The ocean is one of the final unexplored areas of the earth, with many mysteries still lying just below the surface. These documentaries will teach you things beyond your online classes and help you to see the creatures and processes that make the ocean such an amazing place. Read through this list to get movies, TV shows and clips to help you explore the ocean deep while staying on dry land.

General

These documentaries are great places to start exploring the deep ocean.

1. IMAX Deep Sea: Watch this multi-part video to see the amazing creatures that call the ocean depths home in a movie narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet.
2. Planet Earth: Ocean Deep: In this amazing part of the Planet Earth series, you’ll get to see the incredible landscape of the deep ocean and see some of the more interesting species that live there.
3. Deep Sea Exploration: Award winning ocean filmmaker Mike DeGruy shares some of his amazing images of the ocean–some up to 10,000 feet down.
4. Nova Science NOW: Deep Sea Bioluminescence: Check out this episode to learn more about how and why deep sea creatures use bioluminescence.
5. Deep Sea Invasion: Learn from this TV show how an aquarium plant is slowly choking parts of the Mediterranean.
6. Aliens of the Deep: James Cameron made this film that explores some of the weirdest creatures in the deep ocean.
7. Voyage to the Bottom of the Deep, Deep Sea: The Vega Science Trust provides this video that explains how we are only just beginning to develop the technologies that will let us explore the depths of the ocean.
8. The Living Sea: You can purchase or rent this former IMAX film to explore all of the world’s great oceans.
9. Savage Seas: The Deep Sea: Learn about the deep sea’s most savage and dramatic creatures and phenomena in this series.

Technology

Watch these documentaries to learn about the high-tech developments used to explore the seas.

10. Super Structures: Seawolf: This video will teach you how a big submarine is built, piloted and maintained.
11. Wired: Installing a Deep-Sea Webcam: Watch this episode of Wired to see how scientists are monitoring the sea with webcams.
12. Man Made: Deep Sea Driller: The deep sea isn’t just home to wildlife but valuable resources as well. Learn how those resources are extracted with a drill in this video.
13. Modern Marvels: Deep Sea Salvage: On this episode of Modern Marvels, you’ll see individuals who brave the deep to bring up age-old wreckage and modern disasters.
14. Scientific American Frontiers: Going Deep: Explore one of our final frontiers through this episode of Scientific American Frontiers.
15. Into the Abyss: In this video, scientists attempt to retrieve several black smokers from the sea floor of a deep ocean volcanic ridge.
16. Kursk: A Submarine in Troubled Waters: Learn more about this doomed Russian sub from this informative movie.
17. Underwater Robot: Check out this video from Johns Hopkins to learn more about how robots are being built to operate underwater–perhaps even at great depths.
18. Icy Depths: This video from PBS will show you how Hollywood is working to create digital replicas of the deep that look great on screen.
19. Big Stuff: Water: This video is a great place to learn more about the mega-ships of the water industry.

Whales and Sharks

In these movies and shows, you’ll get a chance to see some of the larger sea creatures that live in shallow and deep waters.

20. Shark Encounters: Filmmaker Michael deGruy gets up close and personal with sharks, a species that cost him part of an arm years earlier.
21. Call of the Killer Whale: This PBS production offers a unique glimpse into the lives of orcas.
22. Sea Ghosts: Watch this video to learn more about the cute but mysterious beluga whale.
23. Shark Mountain: See this amazing shark habitat about 300 miles off of Costa Rica, where sharks congregate in large masses.
24. Search for the Great Sharks: Here you’ll get a chance to seek out and meet close-up some of the world’s biggest and baddest sharks.
25. Sharks of the Deep Blue: Get thrills and chills from seeing this shark expert test some of his theories on aggressive bull sharks.
26. Fellowship of the Whales: This amazing video will allow you to follow a baby humpback whale as it migrates from Hawaii to Alaska and back.
27. The Secret World of Sharks and Rays: If you don’t know much about sharks or rays, this video from PBS is a great way to get started.
28. Humpback Whale Encounter: This short video will let you see humpback whales engaging and playing with divers.
29. Secrets of Sevengill: Want to learn more about the mysterious sevengill shark? This video is an excellent place to start.
30. Eye to Eye: You’ll be amazed to learn about the world’s rarest dolphin in this video.
31. Hunters at the Cape of Storms: Check out this video for some amazing shots of sharks hunting.

Ocean Life

Check out these videos for insights into the fish, invertebrates and plants that make up the ocean’s rich ecosystems.

