 The Fishes of Southern California DVD  Liquid Safari is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking new DVD The Fishes of Southern California. From the sandy shoreline, through the vast kelp forests, to the offshore Channel Islands and banks, this DVD offers an unprecedented journey into the underwater wonderland that lies off the coast of Southern California. The Fishes of Southern California has been a three-year labor of love for long-time diver Kevin Scully, who filmed, narrated, edited, and produced the project. Scully plunges into his subject with an infectious enthusiasm that will appeal to novices and experienced divers alike. The 65-minute DVD provides an overview of the many fish species of this region, as they are found in their unique natural habitats. Among its stars is the protected and magnificent Black Sea Bass and the elusive White Sea Bass. Guest-stars include the shimmering clouds of baitfish that often signal the presence of larger fish, and the microscopic, alien-like plankton, which form the base of the entire marine food chain. The DVD’s comprehensive tour of marine environments is entertaining as well as informative, and Scully’s mesmerizing underwater images are supported with an ethereal soundtrack. The Fishes of Southern California and its companion laminated Fish I.D. chart are available at Birch Aquarium, selected local dive shops, and online at LiquidSafari.com. Underwater Eden: 365 Days With a focus on coral reefs, Underwater Eden: 365 Days illuminates the fantastic colors, array of textures, and countless bizarre shapes and forms of undersea life.  Beneath the surface of the world’s most exotic seas and oceans – from the Red Sea and the coast of Costa Rica to the Great Barrier Reef and Palau Islands – lie spectacularly diverse ecosystems that only a privileged few have had the opportunity to view up close and in person. Jeffrey Rotman has spent more than 30 years diving in these waters to capture their breathtaking beauty and the stunning richness and variety of the creatures that inhabit them. Lavishly illustrated with 365 color photographs, the book features extended captions written by Rotman that contain scientific facts and trivia interspersed with personal anecdotes and insights gained from decades of observation. He is passionate about his concern for the environment and his fascination with sharks, which are also victims of this changed universe. “When I return to photograph places visited years before, I see with great sorrow that they are slowly fading and even disappearing before my eyes,” states Rotman. Underwater Eden: 365 Days gives readers unprecedented access into a strange and captivating world. For more information on Underwater Eden: 365 Days (ISBN 978-0-8109-9311-2), visit the publisher’s web site at www.hnabooks.com. An Essential Guide to Digital Underwater Photography  With the explosion of underwater digital photography, this book is an essential guide for those who want to shoot beautiful digital pictures underwater. It is a “how to” guide that includes detailed descriptions and professional secrets, step-by-step instructions about using digital cameras underwater, exposure, use of light and shooting techniques for macro and wide-angle imagery. It is packed with information, key points, tips and techniques of underwater photography.An Essential Guide to Digital Underwater Photography by Michael Aw with Mathieu Meur takes you from the basics and channels your creativity to greater heights. It will also help you to master the vocabulary of digital imaging. For easy referencing, the pages are color-coded. The book is 127 pages with full color photos. Published by Best Publishing, for more information or to order visit their web site at www.bestpub.com and refer to book # B1137. Ocean Duets More than a gorgeous gift book, Ocean Duets offers a rare glimpse of the ocean world and highlights the bonds between the diverse species found deep within. The result of six years of painstaking photography, research, and patience, this collection of underwater photographs captures a diverse array of sea creatures by the pair—mates, playmates, mothers and babies, and more—all accompanied by informative captions. From humpback whales to thumbnail-sized sea horses, each image bursts with color and life, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of our life source, the ocean. Included is a forward by esteemed oceanographer Sylvia Earle.  “Ocean Duets reminds us that the beauty of marine life and all living species is that we are not solitary animals,” said Jean-Michel Cousteau, award-winning producer, founder and president of the Ocean Futures Society. “Life is meant to be lived in pairs in the fabulous symmetry of nature. Michele Westmorland has given us the gift of a virtual Noah’s Ark of amazing images that lead us to greater respect and admiration for our ocean world two-by-two.” Michele Westmorland is an award-winning wildlife photographer. Capturing images of the amazing underwater world has been her passion for twenty years, six of which have been devoted to extensive travel specifically to photograph “two of a kind” animals. Her work has appeared in many national and international publications such as Sport Diver, Scuba Diving, Outside, National Geographic Adventure and Traveler magazines, and Smithsonian. Westmorland lives with her photographer husband, Stuart, as a partner in Westmorland Photography in Mill Creek, Washington. Author Barbara Sleeper’s career as a zoologist and science writer has spanned more than 25 years and 80 countries as she has traveled the globe to observe animals in the wild and learn firsthand about conservation issues. She has published nearly 300 wildlife and travel articles and is the author of seven books, including Vanishing Act, Our Seattle, and Migrations: Animals in Motion. Sleeper resides in Bothell, Washington. For more information on Ocean Duets visit the publisher’s web site at www.fulcrumbooks.com. Scuba Diving Safety  The beautiful locales, exotic plant and sea life, and relaxing environs of dive locations are even more peaceful when you are armed with the expertise and skill to stay safe in any situation. With self-rescues, buddy rescues, open-water resuscitation, and towing techniques, Scuba Diving Safety will become a valuable diving companion. Covering a full range of underwater environments, as well as dangerous marine life, entanglements, and equipment failures, this vital resource is an essential reference for every underwater enthusiast. For more information on this book, go to the publisher’s web site at www.humankinetics.com. |
