A Fascination for Fish: Adventures of an Underwater Pioneer

by David C. Powell, Sylvia A. Earle (Foreword)

This engaging memoir presents one man's lifelong love of the ocean and gives a highly personal, behind-the-scenes look at California's magnificent and innovative aquariums. David Powell, for many years curator of the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, tells the story of his life as a pioneering aquarist. From handling great white sharks to transporting delicate fish on bumpy airplanes to night diving for fish in the Indian Ocean, A Fascination for Fish describes many of the mind-boggling challenges that make modern aquariums possible and offers an intriguing glimpse beneath the ocean's surface.

Powell's career in diving and aquarium development goes back to the beginning of modern methods in both areas. From the early techniques he devised to get fish into aquariums alive and healthy to his later exploratory dive to a depth of eleven hundred feet in a two-person submarine, Powell's action-packed narrative inspires laughter, wonder, and philosophical reflection. A Fascination for Fish also includes many stories about Powell's diving adventures on the California coast, in the Sea of Cortez, and in many remote and exotic locations around the world.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Nature, Biography, Memoir

354 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2001

Reviews

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book slots itself right into your psyche as if you'd been saving a seat for it.

This book is that kind of book.

David Powell is the aquarist who started the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Of course, he did much more than that. He's a legend in the fields of diving, collecting, managing, and exhibiting fish and sea critters.

The book is delightfully written. You can easily imagine, on the strength of this book, inviting Powell to every dinner party you will ever throw. It's funny, smart, educational, and just fun to read. Plus, there is a whole section on the quirky intelligence and charm of mola molas.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Possibly the best nonfiction book I've read in a year.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am actually still reading this book but couldn't wait to review it.
I love this book so much that I am trying to read it only a little at a time because I don't want it to end.
I also am fascinated by fish and saw this at a used bookstore. It was cheap so I got it thinking it would have some interesting stuff but I'd likely skip through most of it.
Nope. Somehow, David has managed to write a memoir that is more interesting than most novels. I'm not sure if everyone would like it as much as I do or if you have to be nerdy when it comes to sea-life but I have a feeling that if more people were aware of this book, it would be a best-seller if it isn't already.
Thank you, David for writing your story down.

[Dave Harbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I had no preconceived notion of what to expect. The author was instrumental in running, designing, redesigning major public aquariums on the US West coast. You get real insight into what it takes behind the scenes to operate a major aquarium. He regales the reader with lots of stories of diving in a myriad of locations to collect fish and specimens for display. He and his cohorts were pioneers - learning how to catch transport and care for the different varieties of fish. Later in life he consulted on designers for aquariums world-wide.

I really enjoyed this book and gained a great appreciation for the aquarium industry.

[Chrystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating career! Great book.