'What a fun book! Reading Sea Fever is enticing and intriguing, like watching floating treasure bob past your nose.' Tristram Gooley, author of The Natural Navigator Can you interpret the shipping forecast? Do you know your flotsam from your jetsam? Or who owns the foreshore? Can you tie a half-hitch - or would you rather splice the mainbrace? Full of charming illustrations and surprising facts, Sea Fever provides the answers to all these and more. Mixing advice on everything from seasickness to righting a capsized boat with arcane marine lore, recipes, history, dramatic stories of daring-do and guides to the wildlife we share our shores with, even the most experienced ocean-dweller will find something in these pages to surprise and delight.

Great British Marine Animals is a colourful photographic guide to fish and invertebrate life in the seas around Britain. It helps identify a wide range of species and has a special focus on their behaviour with many spreads and sequences of stunning underwater photos to show them going about their busy lives. Beautiful sea anemones lash out with superbly armed tentacles, seemingly invincible crabs shed their armour suits to grow (some decorate them afterwards!), limpets argue with each other, versatile sea slugs recycle defensive weapons from their prey, starfish exert huge forces to pull open their victims while fish can build nests, clean each other or sometimes change sex when the situation demands - to list just a few examples! The extraordinarily sophisticated cuttlefish is given ten pages to show a range of its amazing skills, while the complex social life of the tompot blenny gets nine that even includes a panel of recognised individuals. This expanded 4th edition is much the biggest upgrade so far, containing 930 high quality underwater photographs (compared to 600 in the 3rd edition) and detailing 320 species (up from 280) in 432 pages (up from 320). The book is organised by animal groups and species but has a special additional 'behaviour index' to highlight their wonderfully diverse strategies and habits. It appeals to all ages and levels of knowledge.

Enthralling tales of the sea, rivers and lakes from around the globe.

Folklore of the seas and rivers has a resonance in cultures all over the world. Watery hopes, fears and dreams are shared by all peoples where rivers flow and waves crash. This fascinating book covers English sailor superstitions and shape-shifting pink dolphins of the Amazon, Scylla and Charybdis, the many guises of Mami Wata, the tale of the Yoruba River spirit, the water horses of the Scottish lochs, the infamous mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, and much more.

Accompanied by stunning woodcut illustrations, popular authors Dee Dee Chainey and Willow Winsham explore the deep history and enduring significance of water folklore the world over, from mermaids, selkies and sirens to ghostly ships and the fountains of youth.

With this book, Folklore Thursday aims to encourage a sense of belonging across all cultures by showing how much we all have in common.

A riveting new exploration of the octopus from the world-leading scientific expert. For fans of Netflix's 'My Octopus Teacher' and Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith. 'Enchanting. Enough to melt the stoniest of hearts.' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Scheel brings the world of the octopus vividly alive... a sense of what it might be like to live in their skins.' FINANCIAL TIMES 'Fascinating. The deepest of octopus books.' PETER GODFREY-SMITH 'I was agog at his accounts. Mind-blowing and soul-expanding' SY MONTGOMERY AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4'S TODAY PROGRAMME _________________ What is it like to be an octopus? The octopus is a highly intelligent and deeply mysterious creature. It can change colour as quickly as it can move, 'think' with its tentacles and communicate in sophisticated ways. Marine biologist David Scheel's lifelong preoccupation with these animals has led to a career of groundbreaking research, from finding previously unknown species to the discovery of signaling communication. In Many Things Under a Rock, Scheel shares his deep scientific understanding of octopuses and recounts his intrepid adventures with these mysterious, charismatic creatures. He investigates four major mysteries about octopuses: what can we know about such elusive and camouflaged creatures? Why are they so extraordinarily resilient? How do their bodies work? And what kind of relationships do they have? In unravelling these mysteries, Dr Scheel shows octopuses to be complex emotional beings and reveals what they can teach us about ourselves.

A quick fish identification guide for divers and snorkellers in the Maldives and wider Indian Ocean region. A perfect guide to check on those mystery fishes seen during dives. Symbols highlight points of interest and differences between similar species. The Fish Field Guide Maldives is compact, easy to use and is designed to assist in field work and conservation initiatives. A companion guide to the book Fishes of the Maldives, Indian Ocean.

