Shark-watching, whether from the shore, from boats or face-to-face on the sea floor, is one of the fastest-growing activities around the world -last year, more than a quarter of a million people had an intentional underwater encounter with a shark. This book provides all the information necessary to plan a shark-watching trip. The first part of the book explains the background to shark-watching and descibes how it can be done in an eco-friendly way. It summarises the natural history of sharks, gives the truth about shark attacks, explains how to take good photographs under water and provides detailed, illustrated portraits of the 24 most frequently encountered species. The remainder of the book - a Directory of the world's top shark-watching sites, illustrated with high-quality photographs -provides all the practical information needed to plan your shark-watching trips, from when to go, what facilities and weather to expect to what level of expertise is required. This book will be an essential guide - for those who are already addicted to shark-watching and for anyone tempted to try this exciting and adventurous activity for the first time

Describes the characteristics, habits, and natural environment of various species of sharks and discusses their relationship to human beings.

Dive deep into the world of sharks, the most fascinating and misunderstood marine animals on the planet, in this stunning new edition of The Shark Handbook, written by Shark Week expert, Dr. Greg Skomal. Did you know that a whale shark’s spots are as unique as a fingerprint? Or that sharks can go into a trance when flipped upside down? Or that the Megallodon’s mouth was 6 feet across? With The Shark Handbook, jump into brand new facts about these fierce sea creatures! Explore all of the orders of sharks, such as: Ground sharks Great white sharks Mackerel sharks Carpet sharks and more! Learn about over 400 profiles of every shark in existence, from the first sharks living about 445 million years ago to the ones lurking in the ocean deep today. Starring spectacular, full-color photography that makes these jaw-dropping sharks come to life, this is the perfect gift for the shark enthusiast in your life. Dr. Greg Skomal, PhD is an experienced aquarist and Marine Fisheries Biologist at Martha's Vineyard Fisheries, Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts. He's been keeping saltwater aquariums since childhood and has shared his extensive knowledge with viewers of National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, NBC's Today, and other media.

An updated and comprehensive guide identifying all of the world's sharks Sharks are some of the most misunderstood animals on the planet. We still have a lot to learn about these fascinating creatures, which are more seriously threatened with extinction and in greater need of conservation and management than any other major group of vertebrates. A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World is the only field guide to identify, illustrate, and describe every known shark species. Its compact format makes it handy for many situations, including recognizing living species, fishery catches, or parts sold at markets. This expanded second edition presents lavish images, details on newly discovered species, and updated text throughout. The book contains useful sections on identifying shark teeth and the shark fins most commonly encountered in the fin trade, and takes a look at shark biology, ecology, and conservation. A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World will be an essential resource and definitive reference for years to come. An updated guide to all of the world’s sharks Each species is illustrated and described Handy, compact format with concise text Useful sections on the identification of shark teeth and fins

A richly illustrated reference. Sharks are awe-inspiring, beautiful, mysterious and frightening. However perceived, they never fail to excite and impress. They predate the dinosaurs and have ruled the seas for 400 million years. Shark presents the facts and explores the fallacies about these nearly perfectly adapted fish, from their prehistoric beginning to their struggle for survival today. The book covers: Their origins and ancestors Diversity of the species Shark behavior and physiology Research projects Face-to-face encounters Conservation efforts. A detailed chapter on shark attacks explains where, when and why attacks occur. The book also describes the different types of attacks -- hit-and-run, bump-and-bite and sneak attacks -- and provides useful tips for not becoming a statistic. Engagingly written and illustrated with stunning photographs, Shark combines the latest scientific findings and celebrates the mystery and diversity of a remarkable species.

Describes the characteristics, habits, and natural environment of various species of sharks and discusses their relationship to human beings.