Pacific Island Books
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

All Stings Considered: First Aid and Medical Treatment of Hawai’i’s Marine Injuries by Craig Thomas and Susan Scott. Recommended retail price $29.95.

I wish I had this book a few years ago. Apparently the treatment of jellyfish stings with vinegar is no longer recommended, neither is alcohol (Dr. Thomas recommends picking off tentacles, washing and then treating the affected area with ice to lessen pain). All Stings Considered is a very thorough look at every conceivable Hawaiian marine injury no matter how far-fetched (I mean how often do people get bitten by Hawaiian Monk Seals?). While specific to Hawaii in terms of some of the injuries considered, the book should have much wider appeal and it is highly recommended to all dive operators, yachties and the keen scuba divers. I have some complaints; the index is terrible. I looked up stings and Portuguese man-of-war only to find neither …. Yet there is an entire section on treating Portuguese man-of-war stings. Seal doesn’t occur in the index but Monk Seal does ... so let’s hope your first-aider knows that it was a Monk Seal that bit you. But these are trivial quibbles over an otherwise very well presented book. Highly recommended. Soft cover, 233 pages.

Asia Pacific Reef Guide by Helmut Debelius. Published by IKAN.

The coral reefs of South East Asia harbor the greatest species diveristy of all the oceans. This is true not only for fishes but also for invertebrates, because coral reef species radiated from the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesian. Twenty thousand isalnds and innumerable coral reefs are located in that region where many new species are still being discovered. This book focuses on the coastal fauna which most divers and snorkellers see first. There are sections on fishes, crustaceans, molluscs, cnidarians, flatworms, segmented worms, echinoderms and sea squirts. If you can only take one identification book away with you, this is the one to get.

Hard cover, 321 pages. Published in 2001.

Cephalopods: A World Guide by Mark Norman. Published by IKAN. ISBN 3925919325. Recommended retail price $40.

A  field guide to the world's cephalopods with over 800 color photos. Author Mark Norman has described over 100 new Indo-Pacific octopuses so is ideally qualified to produce this impressive work. Published by Ikan and produced in the same format as the others from this publisher it is small enough to take with you on field trips but comprehensive enough to cover most cephalopods encounters .. now if you can just get a photo of a life giant squid ...  Hard Cover, 321 pages. Published in 2000.

Cocos Island, Diving and Snorkeling Guide to by Lucy Agace. Published by Pisces Books/Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-55992-092-0. Recommended retail price $14.95. Sorry - this book is no longer available at present.

Described, incorrectly, as the largest uninhabited island in the world, Cocos is remote, wild and excellent for diving. Located 300+ miles west of Costa Rica, accessible only by boat, with no hotels and no accommodations - Cocos island is for the determined diver. But with determination comes rewards.

Spectacular payoffs include hordes of hammerhead sharks and dense populations of pelagic and reef fish. The dozen open-ocean dive sites in this guide take you where you may view white-tip, silky and whale sharks; manta devil and eagle rays; sailfish, marlin and green turtles. For more information on how to get there check out www.underseahunter.com. Soft cover, 66 pages, published 1997.

Back cover (39k)

Coral Seas by Roger Steene. Published by Firefly Books. ISBN 1-55209-290-9. Recommended retail price $50.00.

I have written previously about my admiration for Roger Steene's photographs. I think it takes an underwater photographer to truly appreciate how wonderful these shots are. Even a jaundiced public, used to great wildlife shots, will be impressed with this collection.

This book is a must for every Marine Biologist, everyone who teaches Marine Biology, and in fact anyone who loves nature. There are over 340 color photographs in this collection and every one is a tribute to Steene's amazing ability to find things and his superlative dive and photographic skills. Every time I pick this book up it makes me want to go diving.

In addition, there are a series of microscope shots of the wonderful world of the plankton. Many of these species have never before been photographed. In the non-microscopic arena check out the bobbit worm and the incredible mimic octopus. Hard cover, 288 pages. Published 1998.

Click on thumbnails below to view some of Roger Steene's photos from Coral Seas

Aurelia aurita, the moon jelly	Rhynchocinetes, Orangenet Hingebeak Shrimp
Porcellana sp., blue porcelain crab	Rhinopias frondosa, Weedy Scorpionfish

Crustacea: Guide of the World by Helmut Debelius. Published by IKAN. Recommended retail price $40.

