Deep Blue: My Ocean Journeys

Title: Deep Blue: My Ocean Journeys

Author: Steve Backshall

Topic: Marine biology, wildlife filmmaking; autobiography; travelogue; environmental science

Rating: 5/5

Summary: Steve Backshall uses stories from his years of diving adventures to teach us about the extraordinary creatures that call our oceans home and to inspire us to protect them.

Read if you enjoyed: The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte (but read this even if you didn't enjoy it, Deep Blue is far better at blending anecdote with accessible science); Ocean with David Attenborough; Blue Planet Live.

Audience:

I bought Deep Blue while attending Backshall's Ocean Tour in Stoke last year. It's worth noting that while the book was sold during the tour, it is not the case that the book was written as an accompaniment - the two are topically similar but unconnected. I enjoyed the tour, but it was noticeably aimed toward a younger audience, with a slightly silly 'dad joke' tone. It wasn't patronising, but it didn't always work for me, and I was worried this book might be the same. 

Instead, I would argue that this book, while accessible for a younger audience, is primarily aimed at adults. You don't need to have any prior knowledge; every term and concept is succinctly and clearly explained, but in such a way that you won't get bored if you are already more of an expert. It is the perfect example of a book that caters to both general and academic audiences without feeling like a compromise. 

About:

Each chapter focuses on a group of marine organisms such as cetaceans or crocodilians, a specific species like polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), or an ecosystem, including the deep ocean and coral reefs. The chapters all start with a small illustration by Doug Mackay-Hope, and a quote from a famous figure like Jacques Cousteau or Charles Darwin. This is followed by an in medias res account of one of Backshall's diving adventures. These include encounters with leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx), blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), and boto (Inia geoffrensis). In the middle of the book are several pages of beautiful photo plates showing Backshall during some of these interactions.

The stories are used as a way to talk about the evolution of each group, and fascinating aspects of each biology, like shark super-senses or cephalopod venoms. It is also an opportunity for Backshall to write about the conservation challenges they face, including unsustainable fishing practises, plastic pollution, noise pollution, persecution, and climate change. Even having studied conservation extensively during my undergraduate course, I still learned new, often terrifying things. For example, Backshall recounts how Kal's Dream, a dive site he considers to have been the best in the world, was destroyed by bomb and cyanide fishing. This natural wonder was lost, and the world didn't seem to notice or care. 

Backshall does not shy away from distressing and controversial topics, such as the killing and capture of dolphins in Taiji, Japan, which he then discusses with nuance and balance. The book never feels like it is preaching or lecturing. Even when writing about sharks, which he has spent over 25 years passionately defending, Backshall accepts the need for nuance. While once he may have thought that he knew everything, and that sharks are no more dangerous to us than cockapoos, that is only true of most species, most of the time. Yet it is possible to coexist alongside potentially dangerous species, provided we are sensible - like people in Australia's Northern Territory avoiding the ocean during box jellyfish season, or Americans dealing with rattlesnakes and bears.

Backshall is also admirably unafraid to be passionately outspoken when required. His message is clear; our oceans are dying, and without action, industrial fishing fleets will empty our seas and annihilate our marine ecosystems for short-term economic profit. 

Do I recommend it?

Yes. The highest praise I can give this book is that I want more. The moment I finish this review, I'm going to be buying Looking for Adventure, one of Backshall's earlier books, which covers his Lost Land of the Volcano expedition (which is disappointingly unavailable on BBC iPlayer, though it is sometimes rerun by certain TV channels and DVD copies are out there). 

This isn't always a lighthearted read, but it is a fun and ultimately hopeful book. It left me with the same feeling of excitement and awe I get whenever I watch Blue Planet II (probably my favourite documentary of all time, so that's saying a lot!). Each chapter can stand alone, with the book framed by introduction and conclusion chapters to tie the narrative together, which means you can happily dip in and out. For that reason, I think this makes the perfect alternative summer beach read.

Anybody, of any age and any background, can and should read this book. Whether you're interested in the travel, the science, the animals, or the near-death experiences, there will be something in this book for you. I will be spending the foreseeable future recommending it to anybody who will listen.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got more Steve Backshall books to read...

Sources

Lodhia, K. (2023) Deep Blue Cover Photograph [Photograph]. London: Ebury Publishing.

Stephen, B. (2023). Deep Blue: My Ocean Journeys. London: Ebury Publishing.