In 1942 some 7,000 Allied troops made an amphibious attack at Dieppe with a huge loss of life, a failed “dress rehearsal” for D-Day due to lack of knowledge of the beaches. For two years an odd group of scientists experimented to develop tests of how humans could breathe underwater and infiltrate France’s German-held beaches and gather pre-invasion information of water depth, tides, soil and sand makeup and how far soldier would have to wade to gain cover. Risking death, the scientists used themselves as trial and error test objects to discover which gas mixes are needed to survive at various depths. These unsung heroes ultimately determined safe use guidelines for miniature submarines and breathing apparatuses. Sadly, their knowledge was only put to use during D-Day by the British. American forces at Omaha Beach did not accept the prior exploration of the area by the “frogmen.” A great narrative about the work of dedicated scientists which has been held secret for years.

The author did a wonderful job of giving the background of each scientist so the reader felt like they knew each character making it very fun to read. For being a nonfiction 500 page book, it sure read as a light and easy read.

Chamber divers is a well written, well researched story of the previously classified account of a group of scientists whose research went on to help build the technology needed to make underwater military missions successful.

This story weaves the accounts of so many sources into a well written narrative. Knowing the big successes in WWII and how they were ultimately accomplished thanks to science was interesting to learn about. I love stories that reveal the truth about the people who work behind the scenes, finally giving them the credit they deserve.

Reads Almost Like Fiction - And Should Give Soraya M. Lane Inspiration For A Future Novel. First, this is one of the better researched books I've come across in all of my Advance Review Copy reading efforts - over 1100 books since 2018 - at 45% documentation. Kudos to Lance for being so thorough there.

And she needs it - because this is one of the more fantastical nonfiction books you're ever going to come across. A brother and sister experimenting on themselves - as their father, who also experimented on himself *even with chlorine gas*, had trained them to do - gathering a team of like minded scientists to push the limits of the human condition under extreme environments, later in a direct race to help save their country from annihilation.

Before Jacques Cousteau developed SCUBA, there were the scientists working to discover what, exactly, humans could survive under water. What, exactly, happened as the human body was compressed to ever higher pressures? What happened as that pressure was relaxed - either suddenly or gradually? How could we allow humans to survive at ever increasing pressures, and what, exactly, were the limits?

And then... Normandy.

It had already been tried once, and failed miserably - because the soldiers didn't have the data these very scientists were racing to obtain. Could they get it in time for the next invasion attempt?

They could... and they would change the face of warfare (and, to be honest, some entertainment and other scientific pursuits) forever when they did.

This is their story, told for seemingly the very first time.

Very much recommended. And please tag Soraya Lane and beg her to bring this story to actual fiction.

My thank to both NetGalley and the publisher Penguin Group- Dutton for an advance copy of this book that looks at the scientists and inventors who helped the allied war effort in World War II with discoveries about surviving both in the sky, and underwater, and whose efforts have been mainly forgotten, or pushed aside.

For a person who loved science fiction, I was not into science when I was in school. I think I was in college and reading history that I began to notice the importance of science and technology in many key events. Especially in war. However while there would be pages about people using this technology, there would be just a paragraph, maybe, describing, how this technology was developed. People reading about war don't want to read about nerds experimenting on each other, sometimes at great pressure. Or drawing on skills used to study genetics and bugs to find out how to go to deeper depths of escaping detection. However without them, the face of war would have been quite different. Chamber Divers: The Untold Story of the D-Day Scientists Who Changed Special Operations Forever by Rachel Lance is a look at a group of thinkers, men and women, who put themselves to the test to develop ways to help England fight in World War II, methods that are still used today.

The book begin with a a disaster, the 1942 raid on the French town of Dieppe by Canadian and English troops. This invasion was a half-hearted affair, meant mainly to appease Stalin, and cost the lives of many, many Allied troops. The lesson learned from this was that without proper reconnaissance of beaches, man and material could be trapped off shore, targets to picked off by enemy forces. From here we meet the scientists who had been working on problems, like designing suits to breath underwater, to deal with problems that develop from nitrogen and oxygen. And what better test patients than themselves. The people are a mixed group, scientists with a long standing interest in gases, Communism, and fighting for what tey believed in. Women, some who were refugees, some with the courage to fight every convention that science laid before them. What united them was a thirst for knowledge and a bravery to try everything they though of on themselves. Testing oxygen systems in pressure chambers. Setting explosives off in water. All to gain knowledge for the battles that were sure to be coming.

A book that is a great mix of science, military history and human persistance, and even humanity stupidity. Books that an convey a odd scientist, the pain of the bends, even an explanation of what the bends are, and lots of military action, are few and far between. Lance explain the science, the importance of what was needed, plus scenes using the technology that were riveting. However it all comes down to the human factor, and Lance excels. The small stories, the aches, the pains the burst lungs that many of these people had to live with, after testing in the pressure chamber. The easy way there achievements were forgotten, and the fact that they never shared them with their family out of a sense of duty. The is a rich book filled with a lot of fascinating stories, ideas, acts of bravery, and foolhardiness.

Recommended for science lovers and people who love to read about technology in war. Also for people who like to read stories about people who thought about others first, risking life and limb to find ways to stop evil from coming to their shores. A great book for Father's Day or really any day.

Thanka to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of Chamber Divers. This account of a portion of the 1940s provided a great deal of information to me. Learning the extensive research put into solving the deep water pressure and effects was not initially something that I would have thought about. It was fascinating.

Anyone who enjoys a good book about a little covered area of war should read this book. Just when you think you have read everything about WWII, along comes a book like Chamber Divers that changes everything.

I always find these types of books interesting to read, it does a great job in keeping me invested and was well-researched. I thought it was interesting to read about D-Day scientists. Rachel Lance has a great style for this type of book and I’m glad I got to read this.

An interesting read on how researchers impacted WW2 in the use of divers and submersibles. What is intriguing is how the research has carried over into other fields such as work on bridges, and other below water occupations. The incredible bravery of the individuals was inspiring as they performed much of the research on themselves. Overall, a good read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.