The Shark-Watcher's Handbook: A Guide to Sharks and Where to See Them

By Mark Carwardine and Ken Watterson

Book Overview

Hundreds of thousands of people have an intentional encounter with sharks every year, and shark-watching has become a multi-million dollar business. The ultimate shark-watcher's guide, this comprehensive and ground-breaking book is essential reading for any marine enthusiast who wants to navigate the waters of those who consort with sharks. The Shark-Watcher's Handbook covers everything you need to know about sharks and shark watching: the history, techniques, risks and controversies; a thorough overview of shark natural history and biology; the many threats facing sharks and how snorkelers and divers can help; and even how to get good shark photographs, safely. There is also an extensive, fully illustrated directory of the twenty-four species most commonly encountered by shark watchers. Each entry includes important information on natural history, classification, diet, reproduction, behavior and range; and there are special sections on identification, the potential danger to divers and good places for a close encounter. The book includes the first detailed directory of more than 250 of the world's shark-watching hotspots, with a detailed description of each site and information on everything from the species most likely to be seen and the best time of year to visit to contact details for further information and travel notes. Whether you're a professional diver, someone contemplating your first close encounter with a shark, or the sort of person who prefers to view these extraordinary animals in the pages of a book, The Shark-Watcher's Handbook is an attractive, invaluable, and utterly fascinating guide to the underwater world of sharks.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691096376
• ISBN13: 9780691096377
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 287 Pages
• Weight: 2.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent & Detailed

sharkwatching as it should be

Let's say you want to meet a special shark-species face to face,for example silvertips and you want to know where the best chance of seeing them is-just use this book.

Like the Title Says...

The Shark Watcher's Handbook lives up to the odd title. Shark diving is rapidly becoming a major attraction in the world of Scuba diving, as more dive operators have added "shark dives" to their retinue of dive sites. Some of these dives involve the proto-typical divers in cages observing the Great White, others feature divers tucked against coral walls observing reef sharks in a feeding frenzy upon fish treats served up by the dive boat above. This book gives a brief discussion of sharks and shark diving in the first third. In the second third it lists illustrations of the world's most common sharks and basic facts about each. In the last third lists all of the major dive operations in the world that offer shark dives and the type of sharks they routinely find and the type of dives they lead. An excellent resource for the Scuba-holic addicted to the thrill of shark watching.