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All Seasons

Season 1

  • S01E01 Introduction

    • September 12, 2001
    • BBC One

    Experience the power of the blue whale - the largest mammal ever to grace our planet. Learn how the sun and moon help control and tame the ocean. Travel far and wide - from the Eastern Pacific to Alaska, from the Bering Sea to the shores of Southern California - and begin to understand the complexity and power of our oceans.

  • S01E02 The Deep

    • September 19, 2001
    • BBC One

    A place of mountain ranges, perpetual night, pressures extremes and cold... and the weirdest life forms on our planet. Dive into the depths of the ocean, an eerie world where predators with teeth so large they can't even close their mouths, chase bio-luminescent creatures of the deep. Discover the spectacular smoking chimneys of the hydrothermal vents. Go deeper down than you have ever been...

  • S01E03 Open Ocean

    • September 26, 2001
    • BBC One

    In the immense space of the open ocean the sea bed is a staggering five miles below the surface and the nearest island is over 300 miles away. Yet here live many of the most spectacular predators in the ocean. Marvel as you experience ruthless and beautiful battles between hunter and prey.

  • S01E04 Frozen Seas

    • October 3, 2001
    • BBC One

    An environment where only the toughest survive, the Arctic and Antarctic are unrelenting habitats. Only in spring does life begin again. Plankton blooms and feeds fast hordes of migrating fish, walruses rake the seabed for clams, and minke and humpback whales gorge themselves on gigantic swarms of krill. But it is a brief spring feast - the ice soon returns and pushes life back into the ocean.

  • S01E05 Seasonal Seas

    • October 10, 2001
    • BBC One

    As the days grow longer, billions of microscopic plankton bloom under the blazing sun. Here in the temperate seas, three-ton basking sharks graze among forests of giant kelp - the fastest growing plant in the world. The forests harbor thousands of other animals, including sea otters, brilliantly colored anemones, squid, and exquisite leafy dragons. But as the year wears on, storms rage in the icy sea... a desperate challenge for the animals that remain.

  • S01E06 Coral Seas

    • October 17, 2001
    • BBC One

    Bathed in bright sunlight and warm clear water, the coral reef is a rich oasis of life - the rainforest of the sea. Bizarrely adorned harlequin shrimp carry off a starfish several times their size, while haunting songs reverberate around the reef, heralding the arrival of humpback whales. Shimmering schools of brightly colored fish battle for territory in this competitive world where you have to stand out to survive.

  • S01E07 Tidal Seas

    • October 24, 2001
    • BBC One

    The sun and moon move billions of tons of water with every turn of the tide. The strongest tides empty entire bays, smash trees on riverbanks, and strand sea creatures on suddenly dry land. Weaker tides control the movements of huge numbers of fish, coaxing stingrays though astounding underwater arches. And as the water recedes, the tide can create unbelievable landscapes - like a sparkling world of salt crystals inhabited only by tiny shrimp and bright pink flamingos.

  • S01E08 Coasts

    • October 31, 2001
    • BBC One

    From rocky cliffs to gentle dunes, the coasts are always changing. Day in and day out, they are battered by crashing waves. Seabirds come here by the thousands to nest, while baby turtles hatch and race to the sea, pursued by hungry predators. Young sea lion pups are born and play on the sand - until a killer whale attacks, crashing in on the surf. But when breeding season is over, life returns to the sea and the shores are empty once again.

Additional Specials

  • SPECIAL 0x1 Deep Trouble

    • October 28, 2001
    • BBC One

    The combination of overfishing and modern technology has depleted fish stocks across the world's oceans. The program explores the problems, and offers several solutions to the problems.

  • SPECIAL 0x2 Making Waves

    • November 11, 2001
    • BBC One

    The making of The Blue Planet.

  • SPECIAL 0x3 The Abyss

    • October 3, 2005
    • BBC One

    Cameras are sent to the last great frontier on our planet - the deep sea - to reveal an amazing world including rare footage of the most incredible sea-life.

  • SPECIAL 0x4 Amazon Abyss

    • October 3, 2005
    • BBC One

    "Amazon Abyss" explores the world beneath the surface of the Amazon River. Until this feature was filmed, no one had ever explored the depths of the Amazon due to the harsh conditions. The Amazon's swift and treacherous currents and dark water, stained by sediment, conceals ¼ ton Cayman alligators, stingrays, piranhas and anacondas. Veteran divers and naturalists braved the challenge to explore this new frontier.

  • SPECIAL 0x5 Dive to Shark Volcano

    • October 3, 2005
    • BBC One

    "Dive to Shark Volcano" joins divers on a search for seven species of sharks in seven days near Cocos Island, 300 miles off the coast of Costa Rica.

  • SPECIAL 0x6 Being There: Between the Tides

    • October 2, 2007
    • BBC One

    "Being There: Between the Tides" shows the interactions between wildlife and various water bodies, along the same lines as the main feature.

  • SPECIAL 0x7 Being There: Antarctica

    • October 2, 2007
    • BBC One

    Accompanied by dramatic historical narration, "Being There: Antarctica" takes viewers on a visual journey of the landscape and wildlife of Antarctica.

  • SPECIAL 0x8 Making of: Ocean World

    • BBC One

    Behind the scenes of the 'Ocean World' episode.

  • SPECIAL 0x9 Making of: The Deep

    • BBC One

    Behind the scenes of the 'The Deep' episode.

  • SPECIAL 0x10 Making of: Open Ocean

    • BBC One

    Behind the scenes of the 'Open Ocean' episode.

  • SPECIAL 0x11 Making of: Frozen Seas

    • BBC One

    Behind the scenes of the 'Frozen Seas' episode.

  • SPECIAL 0x12 Making of: Seasonal Seas

    • BBC One

    Behind the scenes of the 'Seasonal Seas' episode.

  • SPECIAL 0x13 Making of: Coral Seas

    • BBC One

    Behind the scenes of the 'Coral Seas' episode.

  • SPECIAL 0x14 Making of: Tidal Seas

    • BBC One

    Behind the scenes of the 'Tidal Seas' episode.

  • SPECIAL 0x15 Making of: Coasts

    • BBC One

    Behind the scenes of the 'Coasts' episode.

  • SPECIAL 0x16 Interview with Alastair Fothergill

    • BBC One
  • SPECIAL 0x17 Interview with Doug Allan

    • BBC One
  • SPECIAL 0x18 Interview with Penny Allen

    • BBC One
  • SPECIAL 0x19 Blue

    • BBC One

    A short featurette with voiceover of two children talking about the show