New Books On Tonga, Grand Cayman and Bonaire From Tim Rock

Underwater photojournalist Tim Rock has a new series of books dedicated to popular underwater photography destinations Tonga, Grand Cayman and Bonaire. Here is what Tim sent us on the books.

Underwater photojournalist Tim Rock is happy to announce the release of three new coffee table style books now available online through Blurb.com. Each book is available as a soft cover, hard cover with dust jacket and hard cover image wrap. You can preview each book online and see the stunning land and undersea photography as seen through Rock's lens. These are three new editions that bring Rock's library of offerings from Blurb to 14 worldwide diving destinations. He is currently working on a major book about Fiji's Beqa Lagoon.


Tonga, Kingdom of the Whales
By TIM ROCK with YOKO HIGASHIDE

NEW for 2010!!! Stunning Tonga photo book.

Whales, scenics, overlooks, reefs, caves, aerials, culture, dance and much, much more.

In Tonga they are called "The Happy Isles". The islands of this tiny kingdom stretch across the central South Pacific like gems large and small.

Every year people flock to Tonga. They visit the capitol of Tongatapu and northern Vava'u to enjoy the tropical winds for sailing and do some whale watching. The southern Arctic humpbacks come into the protected bays here to have their young and mate, play and grow.

This is the one of the few places on Earth that you can snorkel with whales and see them in their environment. Its an amazing sight to watch a mother feeding a calf or to see a full-grown male completely leave the sea on a massive breach.

This new for 2010 book, with its 303 images and 200 pages, is a visual trip to Tongatapu and Vava'u to see the land, the sea, the coral reefs and marine creatures, the wonderful people and Tongan culture, aerials and overlooks and, most of all, the whales.

We'll follow model Yoko Higashide to the sites above and below the water and see her snorkeling and interacting with the humpbacks.

To see previews and purchase this book, go here:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1152695


Grand Cayman
By TIM ROCK & OLGA SPOELSTRA

The island of Grand Cayman is one of the most famous for divers and vacationers in the entire Caribbean. Just an hour's flight from the USA, it is a world away in terms of pace and natural island beauty. Wing your way over the sea to this small but bountiful island and you will see emerald waters, a vast bay and reefs plunging into the deep, blue abyss.
 
Grand Cayman is famous for its natural attraction called Stingray City where dozen of southern stingrays gather to mooch food from divemasters. Done in anywhere from one to twelve feet of water, most everyone can enjoy watching these rays in the clear waters of the North Sound.
 
Most every shoreline on the island has numerous dive sites and people use both boats and shore diving techniques to plunge into the bathtub warm Caribbean. The terrain varies from rolling reefs loaded with corals and sponges to broad, sandy plains and then deeper to sheer walls and dropoffs.

The island's interior holds rare creatures like the Cayman blue iguana (a highly endangered species), doves, curly-tailed lizards and even water fowl. Grand Cayman is somewhat flat but pocked with wetlands that attract a host of life. The mangroves in the vast North Sound are a major breeding ground for fish and marine creatures that populate islands all over the Caribbean.

And its city and night life is great fun. Many cruise ships visit by day and many hotels entertain guests by night. There's always something happening. And at sunset, 7 Mile Beach is the place to hang out and watch the sun go down.

We'll follow model Olga Spoelstra around as she explores GC for a look at one of the most famous isles in diving. To see previews and purchase this book, go here:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/677645



Bonaire Bounty
Caribbean Marine Park
By TIM ROCK with OLGA SPOELSTRA

This island is legendary in the diving world. Far-sighted pioneers, led by Captain Don Stewart, ensured decades ago that the reefs around Bonaire would remain protected and appreciated. Every day divers from around the world and the people of the island reap the benefits when they plunge into the gin clear waters to see colorful reef fish, stunning corals and giant sponges.

Divers here like to shore dive. In most sites, divers can park along Bonaire's sandy, white beaches ,don scuba gear and just walk into the water. Other sites require a short boat ride and divers also visit uninhabited Klein Bonaire daily.

Part of the island is also a National Park and there are protected salt flats in the south where migrating flamingoes like to gather. The entire island is great for exploration and watersports.

Enjoy this trip around bountiful Bonaire. We'll follow model Olga Spoelstra around as she explores. To see previews and purchase this book, go here:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/678749