Australia is the largest island in the world yet few people have had the opportunity to explore the magical beauty of the waters that surround it. Those who have been cruising in the tropics or dived in the deep blue sea will know the delight of seeing a brightly coloured starfish or the remains of a coral encrusted shipwreck but for the rest of us the underwater world is still a mystery. Australia Down Under reveals the extraordinary and enchanting life of Australia's underwater world. It travels around Australia's coastline and into the depths of its inland caves. Starting in the north with the tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, the book covers the waters that stretch from Jervis Bay to Tasmania and across to the south west of the continent. It includes the many fascinating shipwrecks that lie close to the coast and the caves of the Nullarbor and Mt Gambier. By providing a background to the natural history and geology of each region and by revealing the bizarre and beautiful life that inhabits our shores, the book demonstrates the uniqueness of our underwater wilderness and why we need to protect it. It explains what is being done and what we can do to safeguard our very precious yet relatively unknown national treasure, because anyone who has seen the world down under cannot help but be moved to conserve it. The book provides information on every aspect of diving from snorkelling to scuba diving. It includes all the important diving sites, safety precautions, first aid techniques and a complete list of dive shops throughout the country. With over 300 stunning photographs and informative maps, Australia Down Under is an inspiration for all underwater enthusiasts. It is for the experienced and inexperienced who love the thrill of deep sea diving and it is for the rest of us who want to discover this unique world.