Deep sea: 1000m below the surface – no light, immense pressure and icy temperatures. The deep sea encompasses more than 90% of the planets habitat. Yet we know less about these depths than about the moon.

This film documents the technical, scientific, and ecological challenges of deep sea researchers. Scientists work worldwide together to collect data on the physical state of the upper ocean. With more than 3000 autonomous floats they monitor the oceans for influences on weather systems like El Nino or the monsoon. Does it affect global climate change?

Does the deep sea offer solutions for the CO2 issue? Researchers in the Okinawa Trough are trying to find out. The sea floor harbors enormous amounts of resources: oil, natural gas, methane. Scientists work hard to try and locate these materials.

Millions of deep sea dwellers are waiting for their discovery. The “Census of Marine Life” is trying to catalogue these bizarre ocean creatures before they disappear.
The expenditures involved with these projects are enormous. Huge research vessels and high-tech equipment are necessary to get to know the oceans secrets. Scientists are secretly dreaming of research stations on the ocean floor that would enable them to keep a more constant eye on the abyss.

By presenting exciting new projects worldwide, this documentary reveals the latest developments in deep sea science.

In a world of dwindling resources and a changing climate, we need to know more about the depths of the element that makes this planet a blue one.