Oceans: Life Under Water

4 | Antarctica

Antarctica is one of the harshest environments you can imagine. Winds can reach 200mph and the lowest temperature ever recorded was -89 degrees Celsius. But the monochrome above the waves is matched by the explosion of colour beneath them. The Southern Ocean is home to more than 9000 species, many of which can only be found there. Hannah is joined by scientist Lucy Woodall, who led the first expedition to find Shackleton's ship Endurance, and Antarctic historian John Dudeney.

Also - meet Bhakti Sharma, the youngest person and the first Asian to complete a long-distance swim in all five oceans, the most recent being the Southern Ocean.

Follow us on IG, X and TikTok for bonus content and to see what the Southern Ocean looks like under the waves: @oceanspod.

If you want to know more about the oceans and how to protect them, come and join us here: https://act.gp/life-under-water.

What does it sound like at the bottom of the ocean? How does it feel to swim with a humpback whale and her calf? What does an octopus' tentacle feel like when it wraps itself around you? Come and find out in this 12-part series.

Wildlife filmmaker, zoologist and broadcaster Hannah Stitfall wants to take you to the world beneath the waves. Over 12 episodes, she'll be meeting freedivers, submarine pilots, whale experts, ship captains, marine biologists, and more, hearing the most mind-boggling stories about the oceans and the astonishing creatures that call them home. The hypnotic sound design and immersive storytelling will take you right there - from the Lost City to Galapagos, from the Mariana Trench to the Antarctic.

Brought to you by Crowd Network and Greenpeace UK, which helps us tell these stories beautifully and responsibly.

Producer: Anna Staufenberg.
Executive producer: Steve Jones.
Mixing and sound design: Anna Staufenberg.
Archive courtesy of Greenpeace.