Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #517727 in Books
• Published on: 2002-07-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Not all nature lovers waffle on about twitching with Bill Oddie in a bird sanctuary. The Shark Watcher's Handbook caters for those with whose tastes lean toward the more extreme end of the wildlife-spotting spectrum, providing a thorough guide to the places, practicalities and politics of the sport.

From its origins as an exclusive pursuit of monied daredevils in the 60s and 70s, to its ubiquitous presence in today's tourist industry, shark watching has become a world-wide phenomenon. This guide will prove indispensable if you're getting onboard, whether you're planning on delving into the chilly waters off the Isle of Man or spending several weeks in a floating hotel off the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. Providing sound advice for every stage of a shark-spotting trip, from planning and preparation to safety in the water, The Shark Watcher's Handbook includes a complete shark-identification chart, a directory of sites, basic site maps and is bursting with stunning full-colour underwater photographs.

This really deserves its "handbook" epithet, covering literally everything you need to know and transcending its field-guide status by touching on the ethical, political and environmental issues surrounding the sport. If Mark Carwardine and Ken Watterson assure us that, statistically, "there is a greater chance of winning the national lottery than of being eaten by a shark", it's clear that they have an ulterior motive: to dispel the great Jaws myth and engender a "sense of the colossal and barbaric injustice being inflicted on sharks today". Whether you tackle it in one big bite or take little nips out of it now and again, The Shark Watcher's Handbook is certain to satisfy any appetite--you might even call it a great write. The only criticism? It isn't waterproof. Fin. --Paul Eisinger

Synopsis
Shark-watching, whether from the shore, from boats or face-to-face on the sea floor, is one of the fastest-growing activities around the world -last year, more than a quarter of a million people had an intentional underwater encounter with a shark. This book provides all the information necessary to plan a shark-watching trip. The first part of the book explains the background to shark-watching and descibes how it can be done in an eco-friendly way. It summarises the natural history of sharks, gives the truth about shark attacks, explains how to take good photographs under water and provides detailed, illustrated portraits of the 24 most frequently encountered species. The remainder of the book - a Directory of the world's top shark-watching sites, illustrated with high-quality photographs -provides all the practical information needed to plan your shark-watching trips, from when to go, what facilities and weather to expect to what level of expertise is required. This book will be an essential guide - for those who are already addicted to shark-watching and for anyone tempted to try this exciting and adventurous activity for the first time

Customer Reviews

Shark Watchers
Its hard to add much to the other reviews here as I agree that this is a must buy for any diver with an interest in sharks. In fact I've bought it twice (I gave my first copy to a dive instructor in Galapagos and had to replace it).

One thing I would say against it is that I would like the species coverage to be better (for example sandbar, spiny dogfish and port jackson shark are missing)

Not the usual same old shark resource guide
I have brought and read a number of shark guides, handbooks, references and they all seem to repeat the same information or deliver the information in the same manner.

This book stood out from the rest as soon as I started reading it. I actually learnt something new !!.

This book really is a 'must have' for any person interested in Sharks. It is well written and well researched. The author obviously has a passion for the marine world and the animals that inhabit our ocean world.

Buy it now !!!

Snap this one up!
This beautifully illustrated book is a ground-breaking guide on shark watching and an inspiration for shark lovers who despair of horror stories which perpetuate the myths about these amazing animals.

Thoroughly researched, the authors spent three years painstakingly checking every scrap of information from thousands of dive operators and experts around the world, resulting in a guide you can really trust for its accuracy.

The book begins with sections on shark diving, the risks involved, shark photography, natural history and shark conservation, each one crammed with facts about sharks and useful practical information to enable the reader to get the most out of any shark watching experience. The conservation chapter sensitively explores issues such as shark finning and commercial fishing with useful contacts for those inspired to support the shark conservation effort.

The shark directory details 24 shark species on any divers 'must-see' list with succinct information on each species. Clear illustrations and a useful checklist aid identification and there are sections on the potential danger to divers, the distribution of the species as well as details of all the good places to encounter them.

The directory of shark watching sites follows on from the species directory and gives comprehensive maps and detailed information on things such as location, species encountered, viewing opportunities, whether bait or cages are used and other wildlife which might be encountered, along with contact details for an impressive 250 shark hot spots around the world.

A truly indispensable guide for shark watchers everywhere.

Ruth Searle