Mark Koekemoer and Steve Warren from Ocean Optics-Mavericks Diving were lucky enough to be invited to the official launch of Scuba Zoo's incredible new book Reef. Reef - Exploring The Underwater World is a huge hardback running to more than 350 pages. The volume is introduced by broadcaster and naturalist, Nick Baker, with whom the Scuba Zoo team have worked on tv shows. The boys could easily have settled for a simple anthology of their own best images. Those pictures alone would have left audiences stunned and critics reaching for superlatives. Instead, Scuba Zoo has written a series of chapters that encompass the real behind-the-scenes lives of the animals they portray so passionately. For any diver who wants to understand what they are actually seeing or who wants to observe marine life, "Reef" is essential reading. Reef - Exploring The Underwater World is divided into beautifully written and wonderfully illustrated chapters. Seascapes sets the scene with a review of the different environments, from kelp beds, to coral reefs to shipwrecks that are home to the underwater community. Diversity celebrates the differences in the oceans inhabitants that range from coral polyp to pinnipeds. Survival looks at the constant fight to eat and not be eaten. Arms and Armour details the measures and countermeasures the sea's creatures have evolved to stay alive. Deception considers the black art of hiding in plain sight. Schooling presents the alternative approach of safety in numbers. Symbiosis reveals the unlikely alliances that have been forged between denizens of the deep. Lifecycles explains the elaborate mating rituals that assures a species continuation. Conserving reefs should give all of us pause for thought. This, the final chapter, is, perhaps, the most important message from Scuba Zoo. It illustrates the man made threats facing the oceans. Reef is written in an easy to follow style, but in no way dumbs down. It is richly informative. The photography is breathtaking. At the launch party, held at the prestigious premises of Waterstones on Piccadilly, Simon, Jason and Matt of Scuba Zoo made short speeches that really underscored their personal commitment to protecting the seas. Donations from book sales are being made to the Marine Conservation Society. The team screened extracts from the DVD that is included with the book. Scuba Zoo is one of the most respected underwater video teams at work today. Their accomplishments in television documentary production are quite exceptional. The DVD is a welcome addition to the book that enhances the information within and features the best of their underwater camerawork from around the globe. Both Reef and the DVD could easily stand alone on their own merits - combining them was inspirational. The launch party attracted well over one hundred guests. Among them were Simon Rogerson, the editor of Dive Magazine and Steve Weinmann, editor of Diver. These guys are not too easily impressed, and, bluntly, won't just turn up to any old book launch. They both have people who can do that sort of thing for them. The fact both turned up to this book launch gives you an indication of how special Reef is. Also in attendance was Nicholas Claxton, the man behind The Underwater Channel. Nicholas has won Emmys for his own successes in documentary film making and his presence again underscores the esteem in which Scuba Zoo are held in professional broadcasting circles. Scuba Zoo and Ocean Optics have organised a special presentation about the making of Reef - Exploring The Underwater World to be made at Visions in the Sea, October 2007. Scuba Zoo has a punishing work schedule ahead of them, but have made a really special and much appreciated effort to attend our festival. You can catch the Scuba Zoo boys showing their astonishing work and discussing conservation issues at a special evening being held at London's Royal Geographical Society. The event takes place on 2007 September 24. Contact the RGS (http://www.rgs.org/HomePage.htm) for booking information. Scuba Zoo: Reef News