An underwater photographer dedicated six years of his life to capturing images of Bermuda's marine life.

Bermudian Ron Lucas, has published his findings in 'Bermuda Reef Portraits', an 88-page, full-colour book, published by Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) and Brimstone Media Ltd.

Mr. Lucas said he started the project because he was interested in finding pictures of every fish on the reef.

It wasn't until later that he realised there wasn't anything else like it on the market, featuring exciting reef portraits, rather than simple ID shots.

He then decided to partner with BZS because of its commitment to conservation, research and education, and the rest is history.

BZS president Bill Scott said: "We are proud of this new addition, which captures the unique beauty of Bermuda's coral reefs and diverse marine life.

"The Island is very fortunate that our reefs remain healthy, compared to other regions, and that they support a wide array of underwater life."

The book will be donated to the library of every school on the Island, including Bermuda College, something that is important to Mr. Lucas.

"I really hope that every child growing up in Bermuda has access to this publication, so they can learn more about our underwater environment," he said.

All proceeds from the book go to BZS, the support charity for the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, and vice president Ken Hammond commended the work of Mr. Lucas.

"It's a wonderful book," said Mr. Hammond, "and I think Rob has done a wonderful job in not only the photographs he has taken, but also the selection and the presentation."

The book, which will be sold at the Aquarium, bookstores, dive shops and retail outlets around the Island, is on sale now for $24.95.

Though Mr. Lucas considers the project "a fulfilment of his photographic journey to date", he said he was relieved to be able to start working on other projects, perhaps something showcasing his best photos for Bermuda and the Caribbean.