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Rating: 
Summary: Going Beyond Identification
Review: After I'd dived and snorkeled in the same spot more than a few times, I found myself wondering: what are those fish doing? Why are there such huge differences in what I see at 7AM from what I see at 5PM? Are those fish mating or fighting? While this book only begins to answer those questions--I'd love to see a newer edition with research since the early 90's--it does tell the careful observer what to look for, which adds greatly to the experience of diving and snorkeling. A caveat, however: if you don't already know the major fish families (such as parrotfish, surgeonfish, wrasses, butterflyfish, and so on), you'll find the book somewhat incomprehensible. I'd label this book as Step 2 in becoming a knowledgeable observer, with Step 1 as learning the fish families. (And for that, I'd get a regional guide for wherever you dive--the fish families are the same world-wide, although the species are not.) Note: while I criticize this book for being (slightly) out of date, that doesn't make the information useless--far from it.
Rating: 
Summary: an invaluable volume for tropical divers and photographers
Review: An interesting and entertaining reference for experiencing the reef environment. I took it with me on my latest snorkel trip and found almost word for word examples of real life fish behavior. This book is best for divers or snorkelers that have some experience with the reef habitat.
Rating:
Summary: Interested in tropical marine fishes?
Review: This book is outstanding on so many levels... It has a basic intro to coral reef biology and to the fishes. It then goes on to discus the various aspect of fish life. Eating, breeding, various interactions are all covered. Look for the parts on schooling and social life of coral reef fishes. etc... The authors manage to bring a large body of scientific reference material together and make it accessible to anyone interested in coral reef fishes.If you are a diver or snorkeler then you will enjoy this wealth of information that will go along way to describe the intricate behaviors in this most complicated of habitats. If you are a reef aquarium hobbyist the you will learn why fish act the way they do. If you are a professional then you will appreciate the way that this book brings in the journal literature. There are 19 pages of bibliography, and although it might be a bit dated many of the articles are classics.
Rating:
Summary: Interested in tropical marine fishes?
Review: This book is outstanding on so many levels... It has a basic intro to coral reef biology and to the fishes. It then goes on to discus the various aspect of fish life. Eating, breeding, various interactions are all covered. Look for the parts on schooling and social life of coral reef fishes. etc... The authors manage to bring a large body of scientific reference material together and make it accessible to anyone interested in coral reef fishes. If you are a diver or snorkeler then you will enjoy this wealth of information that will go along way to describe the intricate behaviors in this most complicated of habitats. If you are a reef aquarium hobbyist the you will learn why fish act the way they do. If you are a professional then you will appreciate the way that this book brings in the journal literature. There are 19 pages of bibliography, and although it might be a bit dated many of the articles are classics.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating book about reef fish behavior for the layman.
Review: We run charter yachts and take our guests snorkeling on reefs daily. I borrowed this book over 10 years ago, and still remember how incredibly interesting it was, not only for our own understanding of the ecosystem we enjoy so much, but also for the great information it gives us to share with our guests who are eager to learn about the beautiful reefs and the colorful fish they see. As another reviewer said, we can now go beyond just naming the fish we see and provide a broader explanation of their characteristics and behaviour. I'm thrilled to see the book back in print.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating book about reef fish behavior for the layman.
Review: We run charter yachts and take our guests snorkeling on reefs daily. I borrowed this book over 10 years ago, and still remember how incredibly interesting it was, not only for our own understanding of the ecosystem we enjoy so much, but also for the great information it gives us to share with our guests who are eager to learn about the beautiful reefs and the colorful fish they see. As another reviewer said, we can now go beyond just naming the fish we see and provide a broader explanation of their characteristics and behaviour. I'm thrilled to see the book back in print.
Rating:
Summary: A must-read for avid scuba divers
Review: With the proliferation of fish identification books (many which are excellent...but there are MANY!), it was refreshing to finally read a reference guide devoted solely to coral reef fish behavior. It adds another dimension to my underwater observations, and further enhances my time in my favorite hang-out place! I am an underwater photographer and give a number of slide shows -- it is nice to be able to go beyond the "roll call" as a certain fish flashes on the screen--after reading this book, I'm in a better position to add interesting facts about the given fish's behavior, mating practices, sensory capacities, etc. THOSE are the things that perk up an audience's ears.
A comprehensive, well-written guide, authoritative without being dry; the authors have a love of the undersea world that is reflected in their writing. I'm frankly surprised that I don't note this text in the bookshelves of more dive shops, liveaboards, etc. Like Paul Humann's Trilogy, it deserves to be a part of the "scuba diver's canon".
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