This title in the lavish ‘Deluxe’ natural history series from Reed New Holland is packed with sumptuous photography of more than one hundred of the world’s most amazing marine lifeforms.

From the surface, the ocean can appear an almost lifeless place, but look beneath the waves and there are myriad creatures that find a home anywhere from the shallow shores to the depths of the deepest ocean chasm. As this book illustrates, marine life comes in all shapes, forms and patterns, and some of the creatures out there look as though they have been dreamed up by a sci-fi film director with an over-active imagination.

The world’s oceans are home to biodiversity hot-spots that can rival anything on land. Divers will be familiar with world-famous attractions such as swimming with gigantic Whale Sharks in Mexico or the Philippines, or with awe-inspiring Great White Sharks in Australia or South Africa, but the little critters are equally as engaging, from outlandish nudibranchs (or ‘sea slugs’) and tiny cryptic pygmy seahorses and the charismatic Coconut Octopus. With stunning close-up images of more than one hundred of the world’s most mind-blowing oceanic species – from corals, seahorses and sea anemones to sharks, whales and turtles – this beautifully illustrated book depicts a remarkable underwater world that is hidden from the gaze of most humans.

Oceans is a glorious memento of a fascinating subject. It is a luxurious book that celebrates many astonishing species from around the world and reminds us why we need to protect marine ecosystems more than ever before, making it ideal for nature lovers, as a gift, or as an interior-design feature in any home.