Coral Fish, A Book That Displays Incredibly Colourful Fish and Educates Snorkelers and Divers.
Written: May 23 '07 (Updated May 23 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent photos and educational text.
Cons: Not Caribbean Sea specific.(That's my preference)
The Bottom Line: Author, biologist/photographer, Linda Pitkin presents incredible photos and educational text that has taught this amateur photographer and avid snorkeler much more appreciation of the coral reef community.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Linda M. Pitkin - Coral Fish |
Though this book is not written specifically for snorkelers and divers, I believe they would gain the most out of it.
Coral Fish written by Biologist and noted photographer Linda M Pitkin displays well over 100 incredibly beautiful photo plates of coral fish from around the world.
Contents
It's much more than just a photo journal of her extensive traveling. It is an educational book that explains much about the fish, their role in the coral system and how they interact with each other and the environment of the coral reef. The book's pages also contain eleven chapters that are classified by types if fish, eating habits some possess and particular environments they can be found in. That includes the bottom dwellers, those that hide amongst corals, and nocturnal fishes.
Information siting types of fish and their classifications are helpful to the novice.
Most photos are extreme close-ups of perhaps one hundred different kinds of fish. Schools of fish are included too. Linda M Pitkin also presents photos of fish in their environs.
Within each chapter are boxed sections that present information particular to the chapter. As an example in the chapter titled Damselsfishes and anemonefishes, that has some incredible photos and interesting information about several species, the author discusses the need of interaction between sea anemones and anemonefish. Though expanded much more than I mention here, an anemonefish can live without a sea anemone in a protective fish tank. In nature though, it is always found with its protective partner that has stinging tentacles that ward off many predators. On the other hand sea anemones gain protection from its fish partner that keeps away other kinds of fish that can eat a anemone's tentacles. They (anemonefish) also may clean away debris and parasites from the anemone.
Opinion
The book's photos are some of the finest I have ever observed. These images, though very far from being a comprehensive collection of the thousands of coral fish in existence, is a fine assortment of examples of the many like creatures that live in the coral reef environment. Some images are but 2" X 3" while others nearly fill a page at 5" X 6". The colour and features are extremely well detailed in a high gloss and on good quality paper.
Included are coral fish that are nearly ten foot long and the tiniest, smaller than a half inch in size. The photos using macro lenses are perhaps the most interesting of all because man cannot get that close to some of these tiny, moving, creatures.
As a sporting and budding amateur photographer, I would have liked the information of type of camera, film and speeds used. Perhaps they are all digital now. I don't know. My loss.
My wife and I happen to be avid snorkelers who visit the Caribbean a couple of times a year with that particular sport in mind. I personally enjoy hovering over a particular section of coral for a while and observe the interaction of the fish in the area as they get used to my presence.
This book has given me a greater insight as to that interdependence of the fish and the coral. Other snorkelers, amateur and experienced would enjoy this book for its balance of knowledge and incredible photographs. Though I would prefer a book that specifically sites the Caribbean and the particular species native to that area, I have learned other information about fish around the world including the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific coral communities.
Bring this book when snorkeling at your favorite site.
Pops reviews destinations with snorkeling opportunities. Some excellent!! Some not.
Buck Island Reef National Monument St Croix; Considered World Class
Antilles@Sapphire Beach, St Thomas VI Good snorkeling on grounds
Coki Beach St Thomas for the novice, good.
St. John VI Excellent Snorkeling
The BATHS of the British Virgin Islands Interesting Snorkeling; Loved it!
Nassau Bahamas
Stuart Cove's Aqua Adventures Swimming in clear waters with the sharks. Very Cool!
Stingray City, Grand Cayman Islands; Now this was fun!
Cozumel Disappointing
Chankanaab Park Not what it once was.
Xcaret, Mexico; Swimming with the dolphins.
Vieques, Puerto Rico's Island Treasure Many unexplored beaches with snorkeling
Island Adventures Biobay Tours An Amazing Phenomenon! swimming in glowing waters!!
Biscayne National Underwater Park Florida
John Pennikamp State Park Best of USA Snorkeling
Recommended:
Yes
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