Imagine discovering creatures that see with smell and hunt with electricity? Or solar-powered animals that grow their own food inside their bodies; or seeing animals that can brilliantly mimic their background or other animals? Imagine being surrounded and followed by 50 hottentot seabream?

Craig Foster dived every day in the freezing cold and dangerous seas at the tip of Africa where few people ever venture; where sharks and stingrays as big as cars patrol the fringes. Free diving without a wet suit he not only captured breathtaking images of an undersea forest but he documented one of the richest ecosystems on the planet, an undersea forest living at the tip of Africa – and his amazing story was captured in the film My Octupus Teacher (currently viewable on Netflix).

Underwater Wild shares the transformative story of both Craig Foster and Ross Frylinck, kindred spirits, as they explore the secret, mysterious and wondrous underwater world. It is a journey into a hitherto alien but surprising world of colour, texture and patterns and it shares many amazing scientific discoveries. The intimate, beautifully written prose and stunning photos will fill you with the wonder and power of nature and its ability to change lives. It will leave you with a deep sense of connection to the ocean and the creatures within.

Reviewed by Karen Williams

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Craig Foster is one of the world’s leading natural history filmmakers and co-founder of the Sea Change Project. His Academy Award–winning film, My Octopus Teacher, follows the story of his year with a wild octopus, at the same time honouring his pact to dive every day for a year. This is his fourth book.