Bahamian Reef Sharks

While filming an episode on sponges off New Providence Island, Bahamas, the Changing Seas crew suddenly found itself surrounded by a group of curious, yet calm Caribbean reef sharks, plus a few nurse sharks. It was an incredible experience to be in the presence of so many of these beautiful fish! While divers occasionally encounter reef sharks on coral reefs, it is rare to see so many at once.

Scientist Studies Nassau Grouper at the University of Miami

Ph.D. Candidate Zack Daugherty studies the feasibility of farming Nassau grouper at the University of Miami Experimental Hatchery. The endangered species is a popular food fish with a high market value, and farming Nassau grouper could take pressure off wild populations.

Sponges

In the tropical waters off the coasts of Florida, the Bahamas, and Caribbean, shallow water sponges are common sights on reefs. These filter feeders, which are animals, come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Scientists are studying the important ecological roles sponges play in the ecosystem.

Aquanaut Technology

What does it take to work for several hours underwater? Aquanauts at Florida's Aquarius Undersea Laboratory in Key Largo use special equipment that allows for saturation diving 60 feet below the ocean's surface. Operations Manager for NOAA's Aquarius shorebase headquarters Mark Hulsbeck explains the the tools and equipment used by aquanauts.

Goliath Grouper

Endangered Goliath grouper aggregate off the coast of South Florida each year to spawn. Enjoy this underwater encounter between scuba divers and these majestic giants.

Filleting a Lionfish

Lad Akins from REEF demonstrates how to safely fillet a lionfish. For more information on lionfish, please visit www.reef.org.

Tour the R/V Weatherbird II

The R/V Weatherbird II is the flagship vessel of the Florida Institute of Oceanography's fleet, based at the University of South Florida's St. Petersburg campus.

Lionfish Invasion, Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas

Lad Akins from the Reef Environmental Education Foundation and Stephanie Green from Simon Fraser University are studying the lionfish invasion in the Bahamas and elsewhere in the Caribbean and Florida. In Bahamian waters, the scientists have found that the invasive lionfish has reduced native fish populations by up to 95% since 2006.

Diving With a Purpose

In May 2012, members from the National Association of Black Scuba Divers traveled to Biscayne National Park for their annual underwater archaeology workshop called "Diving With a Purpose." Changing Seas tagged along to see what it takes to make a map of a sunken shipwreck.

Shipwreck Cannons

In this web-extra from "Sunken Stories," Corey Malcom from the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum explains the story behind a pair of cannons dating back to 1564.

Under Pressure - The Effects of Depth on Styrofoam

Have you ever wondered about the force of pressure in the deep sea? Here scientists are having some fun while conducting otherwise serious research at sea.

Drama on the Schooner

"Fire in the hole!" The folks at Schooner Jolly II Rover tours in Key West, Florida, welcomed us aboard their ship to film some dramatic re-enactments for "Sunken Stories." Captain Rio O'Bryan got into costume while the rest of the crew hoisted the sails and fired the cannon.

Horseshoe crabs in Key Largo

"Prescription: Oceans" features scientists studying horseshoe crabs vision. Of course that meant we needed some footage of the crabs in the wild. Check out this behind-the-scenes video of the Changing Seas crew filming these prehistoric critters.

Shooting Crocodile Close-Ups

Before Changing Seas was created, our crew worked on a series called Wild Florida, which also featured ocean stories. For an episode on crocodiles we teamed up with Wildlife Biologist Joe Wasilewski for some underwater close-ups of these prehistoric-looking reptiles.

Majestic Mantas - Sneak Peek

Sneak Peek of our shoot in Mexico!
Music: "Another Day" by Audrey J. Drake
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/soul-to-keep/id302797441
https://www.reverbnation.com/audreydrake

Aerials of Crystal River's Kings Bay

The beautiful waters of Kings Bay in Crystal River, Florida, are home to a large manatee population in the wintertime. When temperatures drop in the ocean, the large marine mammals seek refuge in the warmer, spring-fed waters of the bay. Their presence draws many tourists to the region, who come for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to snorkel with these gentle sea cows.

Rescue a Reef

The Rescue a Reef Program from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science is a citizen science project that helps to regrow some of South Florida’s most threatened coral reefs. Learn more about their work at: https://sharkresearch.rsmas.miami.edu/donate/rescue-a-reef.

