The Reading List
Good wreck research starts well before you get in the water. These are the books that have been most useful for documenting Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada’s maritime history — the ones worth owning if this kind of work interests you.
Search by vessel name or place to filter the list, or browse the full shelf below.
A note on how this list works
Not every book here is a shipwreck book. A history of Shelburne County, a survey of the Northumberland Strait, a memoir from a South Shore fishing family — these aren’t wreck registries, but they are how good research gets done. A location that appears in three independent historical sources is a location worth diving.
Click on the book to see all the referenced vessels within. Or search to see if I have the book you are looking for.
| book_id | title | author | year | isbn | type | status | annotation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 141 | 1917 Halifax Explosion and American Response | Blair Beed | 1998 | 096843830 | Regional History | owned | Examines the Halifax Explosion through the lens of immediate international aid, focusing on the rapid and coordinated response from the United States. The book highlights cross-border cooperation, relief efforts, and the lasting impact this assistance had on recovery and Canada–U.S. relations. |
| 153 | A History of Barrington Township and Vicinity | Edwin Crowell | 1923 | Regional History | owned | Documents the settlement, industries, and coastal communities of Barrington Township and the surrounding area. The work provides valuable local context for one of Nova Scotia’s most deeply maritime regions, shaped by fishing, shipbuilding, and seafaring life. | |
| 072 | A History of Dartmouth and Halifax Harbour 1415 to 1800 Volume 1 | Douglas William Trider | 1999 | 0968635105 | Regional History | owned | Traces the early history of Halifax Harbour long before urban development, highlighting Indigenous presence, early exploration, and strategic importance. It establishes the harbour as a critical natural asset shaping future settlement. |
| 073 | A History of Dartmouth and Halifax Harbour 1800 to 1850 Volume 2 | Douglas William Trider | 2001 | 0968635113 | Regional History | owned | Examines a period of growth as Halifax Harbour expanded in trade, shipbuilding, and military relevance. The work captures the transition from colonial outpost to active maritime centre. |
| 074 | A History of Dartmouth and Halifax Harbour 1851 to 1873 Volume 3 | Douglas William Trider | 2003 | 0968635113 | Regional History | owned | Covers the mid-19th century shift toward steam power, industrialization, and Confederation-era change. It reflects how evolving technology and politics reshaped harbour activity. |
| book_id | title | author | year | isbn | type | status | annotation |
Search by vessel of interest, or area of interest to learn which books contain information, including the page number.
| book_id | vessel_name | year_lost | page | area | title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockwall | 37 | Cheticamp | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) | |
| 1 | Kinburn | 37 | Cheticamp | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) | |
| 1 | Kismet 2 | 1955 | 39 | Meat Cove | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Auguste | 1761 | 41 | Dingwall | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Volunda | 1921 | 43 | Neils Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Yankee 2 | 0 | 57 | Baddeck | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Leonidas | 1832 | 65 | Hay Island | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Feversham | 1711 | 67 | Scatarie Island | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Ferret | 1757 | 67 | Scatarie Island | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Saltwell | 1873 | 65 | Hay Island | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Madge of Wild Fire | 1850 | 69 | Scatarie Island | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Montara | 1920 | 73 | Gooseberry Cove | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Prudent | 1750 | 77 | Louisbourg | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Arrow | 1970 | 81 | West Arichat | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Tribune | 1797 | 89 | Herring Cove | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Salerno | 1905 | 91 | Halifax Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Costarican Trader | 1967 | 93 | Halifax Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Clare Lilley | 1942 | 95 | Black Rock Point | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Humboldt | 1853 | 97 | Portuguese Cove | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Letitia | 1917 | 99 | Portuguese Cove | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | A. W. Perry | 1915 | 101 | Halifax Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Isleworth | 1912 | 103 | Halifax Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Petra | 1910 | 105 | Pennant Bay | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Atlantic | 1873 | 109 | Terrence Bay | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Hulda | 111 | St. Margarets Bay | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) | |
| 1 | River Wye | 1923 | 127 | Port Mouton | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Whitlow Head | 0 | 127 | Port Mouton | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Phyllus and Ruth | 1925 | 127 | Port Mouton | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Guzzle | 127 | Port Mouton | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) | |
| 1 | City of Washington | 1873 | 129 | Port L'Hebert | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Brantford City | 1883 | 131 | Little Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Parker Whitmore | 131 | Little Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) | |
| 1 | Billow | 1831 | 133 | Lockport | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Fjord | 1936 | 133 | Lockport | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Hesper | 1896 | 135 | Lockport | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Trinidad | 135 | Lockport | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) | |
| 1 | Western | 1926 | 141 | Ingomar | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Ben Earn | 1911 | 147 | Half Moon Rock | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Gertrud Rask | 1942 | 149 | West Baccaro | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Elena | 1906 | 149 | West Baccaro | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Hungarian | 1860 | 151 | Cape Sable Island | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Columbia | 1842 | 151 | Cape Sable Island | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Pilgram | 1803 | 153 | Shag Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Anglo Saxon | 1847 | 153 | Shag Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Express | 1898 | 153 | Shag Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Alonza | 1821 | 153 | Shag Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Gerona | 1897 | 153 | Shag Harbour | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | West Jaffrey | 1942 | 157 | Tusket Island | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Columbia | 1842 | 159 | Mud Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | William Abrahms | 1846 | 159 | Mud Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Snipe | 1923 | 159 | Mud Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Alcor | 1918 | 159 | Mud Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Peryneas | 1933 | 159 | Mud Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Moravian | 1881 | 159 | Mud Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Guard | 1929 | 161 | Seal Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Snipe | 1923 | 161 | Seal Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Whiteway | 1934 | 161 | Seal Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | William McCaly | 1942 | 161 | Seal Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Blonde | 1782 | 161 | Seal Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Orinoco | 1907 | 161 | Seal Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Aberdeen | 1923 | 161 | Seal Island Area | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Woodbine | 1844 | 163 | Kelly Cove | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Britannia | 1846 | 163 | Kelly Cove | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Lark | 1848 | 163 | Kelly Cove | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Thalia | 1849 | 163 | Kelly Cove | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | North Star | 1919 | 165 | Green Island | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| 1 | Castilian | 1899 | 167 | Gannet Dry Ledge | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 2 (Nova Scotia) |
| book_id | vessel_name | year_lost | page | area | title |
Still Looking For
Research turns up references to books that aren’t always easy to find. The titles below have been cited in archival sources but haven’t yet made it onto the shelf. If you own one, or know where to find it — get in touch.
Search by author, name of book, or partial items.
| book_id | title | author | status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | A Great Fleet of Ships: The Canadian Forts and Parks | S. C. Heal | wanted |
| 4 | Adventures at Sea | Francis Grant | wanted |
| 5 | All Hands Lost | Blain Henshaw | wanted |
| 6 | American Merchant Ships 1850-1900 Series 1 | Frederick Matthews | wanted |
| 7 | American Merchant Ships 1850-1900 Series 2 | Frederick Matthews | wanted |
| 8 | Atlantic Diver Guide Volume 3 - PEI | David Barron | wanted |
| 9 | Bailey and Leetham Ships in Focus Fleet History | Arthur Credland and Richard Greenwood | wanted |
| 10 | Death of the U-Boats (Atlantic) | Ewdwin Hoyt | wanted |
| 11 | Disasters at Sea Ocean Passengers Ship Catastrophe Since 1900 | Milton Watson | wanted |
| 12 | Divers Guide to Underwater America | Kate Kelly and John Shobe | wanted |
| book_id | title | author | status |