The world’s oceans cover 70% of the earth and 80% are still mostly unexplored. Scientists are constantly discovering new species of life and gaining a greater understanding of how many of these creatures live their lives. Now executive producer and National Geographic Explorer-at-Large James Cameron takes us on an adventure to discover secrets of the seas in OceanXplorers.
What Is OceanXplorers?
The six-part National Geographic series takes audiences aboard the OceanXplorer, OceanX’s state-of-the-art scientific research and exploration vessel. Armed with advanced technology, a hand-picked team of intrepid explorers and scientists, National Geographic Explorers, and other ocean experts embark on a global odyssey to solve some of the ocean’s greatest mysteries through the lives of its animals and their ecosystems. The ship sets sail on a grand adventure—traveling to the depths of the Atlantic in the Azores, diving into the shallows of the Bahamas and warm waters of the Caribbean before embarking north to the frigid arctic shores of Svalbard, Norway. OceanXplorers provides an immersive look at an underwater world of wonder with incredible discoveries that push the boundaries of exploration and our understanding of the ocean like never before.
“My true passion lies in deep ocean science and in exploration,” says Cameron. “In OceanXplorers, we take viewers on an unparalleled ocean science adventure, introducing them to a group of principled, passionate people on a sometimes dangerous mission of ocean discovery in real-time. We present the stakes, and firsts, and tell a visually spectacular and dramatic story—a story that inspires the next generation of explorers and adventurers committed to protecting and preserving our oceans.”
The OceanXplorer ship, which was purpose-built by the global science, media, and exploration nonprofit OceanX, is a technological marvel with the power to explore the depths of the world’s oceans. The ship is equipped with two submersibles—Neptune and Nadir—which can dive to 1,000 meters, or 3,280 feet, for up to 72 hours. There is a helicopter aboard alongside multiple marine science laboratories, as well as a media studio that captures new science and real-time discoveries for the screen. The OceanXplorer is a full-scale research vessel that can span the Earth’s oceans and shed light on even the most inaccessible depths of the sea.
OceanXplorers combines a high-end, science-driven documentary with jaw-dropping sequences to capture the drama and thrill of exploration. With so much unknown to explore, the elite team onboard combines their expertise and curiosities to gather information and capture never-before-seen imagery of life below the surface using groundbreaking technology and equipment.
The series premieres, in celebration of World Oceans Day later this week, on National Geographic TV on Sunday, August 18th with the first two episodes, and begins streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the following day. The following episodes premiere on the following two Sundays. Let’s take a look at the six episodes in this series.
“Realm of the Humpbacks”
The team travels to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean to reveal the greatest secrets in the lives of the North Atlantic humpback whale: Why do thousands gather in one tiny patch of ocean every year, and what lengths do they go to in choosing a mate? While exploring the humpbacks’ hidden world, they witness a mother defend her calf in the ultimate ocean battle with a pack of orcas.
“Giants of the Deep”
In the Azores, the team follows the elusive sperm whales to their hunting grounds a mile beneath the surface, where they discover the secret lives of these deep-diving whales. State-of-the-art camera systems and the OceanXplorer’s submersibles explore this world of eternal darkness, discovering the whale’s prey: an enormous squid, never filmed before in these Atlantic waters.
“Jurassic Shark”
The team is in the Azores to tag a deep-sea giant—the sixgill shark—and learn more about its nightly patterns hunting for food in the abyss. For the first time ever, the team tags and retrieves valuable data, uncovering the secrets of why this prehistoric shark undertakes its epic journey from the depths at night.
“Hammerhead Highway”
The team is in the crystal-clear waters of Bimini in the Bahamas to witness the incredible journey of the great hammerhead shark. As the team follows the shark’s return migration to warm waters in winter, they discover the secrets of how these animals navigate the vast ocean, using incredible senses to exploit riches hidden in the shallows.
“Kingdom of the Polar Bear”
The team brings the OceanXplorer to Svalbard, Norway. This ice world is changing faster than anywhere else on Earth. The team’s mission is to figure out if Svalbard’s polar bears are adapting to their environment. To do so, they come face-to-face with this giant of the Arctic Ocean and scale a glacier to learn how much time is left for one of the most critical habitats for polar bears.
“Ice Giants”
The team brings the OceanXplorer as far north as possible, to the edge of the Arctic ice cap. There, they learn how a population of bowhead whales, once hunted almost to extinction, is faring today. They are also the first to observe the feeding strategies of the deep-sea Greenland shark, an animal that can live for more than 400 years.
Why You Should See OceanXplorers
I had the opportunity to watch the six episodes of OceanXplorers in advance and really enjoyed them. I was amazed at the behaviors of the marine life which are observed by these explorers as they show things that have never been seen before. As with all National Geographic shows, the cinematography is incredible and makes the viewer feel like they are swimming along with the National Geographic explorers. Not only are the animals fascinating, but also the technology that allows the explorers to locate, observe, and study these interesting creatures. All six episodes are very engaging as well as entertaining. I look forward to using them in my high school science class when they begin streaming. Even viewers who do not normally watch nature documentaries will appreciate and enjoy OceanXplorers. I continue to be impressed by National Geographic’s productions and highly recommend watching this series.
Be sure to watch OceanXplorers when it premieres Sunday, August 18th on National Geographic and begins streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the following day. Here is a trailer to enjoy in the meantime.
