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.

"Every sailor knows that the best stories aren't found on any chart. They're out there waiting, just past the horizon."
— Captain Dave

Available Soon on Amazon Contact Captain Dave

About the Author

Captain Dave is a licensed Merchant Marine who fell in love with sailing as a teenager on Lake Grapevine. That first spark sent him off on a lifetime of adventure — from the South Pacific to the Caribbean and countless waters in between. A PADI Course Director for over 30 years, his passions have ranged from power boats to touring kayaks, always returning to the timeless pull of wind and sail. After all those years and all those miles, he came back home to the lake where it all began — and now shares his stories both on the water aboard the Fourth Watch and on the page in Alternate Horizons.