From the author of the international Bestseller Breath Covering a diving championship in Greece on a hot and sticky assignment for Outside magazine, James Nestor discovered free diving. He had stumbled on one of the most extreme sports in existence: a quest to extend the frontiers of human experience, in which divers descend without breathing equipment, for hundreds of feet below the water, for minutes after they should have died from lack of oxygen. Sometimes they emerge unconscious, or bleeding from the nose and ears, and sometimes they don't come up at all. The free divers were Nestor's way into an exhilarating and dangerous world of deep-sea pioneers, underwater athletes, scientists, spear fishermen, billionaires and ordinary men and women who are poised on the brink of some amazing discoveries about the ocean. Soon he was visiting the scientists who live 60ft underwater (and are permanently high on nitrous dioxide), swimming with the notorious man-eating sharks of Reunion and descending thousands of feet in a homemade submarine. And on the way down, he learnt about the amazing amphibious reflexes activated in the human body under deep-water conditions, why dolphins were injected with LSD in an attempt to teach them to talk, and why sharks like AC/DC. The sea covers seventy per cent of Earth's surface, and still contains answers to questions about the world we are only beginning to ask: Deep blends science and adventure to uncover its amazing secrets.

The sea has been an endless source of fascination, at once both alluring and mysterious, a place of wonder and terror. The Sea Journal contains first-hand records by a great range of travellers of their encounters with strange creatures and new lands, full of dangers and delights, pleasures and perils. In this remarkable gathering of private journals, log books, letters and diaries, we follow the voyages of intrepid sailors, from the frozen polar wastes to South Seas paradise islands, as they set down their immediate impressions of all they saw. They capture their experiences while at sea, giving us a precious view of the oceans and the creatures that live in them as they were when they were scarcely known and right up to the present day. In a series of biographical portraits, we meet officers and ordinary sailors, cooks and whalers, surgeons and artists, explorers and adventurers. A handful of contemporary mariners provide their thoughts on how art remains integral to their voyaging lives. Often still bearing the traces of their nautical past, the intriguing and enchanting sketches and drawings in this book brilliantly capture the spirit of the oceans and the magic of the sea.

The popular image of sharks is of a dorsal fin cleaving the surface as it rushes to its next kill, but this is a limited caricature. There are over 500 species to choose from, most of whom are far more frightened of humans than vice versa. In this beautiful book, diving veteran John Bantin recounts many tales of his diving with several species of sharks and other marine animals over the last 4 decades. Accompanied by his own stunning photography, the captivating, spectacular and sometimes shocking encounters show the reader what it is like to get up close and personal to these bizarre and beautiful creatures. The sharks covered range from the great whale sharks to the small blacktip reef shark, in locations extending to all corners of the globe.

Discover the magic and mystery of the coral sea. A colourful array of creatures is brought to life by award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup in this delightful peek-through board book.

From time immemorial people have been drawn to the beach to collect practical resources as well as mysterious objects that have fuelled myth and folklore - it is our inherent hunter-gatherer instinct. Whether you are a seasoned beachcomber, a casual visitor or an enthusiastic naturalist this book will satisfy your curiosity about the treasures found cast up on the beach strandline, be it a pretty seashell, a spent eggcase, a seaweed frond or an exotic ocean voyager. Every find has a story to tell and we aim to answer the questions that arise from each beachcombing discovery - what is it and where has it come from? Clear photographs and descriptions are accompanied by information about the natural history of the animals and plants you encounter. Even man-made debris can offer a fascinating introduction to the workings of the ocean and illustrate how items discarded in Africa or America can wash ashore on a British beach.The beach strandline is often overlooked as a wildlife habitat but is home to a unique community of flora and fauna, many found nowhere else. It is understudied and under threat, facing a variety of man-made problems. In this book you will find a comprehensive account of the animals and plants that make up this rich and ever-changing oasis of life in the otherwise harsh environment of the beach. The more we understand the delicate nature of the strandline the more we can do to nurture and protect it.But beware - beachcombing can be an addictive pleasure! Make sure you pack this book every time you visit the beach - there is always something new to discover, whether on a nocturnal strandline safari, making seaweed whistles or hunting minibeasts with pots and pooters. Emmerse yourself in the beachcombing experience; the wind in your face, the smell of salt spray, the roar of the ocean; it's an assault on the senses, the perfect tonic - and this book is your essential guide.