"Sentinels of the Seas" Web Extra

How do you transport a whale? How do you get a dolphin to a hospital?
Dolphin Conservation Field Station Director of Programs George Biedenbach gives a brief tour of marine mammal transport vehicles in St. Augustine Florida.

Conchs with Dr. Megan Davis

Dr. Megan Davis from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University explains the biology and life history of the Milk conch and the Queen conch. Dr. Davis is the Center Director for Habor Branch's Aquaculture Development Park at Florida Atlantic University.

Deep Sea Corals

In this behind-the-scenes clip from "Corals of the Deep," John Reed from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute explains the differences between two deep sea corals, the Ivory Tree Coral and Lophelia pertusa.

Three Sisters Springs

The beautiful and clear Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River, Florida, are a favorite hangout for manatees in the wintertime, when water temperatures drop in the Gulf of Mexico. The constant 72-degree water coming out of the springs provide a refuge for the giant marine mammals, which need warm water to survive.

"Reef Revival" Web Extra # 1

Scientists in Biscayne National Park are working on innovative methods to restore corals that were damaged during a boat grounding. Watch Park biologist Amanda Bourque as she explains parts of the restoration effort during an "in-water" conversation with Producer Mark Baker.

Soldier Key Wreck

In this web-extra from "Sunken Stories," experts at Biscayne National Park conduct an archaeological survey on a site they call the "Soldier Key Wreck." Little is known about this wreck, but researchers still managed to find tiny clues that could reveal important information about the ship's past.

Plastic Replicas

In this web-extra from "Sunken Stories," Corey Malcom from the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum explains how ancient artifacts are re-created from encrusted objects that have been retrieved from the sea floor.

Life Beneath the Bridge

The Blue Heron Bridge in Palm Beach County, Florida, is home to many unique fish and crustaceans. Divers come from near and far to explore this popular muck diving site.

Tour of the Island School and Cape Eleuthera Institute

Check out this short tour of the Island School and Cape Eleuthera Institute.

Lionfish Feeding

Changing Seas crew member Jeremy Nicholson chats with Producer Kandra Velez about a lionfish web extra he is editing. Lionfish are an invasive species in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

Jaws

Dr. George Burgess, Director of the International Shark Attack File in Gainesville, Florida, compares different shark jaws.

Toxic Algae - Effects on Marine Life

How does toxic algae affect marine life? Changing Seas spoke with experts from the Florida Oceanographic Society in Stuart to find out!

Sharks + Mantas + Volcanoes = Revillagigedo

Wrecks near New Providence Island, Bahamas

While filming an episode on sponges off New Providence Island, Bahamas, the Changing Seas crew and scientific research team happened upon two shipwrecks that were close to each other. These wrecks made for a great dive site, with some sponges encrusting the exterior of the ships. Does anyone know the names of these wrecks?

Life in Red Bays, Andros Island, Bahamas

While shooting an episode on sponges, the Changing Seas team was given a tour of North Andros by local sponger Fritzgerald Taylor. Sponging is a tradition on the island, with there being three different commercially viable species that are collected on the Great Bahama Bank. The sponges are cleaned and dried before being sold to a wholesaler that ships them to markets all over the world.

ORA Behind The Scenes

Go behind the scenes with Production Manager of ORA Adam Heinrich as he explains the life cycle of clownfish in captivity.

Lionfish Feeding Frenzy

Lionfish attacking their prey. Video was shot for the "Alien Invaders" episode in slow-motion HD using 720p, 60 frames/second.

Goliath Grouper Aggregation

Each summer, large numbers of Goliath grouper aggregate off the coast of Jupiter, Florida, to spawn. To learn more about Goliath groupers, check out Changing Seas very first episode "Super Grouper."

Tour of RV Seward Johnson

Follow Captain George Gunther as he gives a behind the scenes tour of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute's (HBOI) research vessel. The R/V Seward Johnson is featured in Season 1's "Corals of the Deep."

"Reef Revival" Web Extra # 2

Dive in and join Ken Nedimyer on an exciting tour of his coral reef nursery in Key Largo. Nedimyer, and his Coral Restoration Foundation, are working on a new and exciting technique to grow out staghorn coral cuttings on hanging lines before they are transplanted on a reef restoration site.

