1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:04,880 Only one creature has carved a life for itself 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:07,560 in every habitat on earth. 3 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,600 That creature is us. 4 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:20,320 All over the world, we still use our ingenuity to survive in the wild places, 5 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:25,920 far from the city lights, face to face with raw nature. 6 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,080 This is the Human Planet. 7 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,880 The sea covers 70% of our planet's surface. 8 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,680 It's home to three-quarters of all life on Earth. 9 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,640 All the creatures found here are perfectly adapted 10 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,960 to thrive in the ocean... 11 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:08,840 ..all except one. 12 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,640 We are not evolved for a life aquatic... 13 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:36,160 ..and we're way out of our depth in this dangerous and alien world. 14 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:48,000 But great opportunities await those people who dare to venture into the water. 15 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,480 As we immerse ourselves ever deeper in the big blue, 16 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,440 how do we overcome the enormous challenges that confront us? 17 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:33,200 Our relationship with the ocean begins on the coast. 18 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,360 Even here, the sea is a force to be reckoned with. 19 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,000 Galicia, in Northern Spain, is home 20 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:48,160 to one of Europe's most treacherous coasts. 21 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:54,040 But the more extreme the conditions, the greater the rewards, 22 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:58,640 if, like Javier and Angel, you're prepared to take the risk. 23 00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:02,720 THEY SPEAK IN SPANISH 24 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:20,160 Javier and Angel are on the hunt for a strange creature 25 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,840 that clings to the wave-battered rocks... 26 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,520 at the bottom of these cliffs. 27 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:44,040 They have to move fast. Their quarry is only exposed at low tide. 28 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,120 Vamos! Arriba! Arriba! 29 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,800 SPEAKS SPANISH 30 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,200 It's goose barnacles they're after, 31 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:21,760 a highly prized delicacy that can sell for 200 euros a kilo. 32 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:27,960 But it's not easy pickings. Each year, about five collectors die. 33 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,680 Few dare work when it's this rough. 34 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:35,800 But those who do can charge a premium for their harvest. 35 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:51,160 Despite the onslaught, Javier's filled his bag. 36 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,400 Now it's Angel's turn, and though it's getting even rougher... 37 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,440 ..he's going in with no safety rope. 38 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,760 Working unattached allows him to dash between waves 39 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,800 and reach the lowest rocks, where the biggest barnacles grow. 40 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,800 But one slip could be fatal. 41 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,480 Although the tide's coming in, Angel's determined to collect more. 42 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:03,440 Javier and Angel's gamble paid off. 43 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:07,280 In two hours, they've gathered enough goose barnacles 44 00:06:07,280 --> 00:06:12,200 to fetch around 800 euros. Not bad for a day at the seaside. 45 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:28,160 It's this abundance of food that entices us into the waves. 46 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:32,720 And just a little further out, there are even greater riches. 47 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,840 Coastal waters account for just one-tenth of the world's oceans, 48 00:06:38,840 --> 00:06:42,360 but they're home to the vast majority of marine life. 49 00:06:47,840 --> 00:06:52,720 The trouble is, as we venture further from the shore, the dangers escalate. 50 00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,880 Benjamin's training to be a harpoonist 51 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:04,400 and he knows, any day now, all he's learned could be put to the test. 52 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:27,800 He lives on a small Indonesian island called Lembata. 53 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,320 Few crops grow in this rocky land, 54 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,800 and even surviving from the sea is a struggle. 55 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:36,960 CHATTER 56 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,160 But there's one animal they wait for 57 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,280 that can dramatically change their fortunes. 58 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,000 SHOUTING 59 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:50,360 SHOUTING 60 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,880 The whole village springs into action. 