num_pages: 292
description: In The Fragile Edge, the documentary filmmaker and deep-sea diver Julia Whitty paints a mesmerizing, scientifically rich portrait of teeming coral reefs and sea life in the South Pacific. She takes us literally beneath the surface of the usual travel narrative, in an underwater equivalent of an African big-game safari. Hammerhead sharks rule a cascading chain of extraordinary creatures, from eagle rays to reef sharks, as the sound of courting humpback whales reverberates through the deep. Inspiring for both armchair and expert divers, The Fragile Edge reveals how science can extend our understanding of unfathomable waters, opening our eyes to the threats facing coral reefs and explaining why these fragile oases are vital to human survival. In this passionate, spiritual narrative of her adventures in the big blue, Julia Whitty emerges as one of our finest writers on the mystery, beauty, and fragility of the undersea world.
language: English
title: The Fragile Edge: Diving and Other Adventures in the South Pacific
titlecomplete: The Fragile Edge: Diving and Other Adventures in the South Pacific
genres: Nature, Environment, Science, Science Nature, Travelogue, Conservation, Nonfiction, Travel, Adventure
ratings_count: 108
places: Mo'orea, French Polynesia, Funafuti, Rangiroa, French Polynesia
awards: awardedAt: 1199174400000
name: John Burroughs Medal, awardedAt: 1199174400000
name: Dayton Literary Peace Prize
category: Nonfiction, awardedAt: 1199174400000
name: Kiriyama Prize
category: Nonfiction
publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt