Of all the observations, humans have made about the oceans, perhaps the one that rings most true is that of Joseph Conrad - "The sea never changes, and its works, for all the talk of men, are wrapped in mystery." While its works may remain a mystery, the absolute beauty of the oceans is evident for all to see. Presented for the first time as a tribute to to the marine environment, The Majesty and Mystery of the Sea captures the imagination. Here, in 96 stunning pages, 15 award-winning marine photographers bring the wonders of the sea to life, while 40 writers - from Plutarch to Rachel Carson, from William Blake to Douglas Adams - illuminate mankind's ongoing fascination with the oceans. The result is an inspiring and thought-provoking presentation of the infinite variety of marine life and the marine environment. The Majesty and Mystery of the Sea is a testament to the most important natural resource on earth - and perhaps the most precarious. For without the sea, there is no life. In the words of Baba Dioum, noted African naturalist, "We will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. And we will understand only what we are taught."