Pocket Guide to Hawaii's Underwater Paradise

You really can't go wrong when you get a book about Hawaiian creatures authored by John Hoover. Both his photography and his wealth of knowledge make his publications valuable resources. And this volume also has the added feature of photography by David Schrichte, who adds spectacular underwater "community" shots. This particular volume is really an introductory guide. You want more information on fish, or invertebrates, or on Hanauma Bay? You'll need to get copies of Hoover's books on these topics. However, if you want a relatively inexpensive volume to give you a sense of wonder about those small and large creatures, then this book will work for you. A few notes: "Chubs love handouts." They sure do, and it was their aggressive and pushy behavior, in part, that got fish-feeding banned at Hanauma Bay. Of course, it is a Marine Life Conservation District, after all. Coral crunchers: no discussion of the role of pufferfish? The magnificent sea star. I saw one on the sand during a night dive at Makaha reef... it was as impressive as Hoover claims! Again, this book doesn't replace the Hawaiian fish (The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes: Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals) and invertebrate (Hawaii's Sea Creatures, a Guide to Hawaii's Marine Invertebrates) books. Consider it a warm up for the main event.