Sylvia A. Earle Knihy

Photographer and conservationist Bryant Austin's breathtaking photographic project Beautiful Whale is the first of its kind: It chronicles his fearless attempts to reach out to whales as fellow sentient beings. Featuring Austin's intimate images--some as detailed as a single haunting eye--that result from encounters based on mutual trust, Beautiful Whale captures the grace and intelligence of these magnificent creatures. Austin spent days at a time submerged, motionless, in the waters of remote spawning grounds waiting for humpback, sperm, and minke whales to seek him out. As oceanographer Sylvia A. Earle says in her foreword to the book, "As an ambassador from the ocean--and to the ocean--Bryant Austin is not only a source of inspiration. He is cause for hope." Praise for Beautiful Whale: "You can't help thinking, with every passing page, that this is what's it's like to swim with the whales." --The Wall Street Journal

Explore the vibrant and diverse ecosystems of the world's oceans through stunning illustrations that highlight their crucial role in sustaining life on Earth. This overview delves into the intricate relationships among marine species and the ocean's impact on global climate and human existence, emphasizing the importance of ocean conservation.

Dazzling photographs combine with inspiring insights from international ocean icon Sylvia Earle and other notable ocean advocates, paying a poignant tribute to the beauty and magic of the ocean and shedding light on its abundant gifts to the planet.

"... [L]egendary marine scientist Sylvia Earle portrays a global ecosystem on the brink of irreversible environmental crisis unless we act immediately. A Silent Spring for our era, this eloquent, urgent, fascinating book reveals how the past 50 years of destructive--and ever accelerating--oceanic change threaten the very existence of life on Earth." -- back cover.

Discover the most outrageous aspects of the deep blue---from record-breaking depths to towering tsunamis, underwater giants to tiny sea creatures--along with ocean conservation challenges and what you can do to help. Dive into a world of aquatic mystery in this action-packed combination of science and adventure. Famed National Geographic Explorer Sylvia Earle leads readers on an in-depth tour of life beneath the waves. Come face-to-face with whales and sharks, learn about the newest and most hi-tech ocean gear and gadgets, experiment with hands-on activities, and join Earle as she recounts her most daring dives. Packed with fascinating tidbits, animal profiles, and up-to-date science, each chapter combines stunning photography with fun, accessible text. Perfect for curious kids, ocean lovers, young explorers, and the classroom. Extreme Ocean reveals the mystery, majesty, danger, and--above all--the importance of our ocean.

Earle takes children on an undersea journey to explore an amazing underwater city. She explains the formation of coral reefs and provides information about the conditions needed for survival.