Customer Reviews

Diving in the Caribbean

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"Diving in the Caribbean" is a gorgeous guide to over 100 underwater attractions in 17 of the most splendid sites in the Caribbean. Veteran underwater photographer and author Lawson Wood takes us from Bermuda and the Bahamas to Belize and Mexico's Caribbean coastline. He not only writes an informed and concise essay on each locale, he provides a side-bar that lists such helpful details as Best Time to Go, Climate, Getting There, Special Interest, Accommodations, and Dive Operations. Wood's photos are large, clear, and plentiful. Some pictures are even double-paged (e.g., giant stingrays at Grand Cayman, a stretch of craggy coastline at Dutch Antilles, and a school of tiny bluehead wrasse patroling resplendid reef crests). Wood is such a fine photographer that I wish he had included more exterior shots of the islands and dive locations! This handsome volume is a commendable purchase.

With more than 250 photographs and maps, this book will give you plenty of information about one of the world's hottest diving destinations. From the Gulf of Mexico to the Windward islands, passing through Cuba, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, Belize, Bonaire and Curacao, you will get to know the best dive sites in the Caribbean, with indication on the best time to go, how to get there, the climate, accommodation and dive operations and useful emergency information. The pictures, by underwater photographer and author Lawson Wood, are extraordinary and there is also a well-written description of the islands and diving locations, and although the book is a little expensive, it is worhty, specially if you are a snorkeler a scuba diver or just love the sea. Go for it!

Photographer and author Lawson Wood has assembled some of his best work in this 160-page sampling of the Caribbean's best dive spots. The photos are lavish and detailed and the book covers over one hundred (100) underwater attractions of seventeen (17) of the most amazing dive sites in this area. Each chapter focuses on a country with a detailed description of the history, population, habitat, eco-system and other mainland attractions. The diving locations are located and described with even more specific information, including: Best Time To Go, Climate, Getting There, Special Interest, Accommodation and Dive Operations, electrical supply and Emergency Information. The latter includes the closest decompression chamber and a local telephone number.

Whether it's a specific island or a dive site, Lawson goes into exciting detail about the best dive sites and what kind of bizarre and beautiful creatures to expect to see there. The glossy photographs are amazing and enticing. Coral (hard and soft), sponges, fish, anemones, caves, swim-throughs and more are described and photographed brilliantly. Each site is different, citing from the friendly rays in Sting Ray Alley of the Cayman Islands to the shipwrecks of the Leeward Islands. This book is one of the most exhaustive collections of Caribbean dive sites available.

Also included in various chapters are good knowledge items such as, `Golden Rules' (things to not do or touch underwater to protect the wildlife), Buoyancy Control (one of the most important diving skills) and Classification and Nomenclature (scientific and common names of particular animals).

Also handily included are, a Glossary of Reef Types, Tourist Boards information and a handy Index. No matter what your specific interests are, you'll find numerous locations that will pique your interest. The Foreword is by Jean-Michel Cousteau. Dive safely!

When I saw this book in a local store,I bough it immidiatley.
It was so great that I have no other book of such beauty.
Although I know that this is a diving guide and not an overblown photo book,I bought it mostly for the images.
It is done in a very aesthetic way,accompanied by some short facts about the animals and where they usually live. Although not as species-rich as some other seas of the world,The Caribbean is a very fascinating area with all of it`s shapes in the reefs. There are even some "personalities" among the fishes.
The photographs are capturing both cuteness and humour,majestic reefscapes,and just sheer beauty,like the stingrays.
The Caribbean is definitley a very colourfull marine area,and the largest coral reef of the northern half of the world.
Although I do not dive myself,I find this book very helpfull,because it is telling you about the temperature of water and air,when to go,special interests,etc.
And,as a sample from the book,here are the ten golden rules for Diving:

*Avoid touching coral with your hands,fins,tanks,etc.

*Do not wear gloves

*Never stand on coral

*Do NOT collect any marine life

*Avoid overweighting and work on your buoyancy control

*Do not feed fish alien foods

*Make sure your equipment consoles to not drag the coral

*Do not use spear guns

*Do not molest marine life

*Do not climb inside barrel sponges

*Through your reactions,consider your impact on aquatic life

*Report any environmental disturbances of destructions of any divesite
So,that is why I like this book so much. It combines the practical elements with the artistic.
To the ones interested in diving,buy it for the facts.
They are certainly good to know.
To naturalists,buy it for the photographs. They are quite inspiring and attempting. Among my favorites are giant sponges,
stingrays,groupers,moray eels,and anemones.
Now,dive in and get your own marine life adventure!