61 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:05,600 SHOUTING 62 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,080 It's a race against time to get out to sea. 63 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,480 Benjamin and the rest of the crew 64 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:43,040 are about to take on the biggest predator that's ever lived. 65 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:56,920 They all know the risks, 66 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,640 but opportunities don't come much bigger than this. 67 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:04,960 The sperm whale. 68 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:06,920 WHALE SONG 69 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:12,400 Up to 18 metres long, these mighty leviathans are powerful animals 70 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,880 and they won't go down without a fight. 71 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,200 With simple wooden boats and handmade weapons, 72 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:32,080 the whalers seem ill-prepared for battle, but this is how it's been for 600 years. 73 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:38,320 They can only harpoon the whale when it surfaces to breathe... 74 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:41,800 ..so they need to move fast. 75 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:54,800 Benjamin's brother prepares to launch himself at the whale. 76 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,720 This is the most dangerous moment of all. 77 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:06,520 But he misses... 78 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,640 ..and now someone else must step up before the whale dives. 79 00:10:13,680 --> 00:10:16,320 SHOUTING 80 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,720 Benjamin's moment has arrived. 81 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,440 He's got it. 82 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,720 But the battle has just begun. 83 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:57,160 As the whale fights to break free, they move to harpoon it again. 84 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:06,640 They need to prevent it from diving and pulling a boat under. 85 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,200 But it's not enough. 86 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:25,360 Terrified of the thrashing whale, the crew scramble to safety. 87 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:40,320 Another boat attacks and harpoons the whale once more. 88 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:54,280 Now dragging several boats, the whale slowly tires. 89 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:10,760 Eventually, its struggles are exhausted 90 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:14,840 and a final cut, through its backbone, is made. 91 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,640 It's been an epic eight-hour battle, 92 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:38,560 but Benjamin has shown his skill and bravery... 93 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:47,160 ..and this time everyone returns safely home. 94 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:55,720 The death of a whale may be sad to us, but this is their lifeline. 95 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,720 One catch can feed a village for months, 96 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:05,800 and this small-scale hunt in Lembata doesn't threaten whale numbers in these oceans. 97 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,200 They only take around six whales a year. 98 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:15,520 Nothing is wasted. The meat is shared out. 99 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:20,760 As the man who dealt the decisive blow, Benjamin gets a larger share. 100 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:26,400 And for a while at least, his family won't be going hungry. 101 00:13:32,560 --> 00:13:35,240 Although we've evolved for a life on land, 102 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,800 we've become remarkably efficient oceanic hunters. 103 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,960 Adaptability is the secret of our success 104 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:49,040 at discovering new ways to exploit the ocean. 105 00:13:54,800 --> 00:14:00,920 And in a few special places, this means working with the creatures of the sea. 106 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,480 These fishermen of Laguna in Brazil 107 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,600 have forged one of the most extraordinary partnerships 108 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:17,920 between humans and wild animals found anywhere on Earth. 109 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:26,120 Edson is up early to fish the large numbers of mullet 110 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:30,440 that migrate through these waters every May. 111 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:33,360 But there's a problem. 112 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:39,160 The water's so murky the fishermen can't see where to cast their nets. 113 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:47,360 So they join forces with the most intelligent animal in the sea. 114 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:52,200 But, like all relationships, a certain amount of patience is required. 115 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,720 Finally, their friends surface. 116 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,720 CLICKING AND WHISTLING 117 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:12,080 The local bottlenose dolphins are celebrities in Laguna. 118 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:18,160 In fact, Edson and his pal Alfredo know each one by name. 119 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:31,840 Incredibly, the dolphins drive the mullet towards the fishermen, 120 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:37,320 and even signal when to cast their nets, with these distinctive dives. 