Here's what others had to say:
"Wild Waters Photo Journal is a beautiful journey showing a hidden and increasingly threatened part of the planet. I hope these pictures and this book help educate and inspire people to protect the life of the seas."
— Dennis R. Dimick
Executive Editor, National Geographic Magazine
"Once again, Michael has used his formidable photographic skills and artistry to take his mostly young audience on a marine adventure of appreciation they could not otherwise have had. His striking images and clear, informative words promote an understanding of the importance of preserving our oceans."
— Bonnie Stutski
Senior Photography Editor, Smithsonian Magazine
"Face to face with an anaconda! Up close to the great white shark! In this wonderful tour underwater, from Brazil to Indonesia, from Mexico to Florida, the brilliant photographer Michael Patrick O'Neill illuminates the wild, unexpected, seldom-seen world of marine life. Come on in!"
— Richard Ellis
Author of Tuna: A Love Story and On Thin Ice: The Changing World of the Polar Bear
Wild Waters is a pictorial and written journal illustrating a handful of vibrant and diverse aquatic ecosystems — Indonesia's Komodo National Park, Lembeh Strait and Bali; Brazil's Bonito region; Mexico's Guadalupe Island; and my home for the last twenty years, South Florida.
On a global scale, these locations cover insignificant, minute territory, but they are unique and contribute exponentially to our planet's richness. These hotspots of biological wealth deserve our immediate attention and care. At the very least, people should be aware of them to understand what's at stake when our actions threaten sensitive areas.
When I began this project two years ago, I purposely chose these places because they are where I
like to photograph — the more remote and unknown, the better. Well, how about Bali and Florida?
Believe me, they can still be rediscovered and photographed from an entirely new perspective.
Fortunately, there's a lot of wild left in both, especially below the waterline.
Wild Waters showcases celebratory images as well as those depicting our heavy and messy footprints on the natural world. These photos are more relevant than ever because they can inspire us to make things better. As you follow my bubbles in Wild Waters, I hope you enjoy my images as much as I enjoyed making them.
Michael Patrick O'Neill