It doesn't matter whether you are diving the kelp forests of Monterey, New Zealand's dark and forbidding fiords, the Seychelles or the Barrier Reef, this book will help you identify an unknown crustacean. There are over 1000 color photos of crabs, shrimps, mantis shrimps, lobsters, isopods, amphipods and pycnogonids. To the best of my knowledge this is the most comprehensive field guide to crustacea in existence. Hard cover, 321 pages. Published in 2001.

Diving and Snorkelling Australia’s Great Barrier Reef by Len Zell. Recommended retail price $16.95.

This Lonely Planet guide provides a wealth of information for anyone planning a dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Author Len Zell has over 25 years of diving experience in the area and it shows. For each site you get specific information on depth range and conditions, what you are likely to see and the method for getting to the site. A handy section at the back of the book provides additional information on some of the marine life. Soft cover, 173 pages.

Diving and Snorkeling Guide to Australia; Southeast Coast and Tasmania by Peter Stone. Recommended retail price $14.95.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is world famous but the island continent has many other worthy dive sites. Peter Stone describes more than 50 dive sites ranging from Byron Bay to Adelaide. The book is a little thin on underwater photographs but compensates with topside shots. The Aussie sense of humor shines through. One of the dive sites is called Bonnie and Clyde (because it is full of holes). Apart from New Zealand’s Poor Knights and Fiordland, this is some of the most rewarding Southern Hemisphere temperate region diving available. Soft cover, 92 pages.

Diving and Snorkeling Guide to Fiji by W. Gregory Brown. Recommended retail price $16.99.
Fiji provides some of the world’s best diving and this slim volume tells you why. Experienced underwater photographer W. Gregory Brown takes you on an underwater journey to 21 of Fiji’s prime dive sites. Some of the information is no longer quite current (Mariah’s Cove has been cyclone damaged for instance) but is still useful for the land-based diver. Most of the photographs are superb. Some of the Fijian spelling leaves a little to be desired but the book is recommended for any diver/snorkeler heading to Fiji. Soft cover, 90 pages.

Diving and Snorkeling Guide to the Hawaiian Islands by Doug Wallin. Recommended retail price $14.95.

Many people will get their first taste of snorkeling or scuba diving in Hawai’i and this book gives you information on 30 prime sites. The book lists Dive Shops and includes many full color photos of marine life. Additionally there is useful advice on where to eat, stay and visit while you are topside. Soft cover, 107 pages. Recommended retail price $14.95, our price $14.50.

Diving and Snorkeling New Zealand by Jenny and Tony Enderby. Published by Lonely Planet Publications. ISBN 1740592670. Recommended retail price $16.99.

At last! We've been waiting for this book as we are regularly contacted about diving in New Zealand.

Flanked by rugged mountains, idyllic beaches and rolling farmland (who writes this stuff?), New Zealand's 15,000 km-long coastline offers endless diving adventures. Off the North and South Islands, dive sites are scattered amongst subtropical islands, towering kelp forests and cold-water fiords. Highlights include the wreck of Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior, the Poor Knights Islands' maze of archways and caves, Fiordland's spectacular red and black corals and organized swims with dolphins and fur seals. You may also spot elephants seals, penguins and whales. This book explores 75 of the best dive sites around New Zealand, with full-color photos throughout.

You'll get specific information on: Dive site topography and access

• Common and hazardous marine life
• Diving services in every region
• Travel logistics and topside attractions
• 17 easy-to-read maps

Soft cover, 159 pages. Published in 2002.

Exploring Hanauma Bay by Susan Scott with photographs by David Schrichte. Recommended retail price $12.95.

Almost everyone who has visited Oahu ends up at Hanauma Bay and it is here that many people try snorkeling for the first time. This nature preserve provides a wonderful educational opportunity and Exploring Hanauma Bay ensures that you will get the most from your time there. Susan Scott describes walking tours, wading tours, easy snorkeling, advanced snorkeling and scuba diving. The wonderful photos by David Schrichte add immeasurably to a highly recommended package. Soft cover, 90 pages.

