Alternate Horizons
by Captain Dave O'Neal — with illustrations by Deran Wright
A Lifetime of Adventures on the Water
From the sun-drenched waters of the South Pacific to the turquoise Caribbean and the beloved shores of Lake Grapevine, Captain Dave has spent a lifetime chasing horizons. Now, for the first time, he shares those stories in Alternate Horizons.
This is a book for anyone who has ever felt the pull of the open water — the quiet magic of a sunset sail, the thrill of a new port, and the hard-won wisdom that only comes from a life lived at the mercy of wind and tide.
It's also the story of a man captivated by the silent world beneath the surface — where the ocean opens up into cathedral stillness and every dive reveals something that changes the way you see the world above. As a PADI Course Director for over 30 years, Captain Dave didn't just explore that world — he made it his life's work to share it, guiding countless others through the awe of their first breath underwater.
A Glimpse Inside
The Marbo Expedition
A true story of survival, a map drawn on a paper towel, and a hidden piece of Guam's wartime history.
While living on Guam, I found the stories of the Chamorro people fascinating. What they revealed often sent me searching for these places myself.
Steven told me about his grandfather, Joseph, who had survived the Japanese occupation during the war. The stories passed down through his family were amazing, and I told Steven I would love to meet him. To my surprise, Steven arrived with his grandfather the very next morning.
Joseph's stories of what his family endured—and what they had to do to survive—were heartbreaking. If any one of those stories had ended differently, Steven would not have been sitting at the table with us.
Joseph remembered his family walking through the jungle from their home in Mangilao to a cave system that provided fresh water. Before he left, he sketched a map on a paper towel and handed it to me.
“This should get you close.”
I threw my snorkeling gear over my shoulder, grabbed my machete, and set out.
Beyond the remains of an old road, I found a rock outcrop and a large concrete slab. Concrete steps descended into a cavern filled with crystal-clear water and a white sandy bottom. This was where the Japanese had installed pumps to fill their water trucks.
The cave continued beyond a massive boulder. I slipped into the water and swam underwater into the next chamber. When I surfaced, the ceiling rose high above me and daylight filtered over the rock.
Holy crap. I had found it.
This was the cave where Joseph's family had collected water before and during the war—the same water source used by Japanese troops during their occupation of the island.
All from a map drawn on a paper towel.
I still had no idea how far the cave extended into the hillside—or what other pieces of history might be hidden within its flooded walls.