121 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:57,320 The fishermen say they can tell the size of the school, 122 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,800 and which way it's travelling 123 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,560 from the vigour and direction of the dive. 124 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,560 The dolphins do the hard work herding the mullet. 125 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:17,600 The fish are served to the fishermen on a plate... 126 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:25,320 ..but what the dolphins stand to gain is less clear. 127 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,520 Since they detect prey by echolocation, 128 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,240 they have no problem hunting in the murky water, 129 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:34,280 but picking off individuals from the school is more difficult. 130 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:39,240 It seems the nets panic the fish into breaking formation, 131 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:43,080 making them much easier for the dolphins to chase down. 132 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:03,120 As the nets are hauled in, the benefits of teamwork are revealed. 133 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,000 Edson and the other fishermen have no doubt 134 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,000 how much the dolphins help them. 135 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:56,720 No matter how we catch it, seafood is vital to human survival, 136 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:02,040 providing the main source of protein for about half the world's population. 137 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:12,000 But there's a lot more to our ancient connection with the sea than just food. 138 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,120 The more we've come to depend on the ocean, 139 00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:20,240 and the further we've pushed into its vast frontier, 140 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:24,240 the greater its influence has become in our lives. 141 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,720 The Pacific covers one-third of the globe. 142 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:39,080 The tiny specks of land in the middle of it 143 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:42,960 are about as remote as life can get for a human being. 144 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:57,400 With so few options on land, 145 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:03,760 the surrounding ocean underpins almost every aspect of life on a Pacific island. 146 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:18,480 Over 3,000 kilometres from the nearest continent, 147 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:22,360 Hawaii is one of the most isolated of all. 148 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:30,760 There are few places where the sea has had a greater impact on human existence. 149 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,960 CHANTING SONG 150 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:50,200 MAN: The ocean, significantly to us, it's our home. 151 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:56,160 Our connection is so great, we look at it as our origin. 152 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:00,920 The water is who we are, and the water is our mother, our father, our gods. 153 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:07,920 For Tom "Pohako" Stone, displaying his skill in the ocean 154 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,680 is a central part of what it means to be Hawaiian. 155 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:20,520 Sliding on waves, as it was known, 156 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,400 has been practised by the Polynesians for millennia. 157 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:28,360 But it was around 1,000 years ago, when they arrived in Hawaii, 158 00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:30,440 that it evolved into surfing. 159 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:35,960 TOM: When we actually learned that we could construct boards 160 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,400 to stand up and surf a wave, 161 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:43,520 it became a very ritualistic component of our culture. 162 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:52,200 Far more than just a sport, surfing was a sacred art form for Tom's ancestors. 163 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,600 It was a core part of their society, 164 00:20:54,600 --> 00:21:00,360 and the noble pursuit of warriors, kings and queens. 165 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,760 TOM: We have a lot of history about women that...that surf, 166 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:14,320 and, you know, they surfed so well that they actually reached godly status. 167 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,240 We revered these women. 168 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:36,720 From ancient origins, surfing has now gone global. 169 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,200 And for some, searching for the ride of your life 170 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,560 has become an extreme obsession. 171 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:54,360 December 9th, 2009. 172 00:21:54,360 --> 00:21:57,600 The world's surfing elite has gathered in Hawaii 173 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:02,360 to ride some of the biggest swells to hit these shores in over a decade. 