Click here for photo of blenny from Exploring Hanauma Bay , photo by David Schrichte (19.57K)

Fish dive slate. Recommended retail price $10.00.

This bright, easy to see and use slate provides spaces for up to 60 fish sightings to be recorded. Six fish outlines allow you to record details of color and to record notes about any fish that are new to you. The pencil is encased in a velcro sleeve and attaches to the bottom of the slate. A hole in the bottom left corner allows a D-ring to be attached. A useful addition to your dive gear. Highly recommended.

Click here for photos from Fiordland Underwater by Paddy Ryan and Chris Paulin.

Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea by Jack Randall, Gerry Allen and Roger Steene. Published by University of Hawai'i Press. Recommended retail price $85.

Like Veron’s Corals of the Indo-Pacific this book is the bible for divers, aquarists, naturalists or even professional ichthyologists working in this region of incredible diversity. Over 1200 species are described and most of them are illustrated in color. I use this as my foremost fish identification source.

Roger Steene is one of the world’s best underwater photographers while Gerry Allen and Jack Randall (both professional ichthyologists) are no slouches with a camera either. Highly recommended. Hard cover, 557 pages.

Great Barrier Reef by David Doubilet. ISBN 0-7922-6475-4. Published by National Geographic. recommended retail price $40.00.

David Doubilet is rightly acclaimed as one of the best underwater photographers on the planet. This work is a collection of Great Barrier reef photographs taken during many visits to this World Heritage site. Most of the photographs are superb but there are a few too many over-polarized shots of reefs from above ... almost as if David has suddenly discovered a polarizing filter. But this is a minor quibble amongst such a large selection. Hard cover. There are no page numbers and I am too lazy to count them. Published in 2002.

Hawai'i, An Underwater Guide to by Ann Fielding and Ed Robinson. $19.95

This hard cover book provides a highly accessible over-view of Hawai'i's marine life. Ann is a highly respected marine biologist who, amongst her other talents, takes people on guided snorkel tours. Ann has also written Hawaiian Reefs and Tidepools. The book includes over 200 color photos by gifted Hawaiian underwater photographer Ed Robinson. As a biologist/photographer myself I can recommend this book highly. The science is right and the photographs are superb.

Hawaiian Reef Animals (Revised Edition) by Edmund Hobson and E.H. Chave. Recommended retail price $23.95.

When Hawaiian Reef Animals was first published in 1970 it represented a distillation of all the available knowledge about the subject. It was a pioneer publication and introduced many to the wonders of the reef. In 1990 this revised edition was published to bring it up-to-date. No doubt a third edition is in the pipeline but for now this classic will educate a whole new generation. Recommended. Soft cover, 137 pages.

Hawaii’s Fishes; A Guide for Snorkelers, Divers and Aquarists by John Hoover. Recommended retail price $16.95.

This useful identification book also provides information on where to dive and snorkel in Hawai’i. Each of the more than 230 fish species is represented by a photograph and a description of their morphology, habits and size. What makes this book different from Jack Randall’s is the discussion about suitability as aquarium fish. If you have an interest in fish-keeping then this is probably the book for you. If you are more interested in an identification guide then I’d opt for Jack Randall’s book. If you are like me, you’ll want both. Soft cover, 183 pages.

Kri Eco - Raja Ampat by Paddy Ryan. Published by Ryan Photographic. ISBN 978-0-615-29372-1. Recommended retail price $159.95, our price $150.

The reefs around the Raja Ampat Islands are one of the glories of the planet. Already affected by uncontrolled shark fishing and way too much surface trash, they nevertheless contain the greatest marine biodiversity on the planet. This book, based on three weeks and 43 dives at the Kri Eco Resort, is my tribute to this extraordinary dive destination.

Chapter headings include:

• Getting there
• Land animals
• Mangroves and seagrasses
• Sponges
• Corals, Seawhips and Seafans
• Worms
• Molluscs
• Crustaceans
• Echinoderms
• Ascidians
• Fishes
• The Passage
• Textures and Patterns
• People
• Photographic Notes
• Conservation

$150 is a lot of money for a book, but this is a lot of book. It's a hard cover, 11 inch by 13 inch, "publish-on-demand" coffee table book containing over 330 high quality photos which are reproduced to perfection by the inkjet printing used. To check out the book further click here to be taken to the "publish-on-demand" website (blurb.com).