AMAZING ILLUSTRATIONS: Explore Caroline Selme's intricately drawn underwater world, bursting with minute detail! ADDICTIVE GAMEPLAY: A matching game for the whole family with super-detailed underwater scenes that reward returning again and again. HOURS OF COZY FUN: Take a deep dive and learn to recognize fish from around the world - all from the comfort of home! PERFECT GIFT: Illustration-led, highly finished, 57-card unique matching game, for maximum gifting appeal. COLLECT THE SERIES: From the illustrator of Laurence King's Dinosaur Bingo, Jungle Bingo, I Saw It First! and Who's Hiding in the Jungle? Pick a card, any card! Now pick another. Between any animal and ocean card there will only ever be one animal that features on both. Can you be the first to find it? Featuring Caroline Selmes's delightful animal illustrations and undersea scenes, Who's Hiding in the Ocean? will have the whole family vying for victory!

Dive into the fascinating world of coastal wildlife with this holiday pocket guide. Featuring 40 beautifully illustrated pebbles, shells, crabs, small sea creatures and more, discover more about life between the tides with The Little Guide to Shorelines. Each entry has been delicately illustrated by printmaker Tom Frost to capture its individual characteristics, and is accompanied by associated facts and fables. There is also an interactive spotter's guide at the back, where you can check off what you find. This informative, practical and beautiful guide is part of a new nature series designed to encourage creativity through exploring the outdoors. An activity for adults and children alike, enjoy The Little Guide to Shorelines on your next trip to the sea.

Julia Rothman's best-selling illustrated Anatomy series takes a deep dive into the wonders of the sea with Ocean Anatomy. Follow Rothman's inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world's oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages. Also available in this series: Nature Anatomy, Farm Anatomy, Food Anatomy, and Nature Anatomy Notebook

A beautifully illustrated and informative anthology of coastal wildlife throughout the year. They say that no one in the British Isles lives more than an hour or two from the coast, a coastline of contrasts with scenery that changes from estuaries, shingle beaches, saltmarshes and sand dunes, to rocky shores, rugged cliffs, machair and bustling harbours. Our shores are teeming with wildlife, be it in the water, on the tideline, clinging to cliffs or in the skies above them, and this beautiful book you can learn more about familiar and favourite coastal species and some intriguing lesser-known marine creatures. Season by season, Celia Lewis's wonderful illustrations show the flowers, birds, animals, fish and insects found at that time of year. Her craft projects, using driftwood, pebbles and shells, are suitable for all ages and will encourage you to put beachcombed mementos to surprising uses. Or get creative with food and work some foraged ingredients into tasty recipes by Celia and many of our best seafood chefs. We all love spending time near the water's edge, so next time you feel like stretching your legs along a coastal path, fancy a day trip to the seaside or are planning balmy summer holidays, dip into An Illustrated Coastal Year and be inspired by the incredible diversity of wildlife to be found around our little archipelago.

Think like you've got nine brains, feel like you've got three hearts, and hug as though you have eight arms. Wisdom begins in wonder: and there is no creature so weird and wonderful as the octopus. Wise, compassionate, strong yet adaptable - and with Houdini-like vanishing tricks - octopuses are the most fascinating creatures on the planet. They provide a masterclass in self-care and there is so much we can learn from them. With the help of Weird Is Beautiful you will discover: When to be strong, and when to be flexible How to sift through the flotsam and jetsam of your life to find the pearls you should cling to How camouflage can be self-care, but when you should let your true colours shine! How to multi-task, even when you don't have eight arms When to allow the currents of the ocean to sweep you along, and when to stick your tentacles to the rocks and resist How to live wild, weird and free Who said life above water can't sparkle?

