term thing to make the deposit on a house and turned into 40 years in the industry, culminating in becoming the offshore manager of some major oilfield construction projects around the world. Dave takes us through his life's journey, near-death experience and involvement with several major incidents. He explains how it feels to live part of your life in the claustrophobic environment of a saturation diver, and reflects on some of the politics and events that occurred in this unique industry. He reflects on life's lessons as they presented themselves. The book is interspersed with anecdotes and amusing tales of and from the people he met along the way, characters, who come alive with their witty asides and darkly comic humour. Away from work, Dave and his wife, Marion, travel the world together, and their travels are heady and packed with adventure, as they ski, kayak and dive in idyllic locations. Whether bungee jumping in New Zealand or cycling across Central America, Dave and Marion are never afraid to take on a challenge.

About the Author :
Dave Adamson describes himself as a simple soul with an insatiable appetite for travel and adventure. Born and brought up in villages near Scarborough, North Yorkshire, an area he still calls home. He was educated in a village primary school where he failed the 11+ examination and moved to a secondary school, where he gained just enough qualifications to enter an apprenticeship in Engineering, before quitting that secure world to follow his love of the underwater environment into a lifetime at sea. He worked his way from diver's helper to eventually offshore manager of large oilfield construction projects worldwide. He married his first, and only love, Marion and they remain happily together until this day. They self-built a home in the countryside and travelled extensively. His hobbies include sea kayaking, angling, skiing and walking. He still uses some of the skills learned in apprenticeship to turn out all kinds of projects from his home workshop. The idea to write about his experience was simply for personal gratification and fill some time during the Coronavirus lockdown. But as it evolved so did the idea to publish the book. It hopefully also gives hope to anyone who thinks the lack of a university degree somehow condemns them to a humdrum life.