Known as the oasis of the sea, coral reefs are among the ocean's most wondrous and mystical life forms. Take a voyage deep beneath the water in Oceans Alive, a 5-DVD exploration of the inner workings tho these diverse varieties of marine life. Travel to Mexico, Canada, The Caribbean, Hawaii, Egypt and other fscinating destinations both above and below the water for a glimpse into coral ree communities, kelp forests and sea creatures such as wolf eels, octopus and reef fish. Witness mankind's destruction of coral reefs through years of pollution and discover all the dangers that lurk within these seemingly tranquil and peaceful havens.
Seasons & Episode
Beneath the waters of the Red Sea, biologist Aaron Miroz and marine conservationist and filmmaker John Stoneman study the complex workings of the coral reef community. Here, off the tip of the Sinai Peninsula lies one of the most diverse and prolific coral reefs to be found anywhere on the planet.
Stoneman and his team from the Foundation for Ocean Research study how marine animals live together and how some benefit others in the complex worlds that exist in the coral reef. Using extreme macro photography they are able to film fish being cleaned of parasites by some of their smaller cousins and how even the divers can benefit from this service.
Stoneman and his crew conduct a detailed study of two types of marine mammals that appear to be at a midway point in their total adaption to the sea: the walking seal, in the form of the sea lion and the crawling seal, as shown by the harp seal. This demanding expedition takes the diving team from the tropical warmth of Mexico to the icy cold of the east coast of Canada, here to dive beneath the ice with these highly specialized animals.
The team travels to the Caribbean to observe the tiniest of creatures that are found on the coral reef, including some that can only be found with a magnifying glass. They also test out some new underwater communication devices that enable them to film a most unusual fish, one that is hardly ever seen in the sea.
While on a study of polar bears in Canada's north, John Stoneman remembers work he did with other mammals of the sea, including the harp seal, sea lion, sea otter, manatee, dolphin, orca (or killer whale), pilot whale, the mighty humpback whale, and the small, ghostly beluga whale. Of all the underwater creatures, it is the marine mammal that man most identifies with and that becomes true for the Foundation team, too.
Members of the Foundation for Ocean Research search out the secrets of this unique body of water off the coast of Mexico and make observations on sea lions, manta rays and hammerhead sharks.
Examine the efforts being made by various individuals who seek to educate the general public about the fragile nature of the sea. Sequences are devoted to conservationists such as Norine Rouse, Christopher Hartley and Anne Davis, with unique footage devoted to turtles, moray eels and whales.
John Stoneman and his team move to the Canadian Arctic to study the mighty polar bear in its natural habitat.
Stoneman and his team of researchers move into the Canadian Arctic to conduct studies on the white whales of the Arctic: the beluga. Stoneman and Canadian biologist Ned Lynas hope to make a significant contribution to the better understanding of these whales by testing their reactions to underwater recordings.
John Stoneman, accompanied by biologist Dr. Alan Emery, his daughter Kitty and other members of the Foundation for Ocean Research, travel to the jungles of Belize, in Central America to examine the lost culture of the Mayan people, who may well have been the first race to actually farm the marine environment.
The Foundation team travels to islands off the eastern coast of Canada, where they visit the frozen home of the often brutally slaughtered harp seal. There, led by John Stoneman, they observe how baby seals struggle to adapt and survive in such a harsh environment.
John Stoneman and his team join forces with marine biologist Aaron Miroz to execute the safe capture of specimens to inhabit Coral World, a new aquatic park in the Bahamas. to stock the underwater showcase with a wide variety of marine life, the Foundation team must hand capture many animals, including the voracious black tip shark.