Not quite British wildlife

Juliet1200 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-10-2011, 09:48 PM

This question isn't strictly relevant to this forum but I'm hoping somebody will have an answer. I've recently started scuba diving and have just come back from a holiday in Mallorca where I did a few dives. I'm interested in identifying the species of fish etc I saw so I was wondering if anybody could recommend a good book? I'm hoping to dive in the UK too and will want to identify anything I see here, but getting both in one book is probably too much to ask...

Thanks,

Juliet

Marineboy · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-2011, 08:32 PM

Waters in the Med can be quite different to our own, and although there will be common species, each location will have species not found in the other.

Collins seem to churn out various books entitled "Collins Seashore Guide of Britain and Europe". I have a 1996 copy, 340 pages, and it covers hundreds of species - while an interesting read and good for most species I question the capability of some of the artists to offer what I would call an "accurate" representation of some of the species I know well. With this in mind, it is sometimes difficult to identify the more obscure species. But that's just me being picky! Seriously though, Collins will offer you something worth keeping in your pocket.

This reminds me of the night dives we did in Wied Iz-Zurrieq, Malta. Loads of octopus, loads of bioluminescence and good clear water - But most memorable for the photos in the local bar - of the 22ft great white shark they had pulled out of the harbour just weeks before we were diving it. Strange how some of our party declined to dive and went to the bar instead. They missed some good dives.
http://homepage.mac.com/mollet/Cc/John_Abela.html

I hope you get to see many of the treasures our own waters have to offer - try not to get caught up with the deep diving "gotta see everything" sort of diving - stay shallow, max 10 metres, and just take your time. Your air will last longer, you can get that second dive in, you will see more and you have a chance to watch life interact. Now the difficult bit - finding a dive buddy on the same wavelength!
Let us know how you get on with your UK diving.

Juliet1200 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2011, 06:51 AM

Thanks - I'll see what Collins has to offer.

We got to the impressive depth of 6.2m during one of the dives in Mallorca - and it was brilliant :-) I'm only qualified to 18m at the moment anyway, but I'm more than happy to stay shallow - I think the deepest we got all week was about 16m and we saw plenty. My buddy in Mallorca is definitely of the same mindset but unfortunately she's based in Bulgaria so I'm not sure how much diving I'll get to do with her in the UK!

The night dive sounds good - think I want a bit more experience first though...

So far I've only dived flooded quarries here (qualified at Stoney and been to Capernwray a couple of times), but I'm really looking forward to getting in the sea here when I get a chance. I'll let you know what I see

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 05-10-2011, 10:40 AM

Sea Fishes of the Mediterranean Sea - for med fish and med inverts

Collins fish of Britain and Europe for both.

tom00_uk · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2011, 12:24 PM

most good dive shops will have the local area wildlife books available in the shop and for some areas slates available with a range of species listed to take into the water. They also tend to have images on the walls taken on local dive trips,

Billabong Karen · #6 (**permalink**) 12-10-2011, 12:12 PM

I'm very keen to do some diving in the UK (south coast) next summer, as I've only dived abroad so far, and would welcome some recommendations regarding good dive sites - Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex, all would work for me.

Has anyone dived at Lyme Bay? Durdle Door looks lovely... Karen

pressld2 · #7 (**permalink**) 12-10-2011, 12:35 PM

Can't help with the Med species but for British waters take a look at Great British Marine Animals by Paul Naylor, now in its third edition. I picked up a copy a couple of weeks ago and am absolutely delighted with it. Stunning images, almost all taken on location and not in aquaria, and very readable and illuminating text too.

I bought it with a view to identifying rock pool creatures that I'm hoping to photograph both in situ and in photography tanks, but it's got me seriously considering taking up scuba diving. It's only the expense that's holding me back!

It's published by Sound Diving Publications, its ISBN is 978-0952283164 and Amazon have it listed for £13.04 (other booksellers exist

).

Dave P.