Hard cover, 270 pages. Published in 2009.

Nudibranchs and Sea Snails: Indo-Pacific Field Guide by Helmut Debelius. Published by Ikan. ISBN 3925919511. Recommended retail price $75. (We can get this for you but it will have to ship from Germany).

This excellent field guide contains over 1000 color photographs of marine snails taken in their natural environment. Useful information is given to help you confirm your identifications. As nearly all of these photographs were taken in the field it is possible to see the live animal which really enhances identification as shells are often worn and bear little resemblance to a shell collectors cabinet. Helmut Debelius has published several brilliant marine guides and we are proud to carry several of them. Hard cover, 321 pages. Published in 2004.

Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific: New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands by John E. Randall. ISBN 0824826981. Published by the University of Hawai'i Press. Recommended retail price $77, our price $70.

The South Pacific has long been in need of a comprehensive guide to reef and shore fishes. This volume covers the inshore fish fauna of New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, the southern Gilbert Islands (Kiribati), Tuvalu, Fiji, the Wallis Islands, Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa, the Tokelau Islands, the Phoenix Islands, the Cook Islands, the Austral Islands, Rapa, the Society Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago, the Marquesas Islands, and the Pitcairn Islands. It contains accounts of 1,496 species of fishes, illustrated with more than 2,000 color photographs, taken mostly underwater.

Species accounts are headed by the English common name, the scientific name, the author or authors who described the fish, and the date of the description. This is followed by a concise list of the characteristics needed to identify the species, the total length it attains, its distribution, habitat, and in summary form what may be known of its biology. More than 600 references are given for those seeking more information on individual species. The introduction contains a two-page color spread of main external features of fishes. An extensive glossary of scientific terms precedes the idex.

This volume will become the benchmark and bible for anyone interested in the fishes of the South Pacific. Snorklers and scuba divers will find it especially useful; virtually every known species of fish they might encounter can be found within its covers.

John (Jack) E. Randall, the world's foremost authority on tropical marine fishes, has described 555 new coral-reef fishes - more than anyone else in history. He has authored 635 publications in marine biology, including regional guides to the fishes of the Caribbean Sea, Hawaiian Islands, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Oman, Maldive Islands and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Since 1970 he has been senior ichthyologist at Bishop Musuem in Honolulu. Hard cover, 707 pages. Published in 2005.

Reef Fish Identification: Tropical Pacific by Gerald Allen, Roger Steene, Paul Humann and Ned Deloach. Published by New World Publications & Odyssey Publishing. ISBN 1878348361. Recommended retail price $45.

Finally, a comprehensive fish identification guide covering the fish-rich reefs of the Pacific. 2,500 underwater photographs of 2,000 species from four of the best marine life authors/photographers in the business. Their collaboration makes it possible for underwater naturalists to identify fishes from Thailand to Tahiti with a single, compact, easy-to-use, no-nonsense reference. 108 fish families are presented in one of 20 Identification groups based on a familys' related visual or behavioral characteristics, such as LargeOval/Colorul or Sand/Burrow Dwellers. Likewise, every effort has been made to group similar appearing species together. This format may be a little disconcerting to begin with for the experienced fish watcher but with time proves quick and useful. For the beginner, who doesn't know one fish family from another, this format makes complete sense. I've just used this book on a recent dive trip to Fiji and found it very useful. Soft cover, 452 pages. Published in 2004.

Seahorses and their Relatives by Rudie H. Kuiter. Published by Aquatic Photographics. ISBN 978-0-9775372-1-1. Recommended retail price $75.00

Revised from Seahorses, Pipefishes and their relatives, this book is by far the most comprehensive publication of the world's Seahorses and their relatives ever produced. It has been enlarged, more than 100 pages added and includes the recently named as well as many new species.

