Shadow Divers: The True Story of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II (2004) by Robert Kurson is a celebrated nonfiction adventure book. Kurson, an adventure journalist whose stories have been featured in Rolling Stone, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine, is known for his immersive and entertaining style. His first book-length work, Shadow Divers was a New York Times Best Seller and won the American Booksellers Association Nonfiction Book of the Year Award in 2005. Shadow Divers is the true story of two divers who battled the elements to investigate a mysterious shipwreck, facing psychological and ethical dilemmas along the way.

This guide refers to the 2004 first edition of the book.

Content Warning: The book and this guide describe scenes of extreme risk and death involving drowning, decompression sickness, and narcosis, as well as scenes of war, including passing mention of Nazi ideology and war crimes.

Summary

Shadow Divers follows the journey of a group of skilled, daring deep-sea divers who unraveled the mystery of a sunken World War II German U-boat off the New Jersey coast. The story begins by introducing John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, two experienced wreck divers with a passion for exploration. In 1991, while diving near the coast of New Jersey, Chatterton discovered a mysterious wreck that had eluded discovery for decades. Intrigued by the challenge of uncovering its secrets, Chatterton and Kohler, once rivals, partnered up and embarked on a quest to determine the identity of the sunken vessel.

As they delved deeper into their investigation, Chatterton and Kohler encountered numerous obstacles and setbacks. They faced challenges ranging from dangerous underwater conditions to bureaucratic red tape and even legal threats from the German government, which claims ownership of all sunken U-boats. Despite these obstacles, their determination only grew stronger as they both became increasingly obsessed with solving the mystery.

Along the way, Chatterton and Kohler enlisted the help of fellow divers and experts in various fields, including naval history and forensics. Together, they pieced together clues from archival documents, eyewitness accounts, and forensic evidence to narrow down the list of possible identities for the wreck. Their investigation led them to uncover the tragic fate of the U-boat’s crew, who perished when their vessel sank during World War II. Through interviews with surviving family members and archival research, they learned about the lives of the men who served aboard the U-boat and the circumstances that led to its demise.

As Chatterton and Kohler got closer to solving the mystery, personal and professional challenges tested their resolve. They faced ethical dilemmas surrounding the preservation of historical artifacts and the treatment of human remains found at the wreck site. In addition, they confronted the dangers of deep-sea diving, including decompression sickness and the risk of death. These risks claimed the lives of three other professional divers on the team, leading Chatterton and Kohler to grapple with their complicity in introducing them to this deadly danger.

Despite these challenges, Chatterton and Kohler ultimately succeeded in identifying the wreck as U-869, a German submarine that sank during World War II. Their discovery brought closure to the families of the crew members who perished aboard the U-boat and shed light on a little-known chapter of naval history.

In the aftermath of their discovery, Chatterton and Kohler continued to dive and explore other wrecks, setting new records and uncovering historical insights. Their journey serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, curiosity, and collaboration in the pursuit of knowledge and discovery.

This compelling tale of adventure, mystery, and resilience combines vivid storytelling and a richly detailed portrayal of the undersea world. Through the eyes of Chatterton, Kohler, and their fellow divers, the book transports readers to a realm of danger and discovery, where only the depth of historical intrigue matches the thrill of exploration.