An illustrated look at corals and the reefs they build around the world, and the causes and dire consequences of their rapid disappearance Corals are among the most varied lifeforms on Earth, ranging from mushroom corals and leather corals to button polyps, sea fans, anemones, and pulse corals. Bridging the gap between plant and animal, these marine invertebrates serve as homes to reef fish and share symbiotic relationships with photosynthesizing algae, which provide corals with their nourishment. This stunningly illustrated book profiles the astonishing diversity of the world's coral groups, describing key aspects of their natural history and explaining why coral reefs are critical to the health of our oceans. Representative examples of corals have been selected to illustrate the broad range of species, and the book's lively and informative commentary covers everything from identification to conservation, making it an essential resource for marine biologists, divers, and anyone who is fascinated by these remarkable sea creatures. Features more than 200 exquisite color photos Highlights key aspects of corals and their natural history Features representative examples from around the world Includes photos of rare and unusual species

The marine environment is a remarkable place - unfamiliar and a source of endless fascination. The rocky shore where land meets sea, its array of life ever-changing with the tides, offers us a chance to explore this mysterious world. This book reveals the astonishing diversity of wildlife on rocky shores and in the rockpools around the coast and gives readers a greater understanding of the myriad of creatures that can be found using a bit of simple detective work. Rockpooling is an activity enjoyed by children and adults alike. This guide will make your exploration even more rewarding, whether you are an individual or family visiting the seaside or a naturalist wishing to expand your knowledge of a unique habitat. - Detailed descriptions of around 400 common and rare rocky shore species. - Clear colour photographs of all the species described. - Tips and techniques describing how to find the more cryptic animals. - Ideas for rockpool-related family activities. - Information on threats to the intertidal environment. - Measures we can all take to safeguard the future of our rocky shore wildlife.

Discover the incredible diversity of life within our seas and learn how we can all play a role in protecting and conserving it. Our seas are home to an abundance of fascinating creatures and stunning habitats. From spectacular kelp forests to intricate rocky reefs and from mud plains to open ocean, the British Isles have a diversity of marine ecosystems that rival those seen on any nature documentary. Yet, for generations, we have been slowly suffocating life beneath the waves. Decades of unsustainable exploitation, endless pollution and a warming climate have had a devastating effect on our marine habitats. However, it's not too late to make a difference and change course. Written in collaboration with the Wildlife Trusts, Britain's Living Seas provides a user-friendly and richly illustrated guide to coasts around the British Isles, uncovering the diversity of life within a range of marine habitats and the life-giving services that they provide us. Outlining how their very existence is under threat, marine biologist Hannah Rudd presents an alternative and sustainable future for the management of our seas. We can all do our bit as individuals too. Through practical steps such as re-thinking what we eat, our relationship with plastic and how we spend our money, we can become marine conservationists in our everyday lives and help to create a healthier future for our oceans. Everyone can discover more about the wonders within the waters that surround us and play a part in rebuilding our connection with the natural world.

‘Heart-warming and life-affirming, full of humour and compassion’ ADELE PARKS, PLATINUM ‘A beautifully warm-hearted tale of friendship and hope’ MY WEEKLY ‘I loved this incredibly touching book…[it’s] a life-belt that will help any reader through a tough patch’ VERONICA HENRY *** In life’s stormy waters, it’s your friends who keep you afloat… Maddy Wolfe’s life has just capsized. After her twenty-year marriage suddenly implodes, she heads to Brighton to search for her estranged son, Jamie. But he’s nowhere to be found and for the first time, she’s totally alone. That is, until she meets the Salty Sea-Gals, a group of feisty sea-swimmers. Seventy-two-year old Helga is determined not to slow down, while thirty-something Tor is still figuring out who she is. Bereaved Dominica is trying to find a reason to carry on, and busy mum Claire is learning to put herself first for a change. As their regular cold-water plunges become a lifeline for them all, Maddy starts to realise that these brave women might just help her find both Jamie and herself. Together, will they turn the tide? 'Inspiring, heart-warming, utter joy' TAMMY COHEN ‘A beautiful read. You’ll love this one’ LOUISE BEECH ‘An absolute delight of a book!’ CELIA ANDERSON ‘Oh, this is such a wonderful read’ BISHOP’S STORTFORD INDEPENDENT *** Readers LOVE Josie Lloyd’s heart-warming novels: 'Inspiring and warm, heartfelt and real. I really loved this story' 'I rarely cry when reading but I was so emotionally impacted by this read I had a few cries in the bath reading it… a heart-warming portrayal of true friendship' 'Expect tears, laughter and a lot of fist pump in the air moments!’ 'A bloody brilliant, inspirational book of friendship and hope' 'Heartfelt and empowering' 'Affirming and inspiring… this book will give you all the feels!' 'I loved this book from the very beginning to the very end; it is a story that will resonate with every woman' 'Full of humour and compassion… I laughed and I cried' 'I absolutely loved this book. A testament to the power of friendship'

