Read this book in the late 1970s, but think it was written maybe in the 50s. It was set after WWII, about an ex Navy LTJG who was salvage diving, came across a young stowaway and put the boy to work for him on his boat. It was an adventure story, with a run-in with an octopus, storms and bad guys, but in the end they found the treasure. Ring any bells?
Many thanks!
Secret Sea (1947) by Robb White, I’m guessing? He also wrote Up Periscope, which was filmed in 1959.
From the back cover:
“A dying Cuban, terrified by a nameless, sinister ‘tall one’, leaves naval officer Pete Martin a clue to a sunken Spanish treasure ship. With only a brash waterfront urchin as crew, Pete sets sail in his old schooner, pursued by the ‘tall one’ in a radar-equipped yacht. Outwitting the enemy in a storm, they find the prize guarded by a monster octopus, and the menacing black yacht again on their trail.”
You can read details about White here (this is a 100th anniversary tribute from 2009):
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Rec/rec.arts.books.childrens/2009-06/msg00022.html
Eureka! That’s the one! I looked it up and immediately recognized the cover from 30 years ago. Thanks you so much, and may your own mysteries be so easily solved.