*Montroll, John, and Robert J. Lang. 1990. Origami Sea Life, 2nd Edition. Dover Publications: NY.

For those long stretches between stations aboard an oceanographic expedition, or, while cruising the Caribbean, read this book and learn how to make sea-shaped origami!

*McAlpine, Ken. 2003. Diving the World: Photographs by Norbert Wu. Hugh Lauter Levin Associates: CT

World-renowned underwater photographer Norbert Wu takes pictures that capture the personality and scientific essence of marine organisms. This volume of photos from around the world is simply stunning, a photographic celebration of marine life. You will learn about marine life simply by studying these photos.

*Matsen, Brad, and Ray Troll. 2004. Rapture of the Deep: The Art of Ray Troll. University of California Press: CA

Anyone unfamiliar with Ray Troll’s art is in for a treat. With an irreverent, humorous, and scientifically-minded perspective, Troll produces the most amazing combinations of organisms (mostly fishes), technologies, and humans. His flying fish as jet fighters (Fish Wars) is one small example. His books will amuse, instruct, and inspire (which is how Professor Sean uses them) for hours.

*Mastro, Jim, and Norbert Wu. 2004. Under Antarctic Ice: The Photographs of Norbert Wu. University of California Press: CA

*Stix, Hugh, Marguerite Stix, and R. Tucker Abbott. 1968. The Shell: Five Hundred Million Years of Inspired Design. Harry N. Abrams: NY

This oversized book is as much a celebration of shells as a guide to their history and identification. Many of the color photographs are separated by glassine inserts and some of the pages fold out to reveal life-sized photos of different species. Written by malacologists, it remains one of the most stunning and beautiful shell books available. You won’t want to lug it to the beach, but it will make a great companion for the photos of shells you take (leaving the shells on the beach where they belong).