174 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:26,080 Surfing's certainly changed, but for many it's still a way of life 175 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:29,480 and the best riders are still revered as gods 176 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,480 amongst the worldwide surfing tribe. 177 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:47,680 With waves over 15 metres, five storeys high, 178 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:51,360 this is a real test of skill and stamina. 179 00:23:16,120 --> 00:23:20,240 Ken Bradshaw is famed for taming a 26-metre wave, 180 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:23,160 probably the biggest ever ridden. 181 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:28,200 But these unpredictable swells can claim even the most seasoned surfer. 182 00:23:50,120 --> 00:23:53,040 Trapped in a rolling mountain of white water, 183 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:57,240 Ken is tossed around like a rag doll in a washing machine. 184 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:04,920 Just as he surfaces, another giant breaker comes crashing in. 185 00:24:23,120 --> 00:24:26,960 After a relentless pounding from six successive waves, 186 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:30,880 Ken eventually escapes in one piece. 187 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,360 All big wave surfers know the risks, 188 00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:42,240 but the adrenaline and the glory is addictive. 189 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,080 And just as the ancient Hawaiians discovered, 190 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,920 surfing is still the most spectacular demonstration 191 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,920 of our ability to conquer the waves. 192 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:58,040 Our mastery of the sea is impressive, but we'll never tame its full fury. 193 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,160 The enormous waves of December 9th 194 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:08,040 were created by intense tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific. 195 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:15,320 When warm waters fuel the ferocity of depressions over the ocean, 196 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,960 they can create the most violent weather systems on Earth. 197 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,560 People must stay well away from the raging sea 198 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:26,520 during these tempestuous times, 199 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:28,920 but they can't stop it coming to them. 200 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:40,040 These super-storms, with winds of over 300 kilometres per hour, 201 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:42,840 wreak havoc on the human world. 202 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:47,160 SHOUTING 203 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:50,760 It can take years to recover from the destruction. 204 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:55,720 SHOUTING 205 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:02,400 Sometimes over 1,600 kilometres wide, 206 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:08,520 hurricanes and typhoons are persistent reminders of the ocean's awesome force. 207 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:16,000 It's little wonder that coastal people look at these mighty waters 208 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:17,720 with great reverence... 209 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,600 ..but not just for the power of the ocean, 210 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,680 but also the power of the creatures that live in it. 211 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:37,680 In the islands off Papua New Guinea, Blais is known as a sorcerer of the sea. 212 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:47,160 Possessing the mysterious ability to summon sharks from the deep, 213 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:51,960 he's one of the last so-called shark callers, 214 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:55,480 a traditional hunting technique steeped in superstition. 215 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:16,640 HE CHANTS SONG 216 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:33,960 Blais respects ritual, but he also understands shark behaviour. 217 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:40,000 Rattling in the water mimics the activity of feeding fish. 218 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,680 Sharks can detect these vibrations from three kilometres away, 219 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,000 but they don't always respond. 220 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,640 HE CHANTS SONG 221 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:54,720 RATTLING 222 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:12,200 RATTLING 223 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:16,200 And as industrial fishing decimates shark numbers, 224 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:19,120 the waits are getting even longer. 225 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:26,480 RATTLING 226 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:35,320 Finally, a grey reef shark emerges from the blue. 227 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:39,480 Blais has appeased its spirit. 228 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:46,000 But now he has to catch it, and sharks are notoriously skittish. 229 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:54,880 It's a game of cat and mouse. 230 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:06,160 Blais tries to entice the shark close enough to slip a noose around its neck... 231 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:14,120 ...but one false move and it's game over. 232 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:24,960 Finally it takes the bait. Slowly he prepares the noose. 233 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:51,720 Blais can't keep hold of the thrashing shark, 234 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:55,240 but this wooden float prevents it diving. 