Customer Reviews

Traveler's Set Florida Caribbean Bahamas (3 Volumes)

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If there is one set of reef identification books to own then this one is it. A set of three of the best books available, it contains Reef Fish Identification, Reef Creature Identification and Reef Coral Identification. Throughout the Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas areas there are no better books available. Each fish, creature, coral, grass or algae has it's own full color picture along with a line drawing that points out the defining characteristics of that particular species. With a plastic cover and the pages treated to resist water, it can be taken to the beach or onto the boat without much concern about the water damaging the book.

Each entry has complete information on the fish, creature or coral from size, depth, range and habitat to the level of concern that a diver should have for their safety around it. If you snorkel, dive or just have an interest in identification of the various things that you find on a reef then this set will give you everything you need to identify anything you find. Highly recommended.

We met the trilogy in Little Cayman this year. We could identify everything we saw: coral, fish and creatures. It was our #1 priority for our next dive trip.

I'm sorry that Vincent in Singapore didn't find these books useful, but they don't pretend to be books for those wanting to keep fish in small tanks - they are terrific field identification guides (as per the titles), with excellent photos and details of colour variations, locations, etc. Beautifully presented, and very comprehensive. Brilliant!

While diving and snorkeling, in Jamaica, for a Marine Biology class, this set of books helped me work out the identification of many critters we were looking for and at. Because of the colour prints, descriptions and layout of the books, I was able to find the most difficult of species we were trying to learn about in a very short period of time. I recommend this set to aument the Eugene H. Kaplan's (Peterson Field Guides) books on " Coral Reefs" and the "Southeastern and Caribbean Seashores."

We have used the Reef Identification series for years and this new update is a great addition -- many more fish are identified. The writeups about each fish are very detailed and explain behaviours and various color shadings well. The photos are excellent, and we have always been impressed by the amount of work and care that have gone into the series. This is the first time we have had the Reef Coral book and are as pleased with it as with the quality of the other two books.

The definitive bible of underwater fish, creature, and coral identification in the Caribbean. A staple in all Carib resorts, and liveaboard dive boats. A MUST for Carib divers.

I started diving 2 years ago. Up until I ordered these books, I really didn't know what I was seeing. These 3 books are the absolute best books to own if you like diving or boating and live in Florida or the Caribbean. Every page has 3 full color glossy photos of fish, or creatures on it. The photos and info are very comprehensive and detailed.
My only qualm is that the listing says hard cover, so I was expecting 3 hard cover books, but instead received 3 soft cover books in a hard cover box. Hard cover or soft cover... I still couldn't be any happier with these books. I highly suggest!

Without doubt the book set is helpful for identification of marine creatures, fishes, and corals. However, it would definitely be helpful if the book set title includes the locale for the set. I bought the book thinking that it encompasses the reefs of the world. Alas, how wrong I was as it was only meant for the Carribean and Bahamas, while I leave on the other side of the whole in Indo-Pacific. No use returning as return shipping cost more than half of purchase price.
If only the title had included the locale for the set. Yes, some of the reviews had it, but only read it albeit belatedly.
Does the publisher have a Reef Set for Indo-Pacific?

As Scuba Diving Instructor and a underwater photographer hobbyist, I have come to rely on Paul Humann's books as the very best reference book on fish identification available. The photographs are stunning and provide excellent views of the described species. It simply does not get any better than this for quick, easy and accurate reference materials. As an aside, there are other editions available that are regionalized for most parts of the world - and they all deserve an unqualified recommendation.

My wife and I live on the island of St. Croix. We dive every weekend, and have 147 dives since Nov. 1. We spend a lot of time under the surface of the water. I work full time, she is employed part-time...neither in the Dive industry. There is not a single dive which we come up from that we don't refer to one or more of Humann's reference books. They could not be better, graphically. And we find his descriptions and behaviorial characterizations to be right on! Just last week on a night dive, we were convinced that a shark which approached us could not be a Nurse Shark due to its gray-whiteish coloration. That particular shark had been identified (incorrectly) as always being a brownish, dark color by another identificaiton guide. When we arrived home, pulled out Humann's Reef Fish and read, sure enough it is often grayish and a light color in addition to the brown/brackish coloration on occasion. So, there was not any reason to make that mess in my dive suit, had I studied Humann's identification, I would have realized that HUGE critter was just being curious, not looking at us as the MAIN COURSE! WE LOVE THESE BOOKS! Every dive shop here uses them religiously.