The oceans of the world are home to countless different forms of sea life, from microscopic algae to the largest mammals on Earth. In this book, based on the five-part BBC Television series shown in the autumn of 1991, Martha Holmes sets out on a voyage of exploration to five locations, to discover the varied creatures which each one supports. The book takes her to the Galapagos Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, the kelp forests of the Californian coast, the volcanic seascapes of Hawaii and the coral reefs of the Caribbean. Her adventures bring her face-to-face with whales, sharks, sting-rays and moray eels, as well as the endearing sea otters of California and the playful dolphins of the Caribbean. The author writes about her discoveries and lives and habitats of many sea animals, describing the underwater world of communication, hunting techniques and reproduction, and discussing the question of man's relationship with this fragile and beautiful environment.