235 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:18,360 Then, as if under a spell, the shark suddenly stops. 236 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:29,920 But in fact the float exploits a quirk in shark biology, 237 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:35,840 exhausting it so much, it enters a state known as tonic immobility. 238 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:40,640 Blais approaches with caution. 239 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:46,800 The shark is still very much alive and its bite could cause serious injury. 240 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:03,840 In the past, Blais would have killed the shark for food. 241 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:08,760 But today he lets it go free. 242 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:15,200 Blais is committed to keeping his shark-calling culture alive... 243 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:17,800 SOUNDING CONCH 244 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:23,080 ...and this means keeping sharks alive. 245 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:44,040 And it's not just traditions that are threatened. 246 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:47,680 In some seas around the world, 247 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:51,320 a growing shortage of fish is forcing people deeper and deeper, 248 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:54,360 just to land a decent catch. 249 00:32:55,360 --> 00:33:00,080 So deep, they venture to the very limits of human survival. 250 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:08,640 Welcome to the world of the Pa-aling divers, 251 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:12,480 perhaps the most dangerous fishing method of all. 252 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:17,040 80 men, many of whom are still teenagers, 253 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:20,360 are preparing to dive to over 40 metres, 254 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:26,600 breathing air pumped through these makeshift tubes by this rusty compressor. 255 00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:33,480 Joseph is one of the youngest aboard, but he's aware of the risks. 256 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:44,120 He's already witnessed just how lethal his job can be. 257 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:05,840 The seas around the Philippines were once rich with life, 258 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:07,840 but they've been so over-exploited 259 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:13,600 that decent fish numbers are only found at perilous depths. 260 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:18,360 SHOUTING 261 00:34:27,240 --> 00:34:32,120 The divers guide the huge ball of nets 40 metres down to the sea floor, 262 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:35,520 but all the while their air supply is at risk. 263 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:39,320 Back on the boat, 264 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:42,920 the ailing compressor and the ever-worsening tangle of tubes 265 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:44,480 need constant attention. 266 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:51,080 Like a failing heart pumping through clogged arteries, 267 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:53,320 if this circulation system fails, 268 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:57,400 at this depth, it's almost certain death. 269 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:06,400 Joseph and the team unravel the nets 270 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:09,040 and lay them out by securing them to rocks. 271 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:23,840 They must work fast. 272 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:27,400 Joseph knows, the longer he spends at these depths, 273 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:29,520 the more dangerous it becomes. 274 00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:33,440 With every breath, more nitrogen dissolves in his body, 275 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:38,600 making him increasingly vulnerable to decompression sickness - "the bends". 276 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:02,640 The top of the net is suspended by plastic containers filled with air, 277 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:06,280 creating a huge cavernous trap beneath. 278 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:17,680 Now it's time to set the scare line. 279 00:36:27,720 --> 00:36:33,480 The boats drag the 1,000-metre line to form a huge circle around the net, 280 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:36,560 and the divers position themselves along it. 281 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:45,040 Joseph and the team begin closing the trap by swimming towards the net. 282 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:48,480 The waving streamers and the curtain of rising bubbles 283 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:51,160 panics the fish and they flee. 284 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:01,440 As the line of divers tightens, more and more fish 285 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:04,600 swim straight into the gaping net. 286 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:12,480 This deep-sea round-up is so effective, 287 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:16,120 it can take 50% of the fish from a reef. 288 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:36,200 The net is closed, and now Joseph must do something even more dangerous, 289 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:40,840 get inside and herd the catch to the far end. 290 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:04,040 On deck, the tangled web of tubes is getting worse. 