Melbourne is often best known for its sporting events, arts culture, great restaurants and nightlife, but its best kept secret is right on its doorstep in the form of a bustling underwater metropolis. More colorful and diverse than any tropical reef, Port Phillip Bay is home to vibrant sponge gardens, towering kelp forests, fish that fly, birds that swim and dragons that sparkle like jewels.
Not only that it boasts over 1300 plant and animal species, with over 82% of the marine life of the southern shore found nowhere else on earth. That makes it a very unique asset to not only Melbourne and Victoria, but also Australia.
This has been captured for the first time in a 208 page full color coffee table book titled ‘Melbourne Down Under by aquatic scientist, author and former Young Australian of the Year – Environment, Sheree Marris.
The book showcases stunning imagery captured by local photographers and is complimented with engaging text that will entertain as well as educate.
Oceanic Australia is excited to support this fabulous initiative that will showcase to the world this unique and precious environment. It’s only when people are made aware of this unique marine environment that we can begin to encourage people to care about it and realize the impact they can have on protecting and preserving it for future generations.
But that’s not where it ends. A percentage of profits from book sales will be redirected back into local communities to seed fund marine engagement experiences. The next stage of this exciting campaign is to take the imagery into a traveling outdoor exhibition and documentary/DVD. Stay tuned…..
The book is available from selected bookstores and via the website – www.melbournedownunder.com.au
