Customer Reviews

Ryan: The Snorkellers Guide

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Before my recent dive trip to Fiji I looked for a good fish ID book for the area (one with photos, not paintings) and came up short. It doesn't seem like anyone has done a comprehensive reference for this area comparable to Humann's works on the Caribbean.

However, I did find Paddy Ryan's fine volume in the lending library at the resort where I was staying. To my surprise, I find it to be much more than the typical, superficial "snorkeler's guide." It's a small but beautifully produced volume with excellent photography and a well-written text. It's a good balance of photos to help identify the most common South Pacific reef fish combined with informative text on the behavior and biology of reef fish, other vertebrates, and invertebrates.

I didn't buy a copy when I had a chance in a local shop, and I regretted it on the long flight home. I'm buying my personal copy as soon as I finish writing this. Take my word for it, for snorkelers, novice divers! , or serious divers, this is money well spent!

Great book if you are doing a reef study and need to identify the correct names for all the creaters. Great photo's and helpful hints on purchasing equipment, but for the average weekend or resort snorkeller it can get boring to read. However, the book is worth having.