00:50
01:45
SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON
ARCHIPELAGO IN ISOLATION. 360° GEO - Report shows the people from St. Pierre and Miquelon, a French overseas collectivity, in their struggle between self-preservation and responsibility against nature.Saint Pierre and Miquelon - directly in front of Newfoundland's coast lays a French archipelago forgotten from the far motherland. For centuries, the codfish brought prosperity to the group of islands, until a French-Canadian agreement prohibited catching it due to overfishing.Today, even the rough beauty of the island nature is threatened - because environmentalists are powerless against the frustration and indifference of the island's inhabitants. The environmental activist and passionate naturalist Roger Etcheberry lives on St. Pierre and Miquelon since childhood.Together with a Parisian botanist he explores the few pristine places on the archipelago and fights for their conservation.
01:45
02:35
MEDITERRANEAN, IN THE CETACEAN FOOTSTEPS
This documentary explores the paths of knowledge of Mediterranean Cetaceans. With scientists, veterinarians, representatives of associations, amateur or professional fishermen, we discover these mammals as well as major issues looming over their presence in this particular area of the globe. Through their very survival in the Mediterranean Sea we have a natural barometer of the "health level" of the local ecosystem. We focus on follow various peoples during their missions on a daily basis. All with a clear stated desire in mind, that being to look through the prism of this human mosaic working on the species survival... and thus contributing on sustainable development. This assembly has the potential to increase by tenfold the general public interest towards these sea creatures.
02:35
03:10
WONDER
PHENOMENAL. Seg 1 Iridescence. Iridescence is the phenomenon where surfaces reflect a multitude of colors at once and could change color perspectives upon shifting the angle of viewing. Iridescence is caused by interference, where light gets reflected or cancelled out by the structures of the surfaces. Seg 2 Chemiluminescence. Chemiluminescence is the phenomenon of producing light energy through chemical reactions. The byproduct of a chemiluminescent reaction, instead of heat energy, is a photon or a light particle. Only selected compounds are capable of producing chemiluminescence, usually highly oxidized compounds when reacting with another compound. Seg 3 Bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is a form of chemiluminescence, only that this occurs in living things. Special compounds collectively called as luciferin oxidizes upon catalysis by enzymes called luciferase, producing oxyluciferin. Upon decay, oxyluciferin releases photons or light particles. Bioluminescence serve different functions for each organism, but all for survival purposes. Seg 4 Gemstone Coloration. A gemstone acquires its color through elements that are essential to its structure or through impurities, or elements that replace some of the metallic ions in the structure that will affect which colors in the visible spectrum gets absorbed or reflected. Seg 5 Mechanical Plant Defenses. Mechanical plant defenses demonstrate how survival instincts are incorporated into plant morphologies and physiologies by growing or producing various defensive features such as thorns, spines, and prickles to the less obvious ones like trichomes and raphides and less aggressive forms of defense like thigmonasty.
03:10
03:45
EUROPEAN ISLANDS EP
02: MADEIRA. The European islands are renowned primarily for their hotel resorts. However, we will show you a completely different face of theirs: forests, beaches, coves, mountains, valleys and rivers. Perhaps you will find places that will take your breath away. Why just lie on the beach when there is so much to see? Put on some good hiking shoes, pull your shoelaces tight, and get to know the entire island like the back of your hand.
03:45
04:25
STOLEN TREASURES
EP. 8. It’s the biggest museum in the world…the museum of artworks stolen over the centuries and never rediscovered. These works haunt the nightmares of their owners, and occupy the days of hundreds of police officers across the world, as well as those of a handful of private agencies; no country or museum of importance can claim to have been spared. According to Interpol, art theft is the fourth largest criminal trade, after the drug trade, the weapons trade and money laundering. How could it be otherwise, when the soaring price of art propels the value of some paintings into the tens of millions of Euros? This world appears to be full of mysteries. Crime syndicates rub shoulders with petty criminals and the police care more about recovering the items than they do about arresting the perpetrators.
