Blue Realm

The remote and barren Socorro Islands offer little refuge to humans, but they are a magnet to migrating fish, whales and large sharks. This program focuses on the archipelago's most intriguing residents, giant manta rays, their unusual behavior and surprising intelligence. The episode also features Bubbles, a captive manta ray at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas and her successful release back into the wild.

Do squid and octopus talk with their skin? This program joins scientists in a remarkable quest to unravel the secrets of one of the sea's most enigmatic creatures, cephalopods. The episode features the bizarre behavior and sexual rituals of Caribbean reef squid, giant octopus of the Pacific Northwest and cuttlefish at the National Resource Center for Cephalopods in Galveston, Texas.

Each year, hundreds of critically endangered manatees are killed in U.S. waters by boats, disease and cold weather. With only a few thousand remaining in the wild, the clock is ticking in efforts to save this amazing mammal from extinction. Another rare species and close relative of manatees is the dugong which clings to survival in a few isolated corners of the globe. The program also includes thrilling captures and field exams of manatees in Florida wetlands.

Humpback whales were hunted to the brink of extinction until a moratorium was implemented in the 1980s. After finally rebounding in numbers, whaling nations are exploring ways to re-open the hunt. In Antarctica, Japan is targeting minke, fin and now...humpbacks. And directly in their path trying to stop them is the conservation group, Sea Shepherd Society. The iconic species are favorites of whale watchers around the globe.

Since the 1970's, sea lion populations have declined more than 80% along the North Pacific coast. Scientists at the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Aquarium are working together to help save Canada’s iconic and largest pinniped – the stellar sea lion. To help understand why their numbers are dropping, researchers work with the highly intelligent mammals at a unique floating laboratory. At The Open Water Research Station, free swimming seals and sea lions are observed in their natural habitat. At the research station, these tame, remarkable animals are providing fresh insights into the fragile ocean food chain of the North Pacific.

They’re beautiful...and deadly, with large, venomous spines that resemble a lion's mane. They’re lionfish - a tropical reef species normally found in the Pacific. Now, they’re wreaking havoc in the Caribbean and Atlantic – all thought to have descended from a handful of aquarium fish carelessly released into the sea. Prolific reeders and aggressive predators, they quickly spread - wiping out native species at an alarming rate. Eradication programs are in place, but they are barely making a dent in a booming population. In Florida, novel approaches, including fishing derbies, are making progress in the fight against these Toxic Invaders.

Around the globe, thousands of decommissioned naval vessels rot in dockyards. What can you do with these toxic time bombs? One solution is to clean them well, blow them up and sink them! Providing shelter and breeding grounds, countless fish and invertebrates colonize steel hulls. In the Cayman Islands, the USS Kittiwake met a watery grave and quickly transformed into a vibrant artificial reef. In the Florida Keys, dozens of purposely sunk ships are a beacon to marine life and to scuba divers. But supporters face tough opposition on many fronts. After years of struggle, Canada's newest artificial reef project - the HMCS Annapolis, is nearing completion. But will protesters get their way and scuttle the sinking?

The waters of Papua, New Guinea and Australia's Great Barrier Reef are among the richest on Earth. Harbouring an exceptional variety of venomous fish, reptiles and invertebrates, their coral reefs conceal frightening secrets. The poisons of these animals are some of the most lethal known to man, but they also hold enormous potential in the development of new medicines.

SHARK DIVERS are people who study, photograph, interact with and even wrestle with some of the most terrifying creatures on earth. A select group of skilled professionals routinely work with, or near the animals out in the wild and in aquariums. This feature-length documentary focuses on this diverse and eclectic group –each with different motives in their unusual fields. Some are adrenaline junkies and many are staunch conservationists. Together, they form a community of people fascinated by sharks. Their enthusiasm (and fear) can be highly contagious!

There's no doubt sharks have an image problem. And they're certainly trouble globally. But there is still one place where they are welcome and where they thrive and are protected -- The Bahamas! Meet them up close! Binimi Bull Run, Hammerheads of the Bahamas, Oceanic Whitetips, and Tiger Beach are the homes of the most incredible sharks in the world.

Meticulously prepared and scrubbed clean of oil and toxic chemicals, these submerged structures – giant ships - once considered junk – become artificial reefs, a haven for teeming marine life. They also attract another species of wildlife: scuba diving tourists. From North America to the UK to Australia, artificial reef making is big business. Sounds like a job for the Shipsinkers!