Customer Reviews
Basic but well written and Illustrated - By: , 04 Jul 2003 
A beautifully illustrated book with many of the common intertidal & sublittoral species represented. This book gives a little information about the biology & distributions of covered organisms. However identification mainly relies on photographs, without the use of keys. A good book for anyone interested in the organisms of the seashore, but for detailed & certain identification the keen biologist may require a more in depth approach.
Great for scuba divers in the UK - By: mary161@aol.com, 03 Feb 2002 Whilst I may not be able to substantiate the biological accuracy of this book I found it hugely enjoyable to use.
I dive frequently in the waters around the UK, this book has shown me much of the wealth & diversity of our local sealife. Many people imagine that our compared to the great barrier reef there is relativly nothing to see.
The format was clear & easy to use. Photatgraphs were wonderful, too many times have I had identification books with little line drawing that were just dull to look at.
In my opinion this book may be lacking in some areas but for a non biologist it provides a great entry into the underwater world of life.
The book is generally very useful. Images are excellent. - By: , 16 Nov 2001 In general I find the book sufficiently useful to carry it on the seashore to remind me of the names that I have forgotten over the course of my career in marine science. I can see some problems with the occasional identification but there are considerably more that are right than those that are wrong. For the non-professional its an excellent guide. For the marine biologist who needs to identify everything accurately there are professional taxonomic works: Let's not confuse the two... We need public enthisiasm to conserve UK marine life. The illustrations & layout of this book will generate that enthusiasm.
Nice layout, but poor identification accuracy - By: , 28 Oct 2001 
I have identified & recorded marine molluscs for 20+ years, mainly as an amateur, so I was pleased to see a new photo marine ID book. The layout is good; but that is the only positive aspect of the book. I list points concerning the mollusc section.
1. The book says species are mostly illustrated in their natural habitat - at least 15 species are in the wrong habitat eg p. 279 Lasaea 'rubra', & others are misleading.
2. The nomenclature is out of date - the Species Directory (published 1997 by Ulster Museum/Marine Conservation Society) is the accepted version by most professionals.
3. Some of the distribution maps are wrong eg p.237 Osilinus lineatus (which is a widely known species).
4.The drawings are cursory & add little eg p. 237 Gibbula umbilicalis.
5. The text is inaccurate in places eg under Barleeia unifasciata - Assiminea grayana occurs in Ireland; under Hydrobia ulvae - ventrosa & neglecta CANNOT be separated by shell characters
6. The quality of the photos is very poor in places eg p. 243 Rissoa parva
7. The worst aspect of the book is the high level of inaccuracy in the identifications. 18 of the mollusc photos are incorrectly identified (nearly 15%) eg. alll photos on pages 249 & 267 are wrong! Experts in other groups have also found inaccuracies of identification.
This book is supposed be a identification guide. It is therefore unacceptable, & a considerable disappointment, to have such a high level of inaccuracy.
Easy identification,good for amateurs like me. - By: , 26 Oct 2001 
I am interested in sea & shore life but I need a book which is easy to use, one that I can understand & which actuallly does help me identify what I see. We keep a copy on our boat & thanks to the photographs I have "discovered" new jellyfish & crabs.This book made me want to learn more about the wealth under our keel & on the shore when we reach harbour. Congratulations to the trio responsible for this quality guide.
Mary Reed
