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In Search of Sea Dragons: A Fossil Hunter’s Odyssey
After surviving a terrifying avalanche on the slopes of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Matthew Myerscough took up a new hobby: fossil hunting. Since then, he has become well known in the fossil hunting community for finding spectacular marine reptile fossils on the beaches near his home. Recounting his journey from novice to expert, In Search of Sea Dragons sees him venturing to a variety of places, including lesser-known sites in South Wales, Somerset and North Yorkshire where he makes exciting discoveries and searches for his dream find – a complete ichthyosaur. His story is one of personal growth and maturing into adulthood as well as a practical guide for aspiring fossil hunters. As his months-long search for the second half of an ichthyosaur draws to a close, he considers what’s more rewarding? The discovery or the things you find along the way.
- GenresNonfictionScience
200 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2026
About the author
Matthew Myerscough
1 book1 followerMatthew Myerscough is a civil engineer and fossil hunter based in Cardiff. Over the past five years Matthew has become well-known in the fossil-hunting community for making spectacular marine reptile discoveries on the beaches near his home. With a particular passion for finding ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, Matthew enjoys exploring lesser-known fossil hunting sites and hopes to inspire others to join the search for ancient life. Some of his notable finds include a beautifully preserved ichthyosaur skull, a rare plesiosaur flipper, and the lower jaw from a large pliosaur, the first of its kind found in Wales which Matthew has donated to the National Museum Cardiff. When he’s not scouring the beaches in search of fossils, Matthew may be found playing with his young daughter or riding his bicycle. Matthew is also a qualified Mountain Leader and has survived an avalanche. In Search of Sea Dragons is his first book.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 22, 2026
It's common advice to would-be authors of narrative non-fiction to open with something dramatic - Matthew Myerscough certainly does this with the story of his being trapped under an avalanche on Snowdon (while his girlfriend, also carried away remains on top of the snow unhurt). It certainly is dramatic, but seemed entirely disconnected from the reason I got the book, which was to read about fossil collecting.
Luckily, though, in the second chapter we get into a more conventional 'how I got interested in fossils as a boy'. Having recently reviewed Patrick Moore's autobiography and noting that astronomy was one of the few sciences where amateurs can still make a contribution, it came to mind that palaeontology is another - Myerscough is a civil engineer by trade, but just as amateur astronomers can find new details in the skies, so amateur fossil hunters have been searching for these relics for centuries. When I give talks in junior schools, the two topics that guarantee a good response are space and dinosaurs - it's a happy coincidence they correspond to the potential for amateur input.
After spending many a happy holiday hunting fossils with his father, there was a near 20 year gap leading up to Myerscough's avalanche incident. We then get a number of chapters each based on a (mostly) Welsh location where Myerscough had gone hunting. Sometimes it's really just about the experience of being on the beach in all conditions, sometimes highlighting finds small and large. Each location has a map, but unfortunately the background colouring is so dark they are almost impossible to read.
In some ways fossil hunting has similarities with two much derided hobbies: metal detecting and train spotting. A lot of the time very little of interest happens, and outside the big finds, it can be hard for the non-enthusiast to share the excitement of discovering a fossilised bit of bone: there is a danger when writing about such activities that a lot of what goes on can feel very samey. Myerscough provides three sets of good colour plates, many of which feel a little 'okay, if you say so', but just occasionally something really jumps out at the reader. It's not an easy subject to keep the non-enthusiast engaged with, but on the whole Myerscough manages it.
I'm not a great reader of nature books, so not an ideal audience for the general 'joy of being out in nature' memoir. Don't get me wrong - I love being out in nature myself, but I just don't find it a particularly engaging read: I need some science or history to get my teeth into. Luckily Myerscough does give us a fair amount of detail around the various periods that have left fossils around Wales, and while I admit to skipping over a few pages where it all got a bit too 'hello clouds', I found it an enjoyable read.
Luckily, though, in the second chapter we get into a more conventional 'how I got interested in fossils as a boy'. Having recently reviewed Patrick Moore's autobiography and noting that astronomy was one of the few sciences where amateurs can still make a contribution, it came to mind that palaeontology is another - Myerscough is a civil engineer by trade, but just as amateur astronomers can find new details in the skies, so amateur fossil hunters have been searching for these relics for centuries. When I give talks in junior schools, the two topics that guarantee a good response are space and dinosaurs - it's a happy coincidence they correspond to the potential for amateur input.
After spending many a happy holiday hunting fossils with his father, there was a near 20 year gap leading up to Myerscough's avalanche incident. We then get a number of chapters each based on a (mostly) Welsh location where Myerscough had gone hunting. Sometimes it's really just about the experience of being on the beach in all conditions, sometimes highlighting finds small and large. Each location has a map, but unfortunately the background colouring is so dark they are almost impossible to read.
In some ways fossil hunting has similarities with two much derided hobbies: metal detecting and train spotting. A lot of the time very little of interest happens, and outside the big finds, it can be hard for the non-enthusiast to share the excitement of discovering a fossilised bit of bone: there is a danger when writing about such activities that a lot of what goes on can feel very samey. Myerscough provides three sets of good colour plates, many of which feel a little 'okay, if you say so', but just occasionally something really jumps out at the reader. It's not an easy subject to keep the non-enthusiast engaged with, but on the whole Myerscough manages it.
I'm not a great reader of nature books, so not an ideal audience for the general 'joy of being out in nature' memoir. Don't get me wrong - I love being out in nature myself, but I just don't find it a particularly engaging read: I need some science or history to get my teeth into. Luckily Myerscough does give us a fair amount of detail around the various periods that have left fossils around Wales, and while I admit to skipping over a few pages where it all got a bit too 'hello clouds', I found it an enjoyable read.
May 15, 2026
In Search of Sea Dragons is an engrossing tale of fossils and obsession. Read my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2026...
May 20, 2026
Amazing book! I am a fair amateur when it comes to fossils but thoroughly enjoyed the book. One of my favourites this year.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews