“A rich and loving ode to the sea, to coral reefs, and to science itself. As Roberts chronicles his ocean travels across time, he not only describes with great beauty the reefs he visited and studied, he also lets readers see his evolution as a scientist. When Roberts describes life below, you are truly swept away. Roberts’s rich language will call to you.”

– Washington Post

“A vital account of Roberts’ dives through the world’s coral reefs. Throughout, Roberts shows a gift for vivid descriptions of the creatures he encounters. Natural history buffs and conservationists will cherish this vivid aquatic odyssey.”

– Publishers Weekly

"A charming, well-written introduction to coral-reef ecology and the scientists who uncover its mysteries."

– Kirkus Reviews

“From Egypt to the Caribbean to the Great Barrier Reef, Roberts conveys the majesty of the underwater world, and the often rough conditions for setting up research stations on inhospitable shores. In enthusiastic prose he describes corals, the fish, and other animals that live amongst the coral colonies, and the dangers these fragile worlds face in an age of global climate change. Spectacular color and black-and-white photographs entice us into a world most of us will never see but will grow to care about.”

– Booklist

"Roberts is the Rachel Carson of the fish world."

– The New York Times (Praise for Callum Roberts)

"Excellent and engrossing. I hope a great many people read this book."

– The Wall Street Journal (Praise for Callum Roberts)

"Immensely entertaining. No account of the cataclysm is more engaging."

– Mark Kurlansky, The Washington Post (Praise for Callum Roberts)