04:25
05:15
BOLIVIA HIGHWAY OF DEATH
Bolivia is a country of contrasts: the Andes with peaks of 5,800 meters in the West and the Amazon basin in the East. In between: the Yungas region and the most dangerous roads in the world - the workplace of trucker Julio Gustavo and his old Volvo. Julio is in his early 40s and is a truck driver in Bolivia. Driving trucks is his passion, but he cannot get used to the traffic on the new freeways. He still prefers the famous dirt road, barely 3 meters large. Because of the elevated accident and death rate, it is still known today as the "Carretera de la Muerte" or "Highway of Death".
05:15
06:00
PAST HUNTERS
S1 EP 04: MILL STREET BARRACKS. Built in 1861 Mill Street Barracks is steeped in rich history. It has accommodated many branches of the armed forces throughout its life. Like many other barracks it has also been used as a morgue making it a prime location for the supernatural.
06:00
06:20
TRAVEL THRU HISTORY
BALTIMORE. O Say can you see? We’re in Baltimore, MD. We’ll learn about the Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry and the inspiration of the Star Spangled Banner. Then we dig deep into the history of Baltimore’s most famous resident, Edgar Allan Poe. We’ll sift through a huge collection of pop art and collectibles at the Geppi Museum, and learn about cracking codes at the National Cryptology museum.
06:20
07:15
THAILAND'S ELEPHANTS, GET OUT OF THE CITY!
In former times, 4.000 elephants and their Mahouts used to work in Thailand's forestry but nowadays, they are no longer welcome in Bangkok. Since then, at the end of the 1980s, when the government stopped deforestation, they have been unemployed. More and more elephant guides have moved to the big cities. For 4 years now, the government has been trying to ban them from the cities, as they are a safety risk for street traffic. Non Yamdee lives with his elephant Poon Thap in the outer districts of Bangkok but doesn't want to be caught by the police and resettled. He has heard about a new elephant camp in the south – and that is where he intends to go.
07:15
08:00
STOLEN TREASURES
EP. 6. It’s the biggest museum in the world…the museum of artworks stolen over the centuries and never rediscovered. These works haunt the nightmares of their owners, and occupy the days of hundreds of police officers across the world, as well as those of a handful of private agencies; no country or museum of importance can claim to have been spared. According to Interpol, art theft is the fourth largest criminal trade, after the drug trade, the weapons trade and money laundering. How could it be otherwise, when the soaring price of art propels the value of some paintings into the tens of millions of Euros? This world appears to be full of mysteries. Crime syndicates rub shoulders with petty criminals and the police care more about recovering the items than they do about arresting the perpetrators.
08:00
08:20
BIG COAST
DUNCANBY LODGE SEASON KICKOFF. For 15 years the Big Coast Crew has remained completely committed to expedition boating, showcasing West Coast adventure and telling the tales of this final frontier. From iconic Chinook salmon to Grizzlies, Spirit Bear and Orcas, incredible wildlife roams this land and keeps watch over one of the last great coastal ecosystems on Earth. Each season, Big Coast runs the BC Inside Passage from Alaska and Prince Rupert Southbound through Great Bear Rainforest and Vancouver Island. It’s an epic journey of 1,500 kilometres through pristine coastal waterways and wilderness. And each season, with marine weather, wildlife and fish migrations, is a little bit different. In the spirit of coastal conservation, Big Coast practices catch-and-release Tyee Chinook Salmon (over 30lbs) angling and only taking what you need. Going strong for 15 years, Big Coast features 13 new half hour episodes every year! A 300-mile boat trip from Vancouver to Duncanby Lodge in Rivers Inlet for Percy Walkus Hatchery Chinook Fundraiser!
