Notes from an underwater zoo
Don C Reed
Hardcover
(Dial Press, March 15, 1981)
From the inside flap: A great white shark, an adolescent killer whale, a giant nearsighted tortoise, a temperamental dolphin - these creatures of the deep are some of the daily companions to a man who claims he's spent more time underwater in the last ten years than any other living person. Don Reed's occupation is one of the most unusual in the world: oceanarium diver at San Francisco's Marine World. It's a job that calls for an appetite for the unexpected, an ability to maneuver a way out of dangerous situations, a strong sense of humor, and a special kind of insight into the psychology of exotic natures that often seem as variable and quirky as those of human beings. Don Reed is a man who loves his work. He's been a scuba diver nearly all of his adult life, ever since a stint on the Mississippi as a deckhand convinced him that working underwater would be a whole lot better than working on it. He's put all his knowledge and his love into this delightful book.