Wild Oceans: America's Parks Under the Sea by Sylvia A. Earle

by Sylvia A. Earle

National parks, it has been said, are "the best idea America ever had." With the advent of national marine sanctuaries, the United States has taken this good idea underwater. Prominent marine biologist Sylvia Earle and underwater photographer Wolcott Henry take readers on a breathtaking grand tour of America's undersea parks in Wild Ocean. With big, gorgeous color photographs on nearly every page and enlightening text to enhance the reader's sense of each location, the book is a must-see for ocean enthusiasts. From the tropical splendor of coral reefs to the magnificence of northern rocky coasts, marine sanctuaries are national treasures, snatched from the jaws of pollution and development just in time to ensure that people will always have an opportunity to appreciate the ocean's beauty. Earle and Wolcott take you under the waves with whales, sea turtles, sharks, and other marine creatures to show how worthy these fragile environments are of protection and even expansion. The political message here is these places are worth the taxpayers' money--see for yourself. Wild Ocean is an impassioned plea for preservation of America's seas. --Therese Littleton

Genres: Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Sylvia A. Earle is an American oceanographer, aquanaut, and author.

Reviews

[Anna Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. A bit outdated at this point. I was also hoping it would spotlight all the national marine sanctuaries and it didn't really do that. Nothing too exceptional in this one.

[John Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A humdrum nature book. Nothing about it is particularly bad, but neither the writing nor the photography is inspired.

[Acacia · Rating 3 out of 5]

from archive, during the Moby Dick obsession phase and when i wanted to be a cetologist for a month

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will never forget the first time I snorkeled in Key West, first in the ocean and then in mangroves, and the absolute peace and wellbeing I felt afloat and watching the life under the sea. This book has gorgeous photos and powerful words for conservation of the ocean. Amazing and inspirational.