08:20
09:25
CHINA UNCOVERED
THE QUEST FOR WEALTH. Two brothers from rural China train in the art of Kung Fu in the hopes of elevating their lives however minimally. Meanwhile, rich kids in the city attend private English schools to improve their chances to study abroad. But China’s favorite philanthropist Chen Guang Biao shares his rags-to-riches story proving that odds can indeed be beaten. Rural children in China may still dream small, but as for the young elite partying away in rooftop bars, life is sweet.
09:25
09:45
SARAH SHARK
EP. 06. Sarah travels to one of the top 10 dive destinations in Australia (Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, NSW) to dive with three species of Wobbegong Sharks within the Cape Byron Marine Park. She also conducts a street poll with members of the public to find out what they think about sharks.
09:45
10:40
TAIPAN, THE MOST DANGEROUS SNAKE IN THE WORLD
360 - GEO Report joins Professor Brian Grieg Fry as he carries out his thrilling job : catching the most dangerous snake in the world for his research. About 7 of the world's 10 most venomous snakes live in Australia: one of them is the taipan, said to be the most venomous in the world. Its venom can kill a horse in just seven seconds. Yet if someone actually dares to catch this extremely dangerous animal, its venom can be used as a medicine and can save lives. Professor Brian Grieg Fry is one of the very few, who takes up this life-threatening challenge. For the sake of his research institute, he travels regularly through the country catching taipans, as well as brown snakes, sea snakes and skinks.
10:40
11:10
WONDER
SENSORY TRICKS. Seg 1 Visually-Evoked Auditory Response. VEAR or Visually Evoked Auditory response is the type of auditory perception where our brains perceive to hear sounds in response to seeing something. In the case of the jumping pylon illusion, a thud sound is perceived even though there is no sound accompanying the animation. Seg 2 Retinal Fatigue. Retinal fatigue is the term used to describe the condition when the photoreceptors in our eyes become tired or strained due to staring at one color for extend periods of time. The effect causes an afterimage of the complementary color to appear out of nowhere and will be temporarily visible for a few seconds. Seg 3 Müller-Lyer illusion. The Müller-Lyer illusion is an optical illusion where parallel lines of the same length appear longer when perceived with different pointed arrowheads drawn at the ends. Possible explanations suggest that our minds tend to look at overall length rather than just the line’s parts or segments when processing the image. Another possible explanation is that our minds tendency to look at angled lines and perceive patterns of depth. Seg 4 Ames Room. The Ames room is a specially constructed room that features a distorted and skewed floor plan. when viewed from one angle, our brain is tricked into thinking that the perspective of the rooms is normal but when a person walks from one end to another the distorted floor angle makes it look as if the person changes size drastically. Seg 5 Synesthesia. Synesthesia is a genetic condition that is present in at least 4% of the human population. People with synesthesia have hyper connected neurons that allow them to perceive a stimuli as interconnected with different senses. An example of which is the ability to see color while hearing sounds.
11:10
11:35
CAPTURE WILD SCHOOL
EP. 04. One of the teams prepare for a black and white rhino capture. The white rhino calf has an infection and needs urgent attention. The lecturers brief the team and preparation is done.
11:35
12:25
A DOG'S LIFE
A Dog’s Life explores the widely assumed facts that may actually be based on faulty and out-dated research. Ingenious experiments and meticulous observation reveal that the problems dogs solve best are those that involve interacting with humans. A fascinating and fun documentary that gives us ‘a dog’s eye view’ on the world.
12:25
13:20
FINE COCOA FROM ESMERALDA
Cacao Nacional from Ecuador is also known as "Theobroma Cacao" or "food of the gods". The pods grow in the remotest regions of the country, including in small villages along the Rio Santiago and the Rio Napo. Theobroma's distinctive flavor is valued by chocolatiers around the world. The high demand helps cocoa farmers like Lilian and Cleofe develop a new, long-term and more reliable means of subsistence. Cocoa plantations also immensely benefit the environment: cocoa trees grow in mixed species plantations and thereby protect the rainforest. They represent an alternative to palm tree plantations that are highly destructive to the local environment.
