Okay, this is Sarah's first pop album. I've read all these other reviews and it virtually beckons me to write one too. Alright, so Sarah Brightman started her music career off with Hot Gossip and had her hit techno/dance song "I lost my heart to a starship trooper" which is an incredibly good song. That was her beginning, I mean yes she was raised singing classical/showtunes and dancing ballet but she started off with pop. After her Andrew Lloyd Webber age, she moved on to this and "Fly" with her boyfriend Peterson (who is phenomenally talented). Really, "dive" is a pop song with an aquatic theme, the lyrics are not very well done but they are pleasant and are not meant to be analyzed but rather to seep into your mind as you listen to this hauntinly beautiful music. This CD is definitely worth buying, every song is awesome especially La Mer (techno), Once in a Lifetime, and Second Element. This just proves yet again that SB can do any genre. She is my favorite vocalist and may be one of the greatest that has ever lived. She can do anything: opera (nessun dorma, doretta's dream, dvorak's silver moon (luna)), classical (alleluja, time to say goodbye), pop (second element, once in a lifetime, you take my breath away), pseudoclassical (no one like you), spanish songs (tu quieres volver, naturaleza muerta, tu, hijo de la luna), musical theatre (think of me, her entire "Songs that Got Away CD", Memory (in italian), rock/alt (how can heaven love me). She rules, she can even do hip hop (I loved you) and jazz (mr. monotony, macavity). She is by far covering every genre with incredible vocal agility and ease. She is a coloratura soprano opera singer, a chest voice alto in pop, and a ethereal soprano on anything else. Buy this CD, you won't regret it. Thanx.

I bought this CD on a whim, having been a fan of Brightman and her clear coloratura soprano since her "Phantom" days. I loved her show tunes and arias but found it difficult to listen to them for hours -- NOT so with "Dive." Within an hour of receiving this CD, I was absolutely hooked. "Dive" is by far Brightman's best -- and most personal -- work. The entire CD paints a hypnotic portrait in colors grey, blue and green, a world seen through water -- sweet, bright, sensual, deftly layered music. Brightman gets the chance to play mermaid while showing off her pop roots (and after this I wish she'd return more often), and her sweet, clear voice and emotional delivery combine with the song-to-song flow of the album to make it a must-repeat experience. I've been playing it for a week straight and can't get enough. Every single track is a jewel, from the haunting title track, to the beautiful intricacy of "Second Element" or the sexy sensuality of "Once in a lifetime." A must for listeners to such diverse artists as Enya, Kate Bush, Enigma, or even Mike Oldfield.

This, much like La Luna, is a concept album. But instead of the moon it's the sea. She talks about being friends with a whale and even touches on animal cruelty. But worry not if this sounds absurd. Sarah can do and sing just about anything and still make it beautiful and chilling...

There's sadly no operatic pieces here, as it's a departure into pop, just as Fly was to rock, but instead of today's bubblegum pop it leans moreso towards light dance, ethereal, and even some new age. It opens up with whale sounds in the background as Sarah reads from the book "Whale Nation" by Heathcote Williams on the intro to "Dive" which glides into one of my favorite tracks here, "Captain Nemo" with her voice in the ending chorus erupting powerfully thanks inpart to the help of The London Community Gospel Choir. Then comes The Second Element. There's actually two versions of this song with different lyrics, but The Second Element II has more of an acoustic sound. They're both wonderful, though...

I really don't understand why everyone seems to think that "A Salty Dog" is tiresomely simple and corny. It's probably one of the deepest and most emotional songs on here; the feeling just building as it progresses... Other favorites include her Kate Bush impression on Johnny Wanna Live, the sexy dance tune "Once In A Lifetime", the new agey "Island", the stormy dance track, "When It Rains In America", "By Now" (which my absolute favorite!), and "La Mer" with the panting backdrop of Enigma's Sadness and her spoken somewhat breathy words on the verses, such as: ancient unknown mammals, on a stormy sea, like Buddha in the water, a velvet energy...

I recommend this album full-heartidly. Next to La Luna this is my favorite CD by her. But be warned. It takes several listen to really appreciate, just because it's so different.

P.S. - I've seen some wild pictures by Sarah Brightman before but nothing prepared me for this. It's an innocent yet scandulous picture of her wearing (or not wearing) a near-translucent dress and golden cross! Only Sarah could get away with something like that.

Having read the other reviews for this CD, I can't help but be slightly annoyed by the snobbishness and/or narrow-mindedness of some people. Sarah first tried to break away from the ALW machine with the album 'As I Came of Age', which was an uneasy, tentative work. 'Dive', her first album with current producer (and, apparantly, boyfriend!) Frank Peterson, is much more accomplished, reflecting both Sarah's electrifying voice and Peterson's lush, excellently supportive arrangements - he was involved with early Enigma, and it shows. Those who complain about the 'intrusiveness' of Peterson's music should bear in mind that Sarah co-produced the album and co-wrote many of the songs, making this probably the first work of hers that truly reflects her musical philosophy. And those who criticise 'Dive' should listen to the follow-up, 'Fly', on which Sarah and Frank evolve further to include rock, dance, and Alanis Morrisette - style angst! Both are truly great albums, too often underrated by those who would pigeonhole Sarah - she is my favourite female singer, not least because she refuses to be pigeonholed!

I was somewhat surprised by Dive! I had read previous reviews that idicated it was more of a pop, soft-rock album versus her operatic past projects. I knew who Brightman was, yet never really paid attention to her music; Nice voice, but I don't care for opera. Also, I was curious and happened to come across this c.d. at a used record/ c.d. store. With the title of Dive and Brightman decked out in her mermaid diva make-up and outfit I assumed it was going to be another empty headed dance club music c.d. from an artist trying to explore other musical territories than her norm ( the likes of Crystal Waters, LaBouche, C.C. Peniston); Thank God it wasn't. It has a bit of an Enigma sound ( thanks to her producer-husband Frank Peterson who also co-worked with Michael Cretu of Enigma in the past).Dive consists of mostly ballads with quite a few mid to up tempo tracks.The track La Mer has a very strong Enigma sound (whispering lyrics done in the fashion of Sandra Cretu from Enigma) and anti-animal mistreatment and cruelty song Johnny Wanna Live ( which was done more in a hip hop fashion by Enigma's Sandra Cretu on her import album Paintings in Yellow). All in all the album is very captivating and flows just as peaceful as the ebb and tide of the ocean. What I like is the album's thematic continuity; The listener is never thrown out of the fantasy seaworld created by Brightman and producer Peterson. I highly recommend this album if you are an Enigma fan or just like good adult pop music; There's nothing sugar coated or "too hip" for anyone's taste on this album if they like to listen to artists experiment a little out of their general genre range...