Where Divers Dare: The Hunt for the Last U-Boat by Randall Peffer (2016 HC in DJ - 1st Edition)




This is the gripping true account of the search for German U-boat, U-550, off the United States coast, and the battle in which it was sunk.

On April 16, 1944, the SS Pan Pennsylvania was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-550 off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. In return the sub was driven to the surface with depth charges, and then sent to the bottom of the ocean by three destroyer escorts that were guarding the naval convoy. For more than sixty years the location of the U-boat's wreck eluded divers.

In 2012, a team found the last undiscovered U-boat in dive-able waters off the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, more than three hundred feet below the surface. This is the story of the team's twenty-year quest to find this "Holy Grail" of deep-sea diving and their tenacious efforts to dive on this treacherous wreck.


Randall Peffer is the author of eight nonfiction books, most with a nautical angle, as well as nine crime/suspense novels. His first book, Watermen, was a documentary of the lives of the Chesapeake's fishermen. It won the Baltimore Sun’s Critic’s Choice Award and was Maryland Book of the Year. The son of a career naval officer, Peffer holds a 100-ton masters license and has logged over one hundred thousand miles at sea, mostly in traditional working vessels.


Book design by Tiffany Estreicher. Jacket Design by Rita Frangie. Includes index and 8 pages B&W historic photos plus 8 pages color photos of discovery dive. 310+16 pages of photos


These are all 1st edition, new hardcover books in new dust jackets which didn't sell in their initial placement and were returned to the publisher. No copy was ever sold from a store, or ever been read, although they may have set on the shelf in a store and have remainder marks.



Copyright 2016. Stated First Edition with full print-line implies 1st printing. Printed in the U.S.A. Berkley Caliber is an imprint of Penguin Random House. LCCN: 2015028313. ISBN: 978-0-425-27636-5 (hardback). MSR = $28.00.



Notes on Condition/Edition ratings:


Fine – means like new, but any book produced over 10 years ago isn't “brand new” or even “new.”  Booksellers needed some word to describe this...


Like New – A new book, no marks no damage (except maybe remainder marks or shelf-wear) except not obtained directly from the publisher or in packaging from the publisher.


Very Good – How you or I might take care of a book, closer to “as new” than standard. Might show ownership.


Good – How someone else might take care of a book. Also referred to as “standard.” This is the most likely condition for books of this age & title, shows the book has been read or previously owned.


Acceptable – How a child, student or a librarian might take care of a book. (Either trying to make sure

someone doesn't steal it by plastering ownership everywhere, filled it with copious notes or a book that has been damaged.)


Poor – Combination of “acceptable” factors above. Most likely with water damage as well. Might have

missing pages (you should ask).


Near – Means “almost” in an optimistic sense. e.g., “Near Fine” means very good, but on the high end.


1st Thus – Unique somehow, maybe 1st paperback, new illustrator, misprint or even the 1st edition. A collector

might desire this copy.


Thanks for looking!