According to the book's front cover - this guide was written by two people who's names appear one above the other. The top name is "Andrea E Antonella" and below this is the single surname "Ferrari." Inside, however, I discover the authors to be Andrea "and" Antonella Ferrari. One of the many problems with this series of books is very poor translation from the Italian language into what can only be described as "Italian English." Much is lost in that translation and, if they can't even get the authors' names right on the front cover, it does not bode well at all. Sadly, the reader will soon realise, like so many of the books in this series, this book needs a completely rewrite.
This is another book in the well-established large A4 format we have come to expect from these publishers. The contents page reveals an overall introduction followed by 26 specific dive sites arranged under the headings; Pulau Sipadan, Pulau Mabul and Kapalai, Layang Layang, Abdul Rahman National Park, The Labuan Wrecks (under which heading several wrecks are mentioned in passing - but only one wreck is described in detail.), a curious assortment of items covered under the penultimate chapter entitled "Dives in the Peninsular Malaysia" (sounds like a hotel.) and the publisher's customary final chapter on local fish.
Each section commences with yet more introductions - after which each specific dive site is described with maps (although these might have been printed the right way up - with "N" at the top of the page.), a two-page artists impression of the entire site and written narrative. The book is well supported with page after page of very good photographs - even though some of these are clearly upside down. Dear oh dear.
What is "missing" from the book, however, brings into question it's credibility as a serious piece of work because none of the vital information so essential to the modern, discerning, travelling diver is included. There is no information about; travel agencies, airlines, airport tax, tourist boards, hotels, diving facilities, safari boats, available equipment, what to bring, what to wear, electricity, currency, language, time differences, photography, local traders - and if I missed anything, this book missed everything. In short, this so-called Diving Guide is nothing more than a collection of pretty pictures of pretty dive sites.
Finally, we come to the chapter dedicated to fish life. Sadly, this too is revealed as a flawed piece of work. In this instance, there are 117 common species of fish each drawn by the publisher's resident artist. Whilst some might think this is nothing more than a means of padding out the book - at the expense of the aforementioned vital information, I made a direct comparison with the fishes drawn and described in this book with those from other titles from this same publisher. I was truly amazed to discover so many of the same pictures being used in those other titles - but that these fish have different names in different books. Padding or what?
The book's one redeeming feature, however, remains a very high standard of photography - for which it retains a one star rating. What a pity such excellent photography has been wasted on such an abysmal product.
NM