13:20
14:15
DOLPHINS: BEAUTY BEFORE BRAINS
Humans have built various legends surrounding the dolphin. These likeable creatures have inspired and enthralled us through the ages and have seemingly secured their place beside us as one of the most intelligent mammals on the planet. But how do we measure this intelligence? And how smart are dolphins really? If intelligence is defined by the ability to reason, plan, solve problems and learn from experience, how does the dolphin weigh up? ‘Dolphins - Beauty Before Brains?’ (1 x 52’ HD), takes us on a scientific journey into the complex world of the dolphin and investigates the controversy surrounding Professor Paul Manger’s recent assertion that dolphins are not quite as smart as we’d previously thought – “dumber than a goldfish” were the words he used. According to his studies, dolphins appear to have brains that lack complexity at neuronal level, which compromises their information-processing abilities. By examining a series of experiments testing the “theory of mind” in dolphins and exploring unique and engaging habits like self-awareness, creative responses and self-entertainment such as wave-riding, this film illustrates exactly where dolphin IQ scores on the charts. We also look at unique behaviour patterns, pod dynamics, communication skills and hunting strategies that play out in mass feeding events such as the Sardine Run on the South African coastline. The dolphins’ Sardine Run behaviour is one of the most amazing spectacles of intelligence and co-operation in the natural world. We then travel to Mozambique to meet Angie Gullan, the “Dolphin Whisperer”. She has monitored and interacted with four local pods for the past ten years and facilitates dolphin “swims” that are said to have physiological healing effects on human beings. According to her observations, dolphins rank at the top when it comes to emotional intelligence. So is Professor Manger correct in his assessment of dolphins and how does his study compare with the facts? Could dolphin intelligence, or lack thereof, be something that varies from one individual to the next?
14:15
15:15
ANDALUSIA: THE MOORISH ARCHITECTURE
Andalusia, the Spanish territory has a confluence of cultures which is represented in its architecture! Visigothic, Roman, Byzantine and Arab - the structures in the region display all these influences. Between 8th & 15th century, several dynasties from Arab to Berber conquered Andalusia impacting the way of life of people. The film tells this story through beautiful edifices of Andalusia.
15:15
16:10
SECRETS OF THE THRACIAN KING
In August 2004 in Bulgaria, archaeologist Georgi Kitov made a spectacular discovery in the valley of the Thracian Kings, a valley where about twenty temples and royal tombs are located. Kitov accessed a still-intact ancient tomb, which housed incredible wealth, dating back to the 4th century B.C., when Thracian culture was at its height. In front of the gigantic mausoleum, archaeologists found a magnificent, life-sized bronze head, one of the period's finest specimens ever found, and possessing an unsettlingly modern style. Who was this king and what does his tomb tell us about Thracian culture? Was he buried according to the Thracian custom of Orphic rites, and what do we know today about these secret rites that promised eternal life? Research into the deceased's identity revealed the tomb belonged to King Seuthes III. With the help of archaeologists and historians, who decipher the king's vestiges, the film pieces together the puzzle of Seuthes III's life. He was a modern king, who was open to Hellenisation, a warrior king, who was opposed to Macedonian authority, and a priest king, who was committed to preserving Thracian cultural rites.
16:10
17:05
CRANBERRY SEASON AT CAPE COD
360° GEO - Report visited the Manns family farm and witnessed first hand the great efforts put into little berries.With its endless coastline and multi-coloured forests, the Cape Cod peninsula on the US east coast: a favourite holiday destination, especially during Indian summers. The peninsula is also a playground for the beautiful and the rich, who own summer residences there.But for the locals, cranberries are the main sector of activity. These small red berries are gaining favour all over the world, although their cultivation remains difficult.