32. Supersense Learn how whales and dolphins are able to navigate the thousands of miles of oceans in this video.
33. Vampire Squid: In this video, you’ll get to see the ancient and rarely seen vampire squid.
34. "Dumbo" and Other Deep Sea Oddities Found: See some of the rarest and weirdest creatures from the deep sea in this video.
35. The Beauty of Ugly: What Lurks Below: Sections of this series from Nature will show you sea creatures that have evolved unattractive but effective methods of survival.
36. Kings of Camouflage: Learn more about the smart and amazing cuttlefish.
37. Giant Mantas of San Benedicto: Through this video, you’ll learn more about the behavior, migration and lives of the giant manta.
38. Mad Mac and the Flat Ugly Snail: In this video, you’ll get insights into the consequences of a New Zealand abalone fishery.
39. Jellies and Other Ocean Drifters: Here you’ll find a short video series from the Monterey Bay Aquarium on the beauty of jellyfish.
40. Sea of Microbes: This video will help you learn about the billions of microorganisms that call the sea home.
41. A Rainbow Colored Fish: The multi-colored Mandarin Fish is rarely seen, but you’ll get great footage of it here.
42. Sea Monsters: This documentary from the Discovery Channel shows you some of the prehistoric animals who called the ocean home.
43. Wild Pacific: Alien Ocean: See the amazing ocean creatures that rise to the surface to feed at dusk in this video.
44. Under Antarctic Ice: Watch this video to see the amazing life forms that call the icy cold waters of Antarctica home.

Conservation

If you’re interested in learning more about what’s being done to save the oceans, give these videos a viewing.

45. Orca Guardians: This video is meant to highlight the orca pods that call the San Juan Islands home to help conservation efforts around the world.
46. Flotsam Found: In this movie, you’ll see the large amount of garbage that pollutes the world’s seas and how it’s having effects, both positive and negative.
47. Whale Wars: Watch this Animal Planet series to see a group of rogue activists as they protest whaling.
48. Ocean Animal Emergency: Because of pollution and waste, many animals are experiencing harm and damage–something the researchers in this video are trying to prevent.
49. Ocean Tipping Point: Find out how climate change is impacting the oceans in this video.
50. The Cove: Check out this Oscar-winning documentary to see the tragedy of dolphin slaughter.
51. Whales in Crisis: Whale-lovers will appreciate this great film on the necessity to preserve and save them.
52. Alien Ocean: This film will teach you about the enormous impact alien species are having on ocean ecosystems.
53. Humans Impact the Ocean: In this film from the Ocean Channel, you’ll see what an incredible impact human activities have on the ocean.
54. Sharkwater: See what a devastating impact the shark fishing industry has had on shark populations in this award-winning movie.

Undersea Science and Politics

Here you’ll find some videos that explain research and politics involving the sea.

55. The Venom Cure: This episode of Nature shows the extraction of sea snake venom–a deadly but potentially useful substance.
56. It’s A Small World Ocean – Better Ocean Management Through Science: Learn what new policies and science are doing to help preserve the seas in this video.
57. In Focus: Who Owns The Oceans?: Here, you’ll take a more political look at the oceans and who owns the countless resources they hold.
58. Into the Deep: Learn more about the almost 400-year history of the whaling industry in this video.
59. Learning from Sea Creatures: This video aims to teach viewers about sharks, eels and other sea creatures.
60. The Ocean Planet: In this video, you’ll see a part of a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution that shows an animation of the seas around Hawaii.
61. Volcanoes, Oceans and Life in our Solar System: A Fiber-Optic Telescope to Inner Space: Learn how Earth’s oceans could be key in determining how to explore the oceans of other moons in our solar system.
62. The Gulf Stream and the Next Ice Age: Here you can learn about some of the latest consequences of global warming projected by scientists.

Underwater Mysteries

These videos explore some of the more sci-fi aspects of the deep sea.

63. Deep Sea USOs: Go X-Files in your exploration of the deep and learn more about Unidentified Submerged Objects.
64. Animal X: Monsters Of The Deep: Watch this video to learn more about the legendary creatures that are said to haunt the deep.

Ocean Habitats

Learn more about the specific habitats of the sea in these videos.