Fishes of the order Syngnathiformes, collectively known as syngnathids, are amongst the most unfish-like of all fishes. The appearance of many is often bizarre and species such as the Leafy Seadragon are outright spectacular. Their names speak for themselves: seahorses, seadragons, pipehorses, pipefishes, bellowsfishes, flutemouths, trumpetfishes, and seamoths, relating to their unusual appearance, in particular to their body or head shape and their long tubular snout.

Seahorses, with their vertical posture and bend-down head are by far the best known and popular. Therefore they are comprehensively covered in this book, and included for this group are special chapters on thier origin, evolution, world distribution, aquaculture of species for the aquarium trade, why such a trade and how well they are really doing in the wild and the myth about them being threatened.

Also presented here are all other known syngnathid members, as well as closely related families including all ghost piefishes, seamoth, and representatives of others.

Includes:-

• Detailed information on over 370 different species, including new and recently found species.
• More than 1200 spectacular photographs, most of which were taken in the fishes's natural habitats.
• All known living seahorses illustrated together for the first time ... about 80 species.
• Introductions to genera and subgenera.
• Informative text for each species.
• A single, full index of common and scientific names of genera and species
• Aquaculturing seahorses.

Hard cover, 334 pages. Published in 2009.

Shells of Hawai’i by E. Alison Kay and Olive Schoenberg-Dole. Recommended retail price $12.95.

World-wide there are over 100,000 mollusk species and 2000 species are known from Hawai’i. Shells of Hawai’i is the first comprehensive guide to these fascinating creatures. The first 28 pages of this slim volume are devoted to information about mollusks and the habitats they occupy in Hawai’i. There used to be many tree snail species in Hawai’i but now many are on the verge of extinction. One poignant photograph shows an adult with its single young. Other memorable photographs are scanning electron microscope sots of the radula of various mollusks. Recommended. Soft cover, 89 pages.

Sharks & Rays of Australia, Green Guide by Kelvin Aitken. Published by New Holland Publishers. ISBN 1864363185. Recommended retail price $12.95.

The Australian Green Guides have been created for wildlife enthusiasts of all ages. The most commonly asked questions are answered with particular emphasis on fascinating behavioral insights into both common and unusual creatures. The pages are alive with entertaining and informative text accompanied by exciting action photography.

Kelvin Aitken has been captivated by marine life from an early age. He now used his training as a commercial photographer to record the fascinating animals beneath the sea. Traveling to all the world's major oceans, he specializes in photographing his favorite animals, sharks, as well as other large marine creatures such as whales and dolphins.

Kelvin's images have won him many professional national and international awards, including Victorian Professional Photographer of the Year in Australia and the prestigious BBC Wildlife awards in London. He currently resides in Melbourne. Soft cover, 96 pages. Published in 1998.

Sharks & Rays: Elasmobranch Guide of the World by Ralf M. Hennemann. Published by Ikan. ISBN 3925919333. Recommended retail price $49.95.

Until relatively recently little information was available on the elasmobranchs: a group that includes the sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras (ratfishes). This extraordinary book pulls together photographs (over 600 of them) from all around the world of many elasmobranch species. Here you can see live photographs of the amazing megamouth shark and the goblin shark to name just two. Hard cover, 304 pages. Published in 2001.

Shore Fishes of Hawai’i by John Randall. Recommended retail price $19.95.

John (Jack to his friends), is world renowned for his expertise in marine fishes. He appears elsewhere in this catalogue as senior author of Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. No “dry ball” this man. Jack enjoys life as much as he enjoys his fish. Jack has done more dives than most people have had hot dinners and it shows in the authority with which he writes. The photographs illustrating 340 species are all Jack’s. The book is designed for the snorkeler or scuba diver and succeeds admirably. Highly recommended. Soft cover, 216 pages.

Splendors of the Seas: The Photographs of Norbert Wu by Norbert Wu. Published by Hugh Lauter Levin Associates. ISBN 0-88363-958-0. Recommended retail price $60.

I started copying the dust jacket blurb but decided it was an insult to your intelligence. If you are in the market for this book you'll probably already know and recognize Norbert's photographic talents. If you don't, then let me mention that Norbert is probably amongst the world's top ten underwater photographers as this collection of shots from all over the world shows.