17:05
18:00
THE PLOUSHARE TORTOISE OF MADAGASCAR
The angonoka tortoise, as the local Madagascans call the ploughshare tortoise, is an especially elegant tortoise with a high-domed golden shell. Reaching an age of well over 100 years, they are found in the wild only on Madagascar, off the south-eastern coast of Africa. Reptile collectors from around the world are frantic to obtain living specimens. However, the interest of Asians is limited to the shell, which is ground into a powder and is considered by many to be an aphrodisiac. Baly Bay National Park in Madagascar is the last natural refuge for the ploughshare tortoise.
18:00
18:55
THE DONKEY ISLAND
With 6,000 donkeys for 24,000 inhabitants, the Island of Lamu off the coast of Kenya certainly holds the world record. This situation is due to its narrow streets, along which vehicles cannot pass. There are only 2 cars on the island, and one of those belongs to the refuge that takes care of the donkeys. Donkeys are part of the landscape, and are used for travelling as well as beasts of burden. There is also a well-known donkey race that takes place in the region once a year! Shee Famao, a young teenager, has already won the race twice and hopes to win it again. 360° - GEO paid him a visit on his native island.
18:55
19:25
ZENITH
EP. 10. Zenith – Advances in Space Exploration reveals these latest developments and the implications they hold for all of us.
19:25
20:05
STOLEN TREASURES
EP. 5. It’s the biggest museum in the world…the museum of artworks stolen over the centuries and never rediscovered. These works haunt the nightmares of their owners, and occupy the days of hundreds of police officers across the world, as well as those of a handful of private agencies; no country or museum of importance can claim to have been spared. According to Interpol, art theft is the fourth largest criminal trade, after the drug trade, the weapons trade and money laundering. How could it be otherwise, when the soaring price of art propels the value of some paintings into the tens of millions of Euros? This world appears to be full of mysteries. Crime syndicates rub shoulders with petty criminals and the police care more about recovering the items than they do about arresting the perpetrators.
20:05
20:50
YVES SAINT LAURENT
FIRESTARTER. A documentary of a true pioneer of fashion. Sabbatical Entertainment celebrates one of the most influential designers ever as we explore the designer's unparalleled professional acclaim, as well as his fascinating and tumultuous personal life. Yves Saint Laurent can be credited with both spurring the couture's rise in the 1960s as well as the tuxedo suit for women. He was able to adapt his style to accommodate the changes in fashion during his entire career. Sabbatical Entertainment’s original documentary shows viewers how YSL approached fashion with a different narrative by wanting women to look comfortable yet elegant at the same time.
20:50
21:35
OH DIOR!
Sabbatical Entertainment’s exclusive original documentary admires Christian Dior, the famous French fashion designer whose post–World War II creations were wildly popular and whose legacy continues to influence the fashion industry.
21:35
22:00
OUTTA TOWN ADVENTURES (11)
S2. Outta Town Adventures travels both near and far to discover the best advenures the destinations have to offer. This TV series is dedicated to presenting history, culture and geography in a fun and pisitive way. It encourages people to explore this beautiful world - something that starts with simply getting out of town!
22:00
22:30
SHOW ME WHERE YOU LIVE
NEPAL, LO MANTHANG LIVING AT HIGH ALTITUDE. Show me where you live is a documentary series that aims to answer the following question: How can human beings claim ownership to a space so that they can live safely within it, function as a society, and above all be in harmony with the environment around them? As we discover cultures and emblematic populations, we follow Philippe Simay who is at the heart of Inhabiting the World and represents its identity and originality. Philippe takes us on an epic adventure around the Human Habitat and sets the tone for the journey. As a humanist and philosopher, Philippe is a tireless surveyor of the city, and an explorer of living spaces. Determined to travel around the world, Philippe unveils how the populations that he encounters claim the space they occupy, shapes it and adjust to it. In this series of 20 films, of 26 minutes each, the habitat will be a major showcase revealing our capacity to adapt ourselves at a time where we need to find solutions in order to address immense changes.