BioBlitz 2010

National Geographic visited Biscayne National Park for its annual species inventory, "BioBlitz."

How do scientists study fish at the aggregation site?

An excerpt from the "Grouper Moon" episode.

Hagfish Dissection

In this web extra from "Creatures of the Deep," Dr. Dean Grubbs from Florida State University dissects a deep sea hagfish during a research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico.

Ocean Voyager Exhibit - Georgia Aquarium

During the filming of "Biggest Fish in the Sea," our crew visited the Georgia Aquarium to film in one of the largest salt water tanks in the world. The Ocean Voyager exhibit houses whale sharks, manta rays, sawfish, and many other warm water creatures. It's a 6.3 million gallon tank, with 4,574 sq feet of viewing windows and a 100' viewing tunnel.

Sinking the Vandenberg: Glimpse into Editing

Peek inside the editing room as Changing Seas cameraman and editor Sean Hickey puts together Season 2's last episode, "Sinking the Vandenberg."

Mahi-mahi Research at the University of Miami

Experts at the University of Miami Experimental Hatchery raise mahi-mahi, also known as dorado or dolphin, to better understand the impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the species. They also want to know if the fish are good candidates for future aquaculture operations.

Off the Coast of Palm Beach County

The reefs and wrecks off Palm Beach County, Florida, are home to diverse marine life, including sharks and sea turtles. Divers visit this area from near and far to drift with the currents and enjoy the view.

Maug Photo Mosaics

One tool that helps scientists understand and quantify ecosystems are detailed maps of study sites - created by combining high resolution images into large scale photo mosaics. Scripps Institution of Oceanography experts created such photo mosaics of coral reefs near the islands of Maug during a 2014 NOAA research expedition.

Marine Turtle Research Group Field Work

The Marine Turtle Research Group (MTRG) has been netting for turtles in Florida's Indian River Lagoon for more than 30 years. It's part of a long-term project examining trends in abundance and health of coastal juvenile turtles in Central Florida. MTRG samples in the Lagoon twice a month, year-round.

Tiger Shark Tagging in the Bahamas

Check out this short preview of our tiger shark episode! The Changing Seas crew traveled to the Bahamas to film scientists tagging the sharks.
Dr. Mahmood Shivji with NOVA Southeastern University and Dr. Brad Wetherbee with the University of Rhode Island are tracking the animals as part of their research for the Guy Harvey Research Institute.

Lionfish hunting a Damsel in Distress!

Watch a lionfish hunt a small damselfish. This scene was captured in 720p at 60 frames a second. Lionfish, when feeding, are nearly impossible to catch at regular film speeds. Even in slow motion, if you blink, you will miss the strike!

Encrusted Artifacts

In this web-extra from "Sunken Stories," Corey Malcom from the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum talks about the encrusted items recovered from a mid-16th century sailing ship.

"Reef Revival" Web Extra # 3

Marine Biologist Martin Moe explains the urgent need to return ecological balance to coral reefs in Florida and the Caribbean by restoring populations of the once abundant spiny black sea urchin, the principle algae grazer on the reefs.

"After the Spill" Web Extra

Scientists onboard a 2011 research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico collected data for various research projects, including one that looks at viruses in the marine environment.

Dr. Guy Harvey at his Grand Cayman Art Gallery

Famous marine wildlife artist and scientist Dr. Guy Harvey talks about his research and what inspires his artwork at his gallery on Grand Cayman, BWI.

Grand Cayman’s Stingray City/Sandbar

Grand Cayman’s Stingray City/Sandbar is a popular site where guests can safely interact with wild stingrays in a shallow, tropical setting.

Catching a Lion in the Keys

Changing Seas crew member Veronique Koch nets a lionfish in the shallow waters of the Florida Keys. Lionfish, which are a non-native species in this region, pose an ecological threat to local marine ecosystems.

Atocha Coin on the Vandenberg

Ever dreamt of finding a Spanish treasure? Changing Seas cameraman and editor Sean Hickey is itching to get back down to Key West to look for a special treat that is hidden on the Vandenberg.