PHOTO GUIDE TO FISHES OF THE MALDIVES.

Despite the reputation of the Maldives as being a world-class diving destination, this is the first really comprehensive fish guide specifically aimed at these islands. More than 50 new species for the Maldives are published for the first time and, with over 1100 superb underwater photographs that include almost every fish that divers are likely to see, this book is the perfect guide to check on that mystery' fish after each dive. The book is compact, easy to use and a handy size to carry to dive locations. The introduction explains the basics of fish-science, behaviour and evolution and there are detailed drawings on fish features, shapes and colour patterns. To assist divers, an innovative concept is used to allow easy retrieval and identification of species. Small silhouettes of the families are distributed as thumbprints throughout the book and families are color coded for quick access. Whilst text for each species is brief, it describes points of interest and differences between similar species. This book portrays the fishes from this respected author's practical point of view and divers can expect to learn a great deal from this valuable reference.

Rudie H. Kuiter, the author & principal photographer, is Dutch born, and has always had a passion for fishes. He started diving in Sydney, Australia in 1964, where he began drawing and photographing the various species, most of which were unknown at the time. As research associate with the Australian Museum and Museum of Victoria, his scientific papers on biology and descriptions of new taxa were published. His articles on seahorses, seadragons and various other subjects of aquatic life have appeared in magazines around the world. He is the author of several identification books on fishes of Australia, Indonesia and other areas of the Indo-west Pacific. He has dived temperate and tropical waters around Australia, as well as in many other parts of the Indo-Pacific as far as Japan and the Maldives. He moved to Melbourne in 1980 where he has continued to work full time on fishes.