Fish ID Book for Bonaire

[piikki]

What would be your recommendation for best fishy book/booklet for Bonaire for a total fish-idiot?

I know basically nothing about tropical fish, and barely recognize an eel... I don't need all fine details because I am probably going to be too overwhelmed with the unusual abundance of creatures to count if the tail has 3 or 4 spots. I would just like to be able to name the "yellow fishy" and "stripy fat fishy" and maybe know a bit more about who I might have encountered

 

[diversteve]

The Caribbean Fish ID book by Humann/DeLoach. The naturalists at Bonaire Dive/Adventure on Bari Reef use it - I can't think of a better reference.

http://www.amazon.com/Reef-Fish-Identification-Florida-Caribbean/dp/1878348302

 

[djac5700]

I definitely second Steve's recommendation. I have the same book and will be bringing it with me to Bonaire when I return in 1.5 months!

While not nearly as detailed, another convenient option that may help a "total fish-idiot" is this waterproof card that you can even take under with you:
http://www.frankosmaps.com/Bonaire_Fish_Card.htm

It's nice to have most of the dive sites mapped out on one side and the most common fish pictured on the other...

I'm pretty sure you can pick these up on the island as the shipping is pretty expensive for this site. Not really worth it for one card, but maybe if you are getting two or three.

I'll also steal a page from the INCREDIBLY knowledgeable people on this board and recommend that you pick up a copy of Susan Porter's "Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy" book. It's absolutely essential for planning and executing your dives...
http://www.infobonaire.com/bsdme/

 

[reefdiva]

I am a huge fan of the software from Reef Net. It has a multitude of ways to help you identify fish including some great videos! It is available from the link below as well as at several dive shops on Bonaire.

http://reefnet.ca/products/fishes/caribbean/

 

[livingstone]

The Reef Environmental Education Foundation has a gallery with fun quizzes to give you a good foundational knowledge of the fishes you'll encounter. You may even decide you don't need a book after learning from their site.

--Dan

 

[piikki]

Oh hey, this is great. I can start at home with the quizzes to get to first grade level... (I am at the level of being able to detect a gold fish in aquarium at this point...)

I have the shore guide already and maybe I will look at that cheat sheet on the island...

but question about the Humann book: Does it have only black and white drawings? Any color pics inside the book?

 

[djac5700]

The Humann book has all color pics inside. It really is a great book... Especially for when you get back to the room and want to write up your log.

On the shore guide - double check to see if you have the new 5th edition. Heard there are some good updates. Maybe Susan (undercbon) could chime in and let us know how much of a change it is...

 

[piikki]

The Humann book has all color pics inside. It really is a great book... Especially for when you get back to the room and want to write up your log.

Great thanks, I see the book covers Fl too, so it would be good future investment.

On the shore guide - double check to see if you have the new 5th edition. Heard there are some good updates. Maybe Susan (undercbon) could chime in and let us know how much of a change it is...

Yep, mine is the newest 5th. Just going to start skimming and marking it in anticipation

 

[Charlie99]

Yep, mine is the newest 5th. Just going to start skimming and marking it in anticipation

What I found most effective for getting started was to study in detail just the 1st two pages on each of the 12 "Identification Groups" -- the ones with general descriptions and outlines.

Another good aid for getting started is the 24 page waterproof companion book. The subset of fish covered in the waterproof book are the ones you are most likely to see.

Charlie Allen

 

[piikki]

While not nearly as detailed, another convenient option that may help a "total fish-idiot" is this waterproof card that you can even take under with you:
http://www.frankosmaps.com/Bonaire_Fish_Card.htm

It's nice to have most of the dive sites mapped out on one side and the most common fish pictured on the other...
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P.S. I think I ran into this card in here. Looks like the same one. If I happen to need anything else from the place, maybe I'll get it

http://www.scuba.com/shop/product.asp?category=121&fromsearch=1&hashvalue=030656

Another good aid for getting started is the 24 page waterproof companion book. The subset of fish covered in the waterproof book are the ones you are most likely to see.

Companion book??