Wonders of the deep

There are moments in life when we simply gaze, and wonder. We look above, and contemplate deep space, the heavens: What is up there? At the shore, too, we peer upon the breaking waves, and we shiver: What is down there? There are animals unimaginable, some of the very biggest on earth and some of the very smallest. Now from the editors who have already produced Wonders of Life and Heaven on Earth-as well as the recent volume The Titanic, One Century Later- comes a new, oversized hardcover book on our undersea world. In these pages is the best-ever oceanic photography, much of it taken from deep-sea submersibles. Friends of LIFE include such as the artistic wizards Joel Meyerowitz, Michael Melford and Fred Bavendam, and the adventuring scientist Robert Ballard; their work is represented here. Beautiful flora as well as incredible fauna is featured. We dive to the deep-sea vents, which nurture animals too freaky to be believed. We swim with, and learn about, the dolphins and manatees. The horror and sublimity of the sea is fully captured in this book, in dramatic narrative as well as pictures. Of course we deal with whales and sharks, but also with shipwrecks, and the tales behind them. There is the natural history of the sea-where did it come from, what is its future?-and also the story of man's interaction with the oceans, from Noah to Herman Melville to Jacques Cousteau to the Japanese tsunami. In these pages, LIFE descends into the watery depths, and presents an altogether mesmerizing tale.

The editors at LIFE vigorously carry on the traditions of excellence in photography, in journalism, and in telling the story of our country and our world which began with LIFE magazine in 1936 by founding editor and publisher, Henry R. Luce. They have published books on a broad range of subjects, including New York Times bestsellers One Nation, LIFE Picture Puzzle and The American Journey of Barack Obama.