Jurassic Park! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!
I loved Michael Crichton as a kid looking for interesting plot, and I adore him now as an older kid looking for both science and interesting plot! The guy is a genius, absolutely incredible on so many subjects! I loved the exploration of biology in JP, the animal behavior in LW, the physics in Sphere, the temporal paradox in Timeline... Wow.
If you like Michael Crichton, have you tried Peter Benchley, of Jaws fame? Not quite as sophisticated, but he writes the ocean well. I love that.