Books on reef life

[Benkun]

Not sure if this is the right place for this thread, if not, please move it.

I want to buy a book on reef life (fish, invertebrates, nudibranches) which covers the pacific (asia, australia and the pacific islands) since that's where I do all of my diving. I've seen a few around at different places but I never actually paid much attention to the book names. The only one I remember is from my last trip called 'A Diver's Guide to Reef Life' by Andrea Ferrari and Antonella Ferrari. It was pretty good and I was about to buy it but I thought I might see if I can get any other good recommendations from the endless source of knowledge that is scubaboard.

I mainly want to use it to ID photos I take underwater so lots of pretty pictures is a must. It also doesn't have to be super-compact or anything since I don't plan to take it anywhere, just leave it at home to consult after a dive trip. So, any suggestions?

Many thanks in advance!
Ben.
​

 

[Rick Murchison]

What you want is the Humann/DeLoach Reef Fish ID (Tropical Pacific).
In fact, the entire series is indispensable to the budding ichthyologist
Rick

 

[diverdowndh]

I have the 3 book Reef Life set, but it really didn't help on my recent Fiji trip. The colors/configurations were fairly different. There were many fish that had the same basic shapes as Caribbean fish (which my Reef Life books concentrate on), but the colors were usually different. So, I ordered a book called Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide (by Dr. Gerald R Allen and Roger Steene). My LDS had a copy and I ordered it because I could identify almost everything we saw in Fiji from that book. It hasn't came in yet, I got an email saying it will arrive after Christmas. When I ordered i on amazon.com it also recommended Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific, by Gerald Allen, Roger Steene, Paul Humann, and Ned Deloach. This one came in right away and is very similar to the 3 book Reef Life set (also mentioned by Rick I believe). I have my LDS's copy of the Indo-Pacific book and my new one and have been able to identify and also read up on anything we got a pic of.
Hope that helps!

 

[diverdowndh]

Oops, reading IS important. Looks like Rick mentions my Tropical Pacific book, sorry Rick!

 

[covediver]

What you want is the Humann/DeLoach Reef Fish ID (Tropical Pacific).
In fact, the entire series is indispensable to the budding ichthyologist
Rick

I agree. Humann/DeLoach are among the best ID guides I have ever used.

 

[Sam Miller III]

Since you are in Japan try the "Field Guides" by Mr. Tetsu Taguchi, currently residing in Sapporo.

I have two:
~~Field Guide Number 2, "Sea fishes of Japan;" 259 pages Hard cover with pictoral dust jacket
~~Field Guide number 13, "Sea fishes of the world," 384 pages Hard cover with pictoral dust jacket
(both my copies have been personally inscribed by Mr Tauguchi)

They are unquestionably the best guides for Japanese fish and possibly the best for the world's fish. The format is to describe the fish and present an accompaning photo==However it was printed only in Japanese.

FYI..Tetsu Tagushi is a professional photographer; was one of the first UW instructors in Japan; founded the Japan Underwater training association in the 1960s (prior to PADI) and published a number of books and training manuals in Japanese.

Would suggest that you seach out copies while in Japan..

GREAT GUIDES!

sdm

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

If you are taking digital pictures, and looking at them on a computer with internet access, lots of pacific marine life can be id'd at marinephotography.com. Keoki is also a member here on SB.

 

[diverdowndh]

NICE SITE! I'm looking at it now, incredible!

 

[Benkun]

Thank you all for your help everyone, I'll check out those books and that website.

Merry Christmas!
Ben.