Take a deep breath Steve Backshall was nine years old the first time he saw a shark, while on holiday with his family in Malaysia. It was the beginning of a life-long fascination with these 'lords of the sea', and the oceanic life around them. His career as one of the world's most popular naturalists and explorers has taken him to countless underwater places, many never before seen by others. And he's also been witness to the startling decline in fortune of our oceans' wild inhabitants over the past fifty years. Deep Blue is a book a lifetime in the making: a remarkable blend of memoir, travel, and marine and environmental science that takes us on an unforgettable tour of the many worlds of aquatic life: from underwater deserts and rainforests to the evolution of ocean heroes like the sea turtle and the Great White, from the genesis of ocean life to the rapidly declining state of white polar seas and coral reefs. It's both a love letter to our precious oceans and rallying cry for what we must to do save them.

Wyl Menmuir's The Draw of the Sea is a beautifully written and deeply moving portrait of the Cornish Coast and the people who make their livings there, examining the ephemeral but universal pull the sea holds over the human imagination. 'A beautiful portrait of lives shaped by the swell of ocean and tide - a powerful salt-thread of connection' - Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path Since the earliest stages of human development, the sea has fascinated and entranced us. It feeds us, sustaining communities and providing livelihoods, but it also holds immense destructive power which can take all those away in an instant. It connects us to far away places, offering the promise of new lands and voyages of discovery, but also shapes our borders, carving divisions between landmasses and eroding the very ground beneath our feet. In this beautifully-written meditation on what it is that draws us to the waters' edge, author Wyl Menmuir tells the stories of the people whose lives revolve around the sea in the Cornish community where he lives. In twelve interlinked chapters, Menmuir explores the lives of local fishermen steeped in the rich traditions of a fishing community, the beachcombers who wander the shores in search of the varied objects which wash ashore and the stories they tell, and all number of others who have made their lives on the beautiful Cornwall coast. In the specifics of these livelihoods and their rich histories and traditions, Wyl Menmuir captures the universal human connection to the sea. Into this seductive tapestry, Wyl weaves the story of how the sea has beckoned, consoled and restored him. This book is a meaningful and moving work into how we interact with the environment around us, and how it comes to shape the course of our lives. As unmissable as it is compelling, as profound as it is personal, this must-read book will delight anyone familiar with the intimate and powerful pull which the sea holds over us.

Georges Bank, off the coast of New England, has for years been known as one of the most productive of the world's fisheries. Now, recent exploratory surveys indicate it may hold still other resources–oil and natural gas–in sufficient abundance to justify their development. Suddenly, decisions must be made about whether it is possible to manage two

The cool temperate waters of our British and Irish seas contain an astonishing 6% of the world's algal species, more than 600 different seaweeds, and yet most divers, snorkelers and rockpoolers can put names to only a handful of them. The first edition of Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland has proved invaluable to an enormous number of people, not just volunteer Seasearch divers and snorkellers, and this eagerly-awaited second edition will no doubt prove to be equally as popular. The aim of this book is to introduce the reader to the wonderful marine environment around Britain and Ireland, and improve identification to the wealth of seaweeds so often overlooked. Features of the new edition include: * Over 230 species described in detail with colour photographs, information on size, habitat and distribution maps. * Over 50 new species, many with information on how to identify to species level using microscopic features. * Key distinguishing features and areas of identity confusion highlighted. * Colour and form used to group species and aid identification using dichotomous keys. * Details of life histories and reproductive processes for the main seaweed groups. * Both scientific and English names used for species and groups. * A glossary of common and specialised terms.

The Top 200+ species of marine invertebrates, plants, mammals and reptiles of the Maldives in a handy fold-out waterproof guide. A companion guide to the book Marine Life of the Maldives. Includes a silhouette of each animal for easy identification, details including depth range, size, distribution, IUCN Red List status, page reference to the book and a check box for recording species. A handy laminated fold-out reference guide of the same kind as the Maldives Field Fish Guide "Top 200+".