Customer Reviews

National Geographic's Ocean Drifters [VHS]

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This beautifully photographed program follows the migration of a newly hatched loggerhead sea turtle as she evades predators, dines on jellies (including the deadly Portuguese man-of-war) and navigates the bizarre floating meadows of the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the most remarkable footage, however, is filmed in the mid-depths as we follow the research of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute's Edith Widder and her submersible work on bioluminescent creatures. Glowing siphonophores and jellies light up the black depths like miniature galaxies and slow-motion fireworks displays. Elegant close-up filming of minute planktonic larvae and wonderfully pulsating jellies makes this program a pleasure to watch again and again.

Ocean Drifters deserves to be ranked with the top biological documentaries of all times. The crew of National Geographic deserve to be congratulated. I show it to each of my marine science classes in order to give them an appreciation of the diversity of planktonic life. The almost one hour video traces the path of a loggerhead turtle as she hatches and takes trip around the North Atlantic Gyre. The video explores critical fact concerning ocean circulation, biodiversity and discusses a variety of planktonic lifestyles. People of all ages will appreciate the plight of the sea turtle and I am always amused by the gasps of the first time viewers.

Q- When is a video on ocean drifters not a video on ocean drifters?

A- When it is a video on loggerhead sea turtles.

This is not entirely correct, but close. Ocean Drifters is about organisms... large and small, shallow and deep, that live in our oceans as opposed to the nearshore environments. You follow a newly hatched loggerhead as she emerges from the sand, races for the ocean, goes through a day of frenzied swimming, and settles back for a year of drifting in the ocean gyres.

The story switches back and forth between the loggerhead and jellyfish, snails, fish, and the strange organisms that live in the deep oceans. It discusses ocean management challenges: trash, chemical spills, and discarded fishing nets.

As we look for life on distance worlds, we shouldn't forget the mystery and diversity of life that exists in our oceans... the ocean drifters.

I've seen many National Geographic documentaries, but for me, this one ranks as my favorite. I hope someday it will be available on DVD. "Ocean Drifters" presents the most amazingly beautiful photography of marine life. You will be amazed and touched by the beauty and elegance of the life which exists in our world deep in the depths of the sea. After watching it, I almost felt like dropping all my career choices and becoming an Oceanographer so that I may experience such worlds for myself (to me, it was that moving). Add the perfection that is Keith David's voice as the narrator, and a very beautiful and haunting musical score, and you have a documentary which accurately presents the beauty of nature.