Prepare to enter a new world. Between these covers lifelong marine naturalists, Frances Dipper and Paul Naylor, take you on a journey through our coastal seas. A mere page or so in, you are rapidly transported beneath the waves. And, in as little as a few lines, you grasp a sense of what it is like to be an animal inhabiting our temperate waters. Not without a touch of drama, you are warned that some of the scenery may devour you, that you will encounter lifeforms neither plant nor animal, and may be swept away at the whim and will of ocean currents.
So charmed, as I am, by the ocean itself, it is hard to find a book that can do it justice. And, in that, Coastal Seas is a rare treat indeed. The latest book in the British Wildlife Collection, and only the second on marine life, Coastal Seas explores the shallow seas, building on Rocky Shores to showcase the wildlife that extends just out of sight – unless, of course, you have a mask and snorkel to hand.
Combining both scintillating descriptions and stunning imagery, the authors shed light on some of the strange, beautiful and elusive inhabitants of our coast. Transporting you from kelp forests to seagrass meadows and out to the open sea, Frances Dipper and Paul Naylor are expert guides, approaching the subject with familial fondness, deep knowledge and a touch of humour.
The opening chapters carry the essence of a travel guide: pausing to shed light on sites and regions exemplary for their oceanography and ocean life, and including pointers on the best seasons to sea search – from what to find in spring, to the species best sought later in the summer. While soaked in scientific details, the text is far from academic. Instead, it is a guide for you – intrepid traveller – as you sink your head beneath the waves and get to know our waters in a new light. The authors share their personal highlights for observing and immersing yourself in the marine environment so that you can see the sea’s natural wonders for yourself – delicately weaving the pages with when and where to dive, to snorkel, and to experience the best of British marine life. In a book that so brilliantly guides you through the best diving and snorkelling spots, which species to find there and when to take the plunge, the only thing I long for is a map to bring it all together – and start planning that all-important sea safari.
As you dive deeper, so do the details. The authors unpack the everyday lives of coastal residents – from how they dine and date, to how they move and their different modes of communication. You learn who inhabits coastal seas, and their habits. An eclectic mix, each example is shared with the experience that comes with decades of careful observation and immersion in the landscape. As with any tour, what you see is up to your guide – ample space is allocated to the habitats that comprise our coast, alongside a selection of species, which, together, give a sense of the diversity to be found in our seas. Touching briefly on plankton and the fish that share these coastal waters, the focus centres on the marvellous life on the seabed. A little extra attention, deservedly so, is lavished on the Tompot Blenny – one of Paul Naylor’s personal areas of expertise.
Efforts to understand and restore aspects of our coastal seas are threaded throughout, and the authors take care to signpost citizen science and wider research programmes undertaken and underway around the country to monitor changes in the marine environment. They also offer occasional windows into the past – from smuggling to shipwrecks and times when treacle, telephone lines and obscure contraptions were used to 310 British Wildlife February 2026 Book reviews/letters map marine habitats. Altogether this gives the feeling that you could pick Coastal Seas up again and again, and each time glean new details, insights and reflections. In their aim to depict the beauty beneath the sea surface, the authors have certainly succeeded. The volume is as much a photography book as it is a guide; featuring utterly gorgeous images of ocean Letters life throughout. All are rendered in exquisite detail and some capture moments rarely caught on camera. Despite an ample diet of coastal encounters, I finished the book hungry for more – to get beneath the waves and see the magic of our coastal seas up close. I have no doubt, reader, that you will feel the same.