Murmurs from the Deep: Scientific Adventure in the Caribbean.

MURMURS FROM THE DEEP: Scientific Adventure in the Caribbean GILLES FONTENEAU

Following a life long dream sparked when he sailed, as a teenager with famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, Fonteneau launched his own maritime expedition in 2001. He sailed to the tiny island of Las Aves in the Caribbean to study the movement of tectonic plates and the condition of coral reefs. There, the part-time scientist and his colleagues were met by suspicious Venezuelan soldiers stationed on the island to protect presumed oil reserves. After some explaining and diplomatic wrangling, Fonteneau and his crew were cleared to begin their research, detailed in this account. The author recounts with enthusiasm and vividness his research aboard the 45-foot research vessel Prince de Vendee. The work included placing Global Positioning System transmitters to track the movement of the Caribbean tectonic plates. Knowledge being derived from the transmitters could save lives in the event of an earthquake and subsequent tsunamis in the area, the author claims. The team also made underwater-sound recordings revealing surprising fish communications. This first-person narrative is a window on oceanography of the type that Cousteau used to provide. Arcade, 2006, 239 p., color photos, hardcover, $25.00.