65. Seasons in the Sea: See life as it progresses in the kelp forests off the coast of California in this amazing video.
66. Beneath the North Atlantic: The waters of the North Atlantic are cold, but, as this video shows, still teeming with life of all kinds.
67. Discovering Hidden Habitats: In this video, you’ll travel to the abyss of the Monterey Marine Sanctuary and see loads of interesting invertebrates.
68. Jewels of the Caribbean Sea: In this video, you’ll tour the awe-inspiring reefs of the Caribbean Sea.

Vents and Volcanoes

Here you’ll be able to see some of the more violent geologic features of the deep.

69. Deep Sea Volcanic Explosion: See a short clip of an amazing underwater volcanic eruption here.
70. Perspectives on Ocean Science: Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vents: Exploring Life in the Extreme: In this video lecture, Dr. Horst Felbeck describes his research into what makes life possible in the most extreme habitats of the deep.
71. Volcanoes of the Deep Sea: For a few dollars you can watch this great movie on the life that calls some pretty hostile underwater habitats home.
72. Expedition to the Underwater Volcanoes of the Northeast Pacific: Life at the Extreme: Track some of the latest research being done into these Northwest volcanoes through this video.

Underwater Exploration

These videos will show you how people are choosing to explore Earth’s oceans.

73. Turning Pro: Diving Professionally: Through this film, you’ll learn what it takes to become a professional diver.
74. The World of Deep Sea Diving: This video is a great education on deep sea diving.
75. NEPTUNE Ocean Observatory: Being built off the coast of Washington, this observatory offers researchers the chance to explore the seas like never before.
76. Extreme Cave Diving: Think you’d like to dive in deep ocean caves? That’s just what these brave explorers are doing.
77. How Do They Do It? 6: Training Deep Sea Divers: Here you can see how men and women train to dive to dangerous depths.
78. Underworld: Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age: This documentary will let you explore the ice age communities that have been submerged for thousands of years due to rising oceans.
79. Ocean Wonders: This video series on diving will show you what you can explore in a variety of habitats around the world.

Treasure and Wrecks

Check out these videos to learn more about shipwrecks and treasure that lie at the bottom of the sea.

80. Deep Inside the Titanic: Watch as submersibles look inside the Titanic, examining where the ship hit the iceberg.
81. Seaweed and Gold: In this film, divers explore the wreck of the Chameau off the coast of Nova Scotia.
82. Still on Her Keel: This film examines the friendships and lives changed around one of the most popular shipwrecks to explore, the Chester Poling.
83. Making of Ghosts of the Abyss: Learn how James Cameron went about making his groundbreaking film on the wreck of the Titanic.
84. Sea Tek: Buy this series to explore the depths of the world’s oceans and see shipwrecks, reefs and more.
85. Deep Sea Detectives: You can watch this series, episode by episode, seeing divers as they investigate mines, caves and wreckage at the bottom of the sea.

Informative Clips

If you don’t have time for a feature film, these shorter clips are just as informative in a fraction of the time.

86. Deepest Ocean Eruption Filmed: In this clip, you’ll see groundbreaking footage of one of the deepest sea eruptions ever captured on tape.
87. Piglet Squid, Other Bizarre Species Found: See some amazing new deep sea species on this video.
88. Rare Gold Rush Shipwreck Found: Many people dream of finding sunken treasure, but these divers show that some people really do.
89. Sea 3-D: Charting the Ocean Floor: Learn more about how the ocean floor is being mapped in this video.
90. Deep Sea Turtles: Through this clip, you’ll be able to learn more about the lives of deep sea turtles.
91. Deep Sea Robo-Help: Check out this video for information on how robots are helping scientists explore the deep ocean.
92. Green Tech: Solar and Sea Power: Here, you’ll be able to see how the ocean can serve as a source of renewable energy.
93. Under the Sea 3D: Get a clip of this new IMAX feature all about life under the ocean.
94. Quest for the Goblin Shark: Follow scientists as they attempt to find this elusive shark in this video.
95. Deep Ocean: Sea Vents: Watch this clip to learn more about what sea vents are and what animals call them home.
96. Filming Creatures of the Deep: Here, you can learn about the trials and difficulties that surround filming deep sea creatures.
97. Exploring the Deep: Watch as scientists prepare to send out deep sea expeditions in this clip.
98. Deep Sea Vents and Life’s Origins: Gain a greater understanding of what role these deep sea vents might have had in the origins of life from this video.
99. Nudibranchs: Don’t know what these creatures are? You’ll learn that and more from this short video.
100. Macropinna microstoma: A deep-sea fish with a transparent head and tubular eyes: You’ve never seen anything like this see-through fish MBARI researchers caught on film last year.