22:30
23:00
SHOW ME WHERE YOU LIVE
SWEDEN, MALMÖ, THE GREEN RENAISSANCE. Show me where you live is a documentary series that aims to answer the following question: How can human beings claim ownership to a space so that they can live safely within it, function as a society, and above all be in harmony with the environment around them? As we discover cultures and emblematic populations, we follow Philippe Simay who is at the heart of Inhabiting the World and represents its identity and originality. Philippe takes us on an epic adventure around the Human Habitat and sets the tone for the journey. As a humanist and philosopher, Philippe is a tireless surveyor of the city, and an explorer of living spaces. Determined to travel around the world, Philippe unveils how the populations that he encounters claim the space they occupy, shapes it and adjust to it. In this series of 20 films, of 26 minutes each, the habitat will be a major showcase revealing our capacity to adapt ourselves at a time where we need to find solutions in order to address immense changes.
23:00
23:45
FENTANYL
THE UNSTOPPABLE EPIDEMIC. Canadians’ attention has been briefly grabbed by the headline: the story--an abnormally high number of overdose deaths caused by a drug called fentanyl. It merited a few days attention and then was pushed off the stage by other concerns. What Canadians failed to appreciate was that those few headlines offered a foreboding glimpse of what might be one of the most destructive waves of illegal drugs to hit North America since Pablo Escobar flooded the continent with cheap and powerful cocaine. Fentanyl is a killer. And fentanyl isn’t just preying on the addict population of this country. Its victims are also Canada’s unsuspecting middle-class. And the epidemic is showing no signs of letting up. In fact all signs point to the death count rising as more and more powerful versions of this drug seep into the country.The result, Canadians have no idea what’s “slouching” towards them in the near future. Through the eyes of four insiders in the fentanyl industry, Dam Builder Productions will take the audience inside this world in way that will enlighten, outrage, and even fascinate.
23:45
00:40
CHINA UNCOVERED
THE NEED FOR SPEED. China runs on two gears as it moves millions of people around every day. A young driver of one of the world’s fastest trains and two seasoned pilots of one of the world’s biggest airlines are seeing the effects modernization and globalization have on their journeys. Meanwhile, in downtown Shanghai a recreational revolution is taking place as the youth choose bikes and skateboards over four wheels.
00:40
01:30
BRITTANY
The region is wild and rough, ruled by tempestuous winds and seas. Its population proud and willful. Many of them still speak their indigenous language today. The Celts named Brittany “Armorica”, "the place by the sea". The Atlantic dominates life here, where tides soar, stone houses lie low against the storms, and where America beckons from the western tip. Brittany enjoys a special status among the French regions. Coarse and rugged, scarred by centuries-long disputes between English or French domination, it still boasts breathtaking beauty and authenticity. What does being from Brittany mean today?
01:30
02:30
JAPANESE HEIGHTS
There is more to Japan's natural landscape than just Mount Fuji! Discover the country's numerous mountains and the ethos of the people who live there. From mountains with eight peaks, mountain gods who keep locals in their awe to building snow monsters & embracing modern activities like skiing - this documentary shows the unseen side to Japan!
02:30
03:20
ARCTIC: THE ROUTE OF THE NUCLEAR-POWERED ICEBREAKERS
This report accompanies a polar cargo ship through the Arctic Sea and provides a rare insight into the interior of the Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker float. Along the north coast of Russia, a land of climatic extremes, lies one of the most difficult to navigate straits in the world. The Northern Sea route is a 6,000 kilometer shipping lane through the Polar Sea.
