SEA CAVES OF SANTA CRUZ ISLAND by...

SEA CAVES OF SANTA CRUZ ISLAND by David Bunnell (McNally & Loftin: $12; 123 pp., illustrated) and SEA CAVES OF ANACAPA ISLAND by David Bunnell (McNally & Loftin: $15; 207 pp., illustrated, paperback original). Because of their geological composition and the erosive force of the Pacific Ocean, the nearby Channel Islands are riddled with caves. Bunnell and his associates have devoted several years to mapping those caves: The text and diagrams include location, depth, notable rock formations and wildlife, and how and when each cave should be approached. Although Bunnell cautions that exploring sea caves can be dangerous (an account of being trapped in a cave by a powerful swell reveals just how dangerous) and stresses the need to preserve the often fragile ecosystems of individual caverns, these books are sure to stimulate an interest in caving among amateur naturalists.