Commander John Jacob Puthur has devoted the best part of his life to study the Indian Coast. This book is the outcome. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1980 in the Executive Branch. In 1982, he joined the Survey Branch and specialised in hydrographic surveying. He has served aboard several surveying ships in various capacities. From 1994 to 97 he was Instructor and later the Chief Instructor of the National Institute of Hydrography, Goa. In 1998, he was graded 'Charge Hydrographer', the highest certification for a hydrographic surveyor accorded by the Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India. Also in 1998, he led a hydrographic surveying team to Antarctica, with the XVIII Indian Antarctica Expedition. Since premature retirement in September 2003, he has been a consultant in hydrographic surveying and port design. He is a Fellow of Indian Institution of Surveyors, Indian National Cartographic Association, and Geological Society of India. He is also a Life Member of Indian Society of Remote Sensing and Eastern Dredging Association (India). He lives in Bangalore with his wife and two daughters.