He's a self-deprecating type. Here's how the book begins:

"Most people are a little disappointed when they first meet me. Instead of an athletic. macho, rum-soaked descendant of Blackbeard, they find instead a short, round, rotund, Asian man, hardly the sort of person most people envision doing battle with sharks and whales. However, other divers afflicted with the disease of dunking expensive cameras into salt water love talking to me. They figure that if a puny guy like me can make a living as an underwater photographer, anyone can do it. And they are absolutely right. I use the same equipment and film as most serious amateurs, and my relatives do not include anyone with the surname of Cousteau or Trump."

Yes, well. You be the judge. Hard cover, 252 pages, published in 1994.

Click on the thumbnail below for a Norbert Wu photograph of a harlequin tusk fish

Sulawesi Seas: Indonesia’s Magnificent Underwater Realm by Mike Severns. Recommended retail price $60.

Okay, we know that Indonesia isn’t in the Pacific but we just couldn’t resist this superb book by Mike Severns. Over 150 luscious photos from North Sulawesi are featured. If you are a diver, graphic designer, or naturalist there is much in this book for you. I was particularly drawn to photos of species I haven’t seen previously. For me the standout is the photo of a one and a half inch pink anglerfish propped next to two deep green ascidians. Highly recommended. Hard cover, 160 pages.

The Snorkeller's Guide to the Coral Reef by Paddy Ryan. Recommended retail price $19.95 (signed by the author).

This is the best selling book so far produced by Exisle Publishing. It has achieved world wide sales of 40,000 copies and has been translated into German. The edition we offer is by the University of Hawai'i Press.

The Snorkeller's Guide to the Coral Reef from the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean introduces readers to the gentle art of snorkelling and then takes them on a voyage of discovery to the reef itself. Jam-packed with superb photos, many by world famous photographer Peter Atkinson, the book looks at each of the major groups of organisms on the reef. Chapter headings include: Learning to Snorkel, The Coral Animals and Reef structure, The Plants, The Worms, The Mollusks, The Echinoderms, The Crustacea, The Fishes, First Aid.

If you are interested in snorkeling on coral reefs then I recommend sea for yourself. This quality company specializes in snorkel trips to exotic locations. Because they know the best sites for snorkeling you can be sure you'll see a wide variety of exotic creatures and plants. Reviews of the Snorkeller's Guide to the Coral Reef by Paddy Ryan

Underwater dive log in sturdy zip-lock bag. Recommended retail price $10.00.

If you are at all like me you will have filled up a bunch of dive logs most of which are tatty, dog-eared and stained with various unmentionable marine biological products. This log changes all that. There is one page per dive and enough pages to record 90 dives as well as your medical information and the addresses of those fellow divers with whom you exchange vows of ever-lasting friendship only never to see them again as long as you live. Comes with a sturdy zip-log bag to protect from those unmentionable biological products mentioned above.

Underwater Wonders of New Zealand by Gillian and Darryl Torckler. Retail price $32.95

The title of this book says it all. Illustrated with photos by Darryl Torckler one of New Zealand's best underwater photographers and with a text by Gillian Torckler, a university professor, it would be hard to envisage a better partnership. The Torcklers take us on a photographic odyssey to some of their favorite dive sites … and few people have dived more of New Zealand.

Highlights for me include a species index ... many "pretty" underwater books make only half-hearted efforts to identify their subjects. My favorite photo is on page 79 … a surreal study of red waratah anemones reflected in the surface of the water. An ideal before or after the event coffee table book for a New Zealand dive trip. Highly recommended and great value for money. We are now the US distributors for this superb volume. Hard cover, 112 pages. Published 1999.

Moray eel shot by Daryl Torckler

Whales and dolphins: Cetacean World Guide by Ralf Kiefner. Published by Ikan. ISBN 3925919589. Recommended retail price $49.95.

Another of the superb books by Ikan on marine subjects. This volume includes over 500 photographs of whales and dolphins from all over the world. As well as being an identification guide there are many first person encounters with whales including a heart-rending story of a young female blue whale being attacked and ultimately killed by bull sharks in New Caledonia. Some of the photos are quite superb. Memorable for me is a picture of ten or so dolphins surfing a wave in South Africa. Hard cover, 305 pages. Published in 2002.

Last modified on Monday, 27 December, 2010.