Reef Coral Identification: Florida - Caribbean - Bahamas, Including Marine Plants

I'm a beginner - novice scuba diver and enjoy underwater photography. I really wanted something that wasn't overly complicated to help me identify various creatures when scuba diving in Jamaica. I bought the series of 3 (Reef Creatures, Coral and Fish) and these were precisely what I wanted. The first few pages have some drawn illustrations to guide you to which class you are looking for and go to that section where there are excellent color photos to help identify the species. Every species listed also has a short blurb to tell you specific identifying features (which can be helpful if the specimen you're identifying was a little varied from the photo), the prevalence in the area, normal dwelling areas (like in coral, near sponges, etc) to be even more specific to help you identify. I've already used this to help me id species from past photographs. They are very comprehensive and easy to use.My only minor problem and is probably more my fault for not looking at the shipping weights, is that they are a tad heavier than expected. I'm going on another dive trip soon and plan on taking them with me and perusing them between dives and they will definitely require that I lighten my luggage. Together all 3 books (spiral bound with plastic cover) weigh about 5-6 lbs. Comparatively considering prices for other guides which usually had complaints of not being easy to use, no color photos, not enough info., I'm still very happy I bought these. I think the value for the money (purchased used - good to very good condition via Amazon), was more than excellent. Even knowing the weight, I would definitely buy again.

The book classifies fish in similar fashion as other books I've used which makes it easier to find the fish you are looking for. A nice thing is the author went the extra distance to show what some of the fish look as juveniles and intermediate ages. Some of the fish are very different prior to adulthood. It would be great if it had every fish I saw on my scuba trip to the Cayman Islands, but that would be like trying to show every combination of human I saw. The book shows plenty of varieties so that you can find the species and I could tell the difference between simmilar looking fish such as the jawfish and a filefish, even when the coloring might be slightly different in the book.

This is a fantastic book, and along with the other two books by this author you should be able to ID any marine creature you encounter!The book lists virtually all types of corals including Algae, black corals, brain, lace, cactus, cup, boulder, fire, fleshy, etc.Each entry has an excellent picture, the name, family, size, depth, and other information.The pictures alone are worth the cost of the book!This is definetely the book you want to have with you when you dive or snorkel. Buy it today, you won't be disappointed!

This is a truly wonderful book, which guides novice divers/snorkelers through the maze of classification and provides clues on how to identify reef fish. Great pictures make it easy to come home and ID the fish you have seen underwater and there is a checklist in the back to record findings with space for dates and comments that provide a way to re-live your trip later. Invaluable.

We bought this book to help us identify the proper names for what we have taken pictures of while vacationing various reefs in the caribbean over the past 10 years. We cannot always find everything that we may have a picture of, but it comes close. We have several of the other books written by this author and we have found them extremely helpful and educating. Nice layout and easy to use. Pictures are very good quality. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about coral reefs.

Pretty much the most comprehensive text available not needs photographic improvements. Good descriptions and indexes.

This was given to me as a Christmas Gift...It wasn't the one that I had requested, but none the less its a very good reference book! I will soon have all 3 Identification books in this series. I've already gone back to some of my pictures to identify what reef formations I have pictures of. Enjoy...

Great book I bought the whole set and they have came in handy since my husband and I are divers