The Helldivers' Rodeo by Humberto Fontova (2001, Hardcover)

<The quick version: A fun, light, easy read. Great book for divers, or guys who like outdoor adventure.>

What do you get when you combine scuba equipment, extreme depths, spearguns, BIG fish, a bunch of half-crazy cajuns, and liberal amounts of alcohol ?!?

You get the "Helldiver's Rodeo"!!

A hilarious collection of fish stories that top anything you've ever heard or made up yourself. Some of this stuff is so crazy you wouldn't believe it if it were happening anywhere other deep south Louisanna.
Picture a scuba diver wearing a football helmet and shoulder pads to protect from concussions while being drug through the pilings of an oil rig at high speed by a 200 lb. fish and you start to get the idea.

Written by the son of one of the orginal and founding Helldivers Terry 'Pappa Smurf' Migaud, this collection recounts how a few bored hunters discovered scuba and found a way to add some serious action to the hunting off-season. Adding to this rich history the author highlights his own career in spearfishing tracing to it's present day practice.

Following a vague timeline this book is presented as a loose series of vignettes detailing the hunting exploits above and below the surface of the author and an extended family of relatives, friends, and associates, spearfishing the man-made reefs created by oil rigs off the Louisanna coast.

While perhaps not a literary work of art, this book will appeal to anyone who enjoys Hemmigway-esque adventure and good dirty fun. Very much a guy book, but I think the ladies will laugh too as so many of these guys' exploits hit close to home. You don't have to be a diver to appreciate this book but if you are you will better understand why they refer to this as "extreme diving". ;-)
Not recommeded for minors due to mature content.