Subject: Science: Natural & Physical

Marine Biology Series

Wonders of the Sea

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Water covers over 70 percent of the earth's surface, and the underwater world is a wondrous place of beauty, amazing sea creatures, and fascinating web-of-life behaviors. This breathtaking documentary, shot entirely underwater, is a celebration of the inhabitants of tropical and temperate ocean environments, which includes sharks, whales, turtles, manta rays, moray eels, and thousands of tropical fish. Here we travel to several marine communities to see first-hand the fragile balance maintained in these ecological systems. We explore coral reefs in the Indian Ocean, where we see such exotic creatures as the butterfly fish and the parrot fish, who use strong coloration as a means of adapting to their environment. We discover other defense mechanisms have evolved as well, such as schooling by species and symbiotic relationships, where a partnership between two species benefits both. We venture to the Mid-Pacific, an ideal feeding ground for grey reef sharks, where divers also encounter stingrays and other exotic creatures. Off the coast of Ecuador in South America, we visit the Galapagos Islands, home to a diverse collection of marine creatures. A crisscross of ocean currents have brought creatures from other oceans to this area, and of the 280 species found here, some 23 percent are unique to the islands. Divers in these waters can view penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas, and frogfish; also we witness a memorable encounter with the gentle giant of the sea, the whale shark. Overall, the interrelationship between these marine creatures and their habitat is very complex, but by studying and understanding these wonders of the sea, we get the opportunity to learn more about ourselves and our relationship with Earth. Released in association with CCI Releasing, Inc. 08DR IJSCA 60 min.
Also See: Diving in Cozumel, Grand Cayman and the Bahamas; Los Roques 1: Diving in the Caribbean; Los Roques 2: The Blue Paradise; Diving the Reef (In the Red Sea); Scuba Diving: A World of Discovery; Deep Sea Venezuela