03:20
03:50
RACE OF LIFE
EP. 10. Some have powerful strides and flashing teeth, some employ poisons and trickery, so we know for sure that predators are well equipped for survival. But this episode reveals the unique ways in which animals protect themselves. Obviously, being able to flee a predator is the choice of many prey animals but there are also very interesting methods of defense which involve deception and chemistry. These include using toxic chemicals, camouflage, and mimicry. Insects that look like leaves, snakes that play dead, fish that fly, and toads with poisonous skin, these animals are among the many creatures that defend themselves in fascinating ways. Almost every animal is hunted as food by some other kind of animal and has developed ways to defend itself against predators. The relationship between predator and prey is a bit like an evolutionary arms race. As soon as one develops a weapon or defense mechanism, the other is working on an adaptation that allows them to circumvent that mechanism. Common defense mechanisms include claws, teeth, camouflage, poison, mimicry, and adaptations like echolocation. Some animals will spray toxic or foul smelling liquids at predators. Many animals have developed sophisticated defense mechanisms to help them avoid predation. Similar kinds of defenses have evolved in different species with slight variations. From the vice-like jaws of the hyena to the gunshot speed of the frog, from the strong-as-steel silk of the spider to the hypnotic patterns of the zebra, and the awesome antlers of the deer. A strong defence is key to winning the race of life.
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04:20
RACE OF LIFE
EP. 11. Almost all animals living in the sea are predators - from small fish to great white sharks and starfish to giant squid. Their bodies have been designed and built to capture prey and avoid becoming prey themselves. Raiders of the Underwater Universe have evolved to become among the more efficient war machines of our planet. There are "predators lurking" as stone fish, cleverly disguising themselves to wait for unsuspecting prey which wander too close. In an episode that illustrates the Race of Life in an underwater world of dangerous predators with razor-sharp teeth, we will see sharks, barracuda and moray eels go about their grisly business. Underwater predators have adapted some fairly extreme measures to hunt and to survive. The fish of the reef need to be fast to escape the barracuda, with its lightning speed and pincushion teeth. And stay on the alert when they swim near the lairs of the moray eel, a large and lethal creature of perhaps surprising grace and beauty. They may be ambushed by the also elegant - but deadly – lionfish. The knitting needle spines of the lionfish are capable of injecting deadly venom. Or if equally unlucky, prey can be sucked into the huge mouth of a stonefish. With so many hungry mouths to feed, it’s a jungle down there.
04:20
05:15
DEEP BLUE DIVE
The ethos of freediving is simple. The challenge: to dive as deep as possible on just one breath. The drive: to explore the ocean in the purest way. The goal: to make it back to the surface in a coherent state. In ‘Deep Blue Dive’ we voyage into this deep and dangerous world with Trevor Hutton, a freediver from South Africa, and reveal the extraordinary physiological challenges which have to be overcome to succeed in this sport. Trevor is a self-taught freediver operating on the periphery of the sport; southern Africa is not a chosen freediving location for good reason. The coastline is hostile, the swell runs high and the deeper water is frequented by every dangerous species of shark imaginable, the Great White in particular. Trevor is six feet tall and he weighs 220 pounds. This is a heavy frame to supply with oxygen, but he’s well equipped. His lung capacity is nine litres and his average heart rate is 43 beats per minute. As soon as he hits the water, a set of strange physiological phenomena take over. We see how nerve receptors in his face trigger a response in the heart – slowing it down by an incredible 50%. Simultaneously, blood vessels in the skin and outer reaches of his body constrict, while vessels closer to internal organs dilate in anticipation of the airless environment he’s plunging into. As Trevor immerses himself, a litre of blood floods from the body’s periphery and into the chest. This film will illustrate these startling changes using high-end CGI and will investigate the very latest scientific research into how the body adapts at extreme depths of up to 120 metres. Trevor’s quest to break the All-Africa freediving record forms the backdrop to the film. To snatch the record, he needs to train in clean, warm water so he travels to the calm waters off the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. But the ideal freediving conditions here are clouded by the presence of aggressive bull sharks. Trevor has to overcome his fear of these intimidating creatures and control his heart rate to dive efficiently. We then accompany him as he travels on to the World Cup in Greece to further his abilities, compete with the world’s top divers and gain experience. The Mediterranean is the epicentre of the sport and his journey here is like a pilgrimage. But as he returns to African waters, will this experience and the rigorous training regime enable Trevor to reach his goal and claim the All-Africa record?