291 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:26,680 Once the catch is concentrated, the net is released from its anchor points. 292 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:36,400 Now comes the most lethal stage of all - 293 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:39,880 guiding the net as it shoots to the surface. 294 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:44,600 All too often, the divers ascend too quickly and get the bends. 295 00:39:04,040 --> 00:39:08,440 As the catch is hauled onto the boat, its size is revealed. 296 00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:13,520 Just under a tonne of fish isn't bad 297 00:39:13,520 --> 00:39:18,760 but it's nowhere near what these fishermen were landing a few years ago. 298 00:39:19,760 --> 00:39:21,800 And this isn't the only problem. 299 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:24,840 Some of the crew do have the bends. 300 00:39:25,840 --> 00:39:29,960 One diver has returned to the bottom to relieve the symptoms, 301 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:33,200 whilst, closer to the surface, another is massaged 302 00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:36,480 to release the painful bubbles in his spine. 303 00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:43,600 Every day, these Pa-aling divers 304 00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:47,280 are taking greater risks for dwindling rewards. 305 00:40:07,240 --> 00:40:09,840 Joseph has his dreams, 306 00:40:09,840 --> 00:40:16,800 but the harsh reality is he'll be diving twice again today just to make ends meet. 307 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:21,440 We've become so successful in the ocean 308 00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:27,200 it's predicted that in 50 years almost all the fish could be gone... 309 00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:32,720 ..and this may not be the only change to come. 310 00:40:34,160 --> 00:40:38,080 All around the world, sea levels are rising. 311 00:40:38,080 --> 00:40:42,920 Soon our planet could be even more dominated by the ocean, 312 00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:47,560 and our ability to survive here will be pushed to the very limit. 313 00:40:54,600 --> 00:40:59,920 Yet there are some people who've already adapted to life in a water world. 314 00:41:04,720 --> 00:41:09,840 In the coral seas between Borneo, Sulawesi and the Philippines, 315 00:41:09,840 --> 00:41:13,200 there are people who live more intimately with the ocean 316 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:15,200 than any other culture on earth. 317 00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:29,280 The Bajau Laut build their lives in the middle of the sea, 318 00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:31,920 often many kilometres from land. 319 00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:34,080 CHATTERING 320 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:48,280 The ocean has a profound influence on every aspect of their existence. 321 00:41:48,280 --> 00:41:51,760 They even measure the passage of time by the rhythm of the tides 322 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:54,400 rather than minutes and hours. 323 00:42:02,720 --> 00:42:07,280 And there are some whose relationship with the sea runs even deeper. 324 00:42:16,560 --> 00:42:19,240 The Bajau, who live on houseboats, 325 00:42:19,240 --> 00:42:23,080 have almost completely severed their ties with the land. 326 00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:31,120 Nohara rarely sets foot ashore. 327 00:42:57,840 --> 00:43:04,320 Nohara and her family usually only visit land to trade for rice and fuel, 328 00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:07,160 or to mend their boats. 329 00:43:07,160 --> 00:43:10,760 But, like many Bajau, Nohara gets "land-sick" 330 00:43:10,760 --> 00:43:13,280 and she prefers to stay aboard. 331 00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:20,360 Her family has no nationality, no fixed abode and almost no money, 332 00:43:20,360 --> 00:43:23,920 but the ocean provides everything they need. 333 00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:30,200 They eat a bewildering variety of seafood. 334 00:43:37,360 --> 00:43:42,240 Her children adapt to an aquatic way of life from a very young age. 335 00:43:46,320 --> 00:43:50,640 Some Bajau children spend so much time in the sea, 336 00:43:50,640 --> 00:43:53,560 their eyes adjust to focus better underwater. 337 00:43:57,080 --> 00:44:02,160 But there's one member of this community whose adaptation is even more staggering. 338 00:44:05,760 --> 00:44:08,800 Sulbin is an underwater hunter, 339 00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:12,640 and the living proof of just how far we can push our bodies 340 00:44:12,640 --> 00:44:14,440 towards a life aquatic. 341 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:43,120 Sulbin's search for supper takes him on an incredible journey under the waves, 342 00:44:43,120 --> 00:44:47,080 and his abilities will take your breath away. 343 00:44:51,320 --> 00:44:56,840 First he prepares by entering a trance-like state. 344 00:45:15,320 --> 00:45:22,040 Sulbin is about to push his body almost beyond the realms of possibility, 345 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:25,960 and if you want to try and join him, get ready to hold your breath 346 00:45:25,960 --> 00:45:27,880 for as long as you can. 347 00:45:33,440 --> 00:45:36,840 He takes one last breath. 348 00:45:58,840 --> 00:46:04,280 Focused and calm, Sulbin descends 20 metres to the sea floor. 349 00:46:14,160 --> 00:46:18,320 His heartbeat slows to around 30 beats per minute. 350 00:46:19,840 --> 00:46:22,920 The pressure at these depths crushes his chest, 351 00:46:22,920 --> 00:46:27,720 squeezing the air in his lungs to one-third of its usual volume, 352 00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:34,840 Even without weights, he's negatively buoyant enough 353 00:46:34,840 --> 00:46:39,120 to stride across the bottom of the sea as if hunting on land. 354 00:46:56,680 --> 00:47:00,120 By now, the carbon dioxide in his blood causes 355 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:03,520 an almost irresistible urge to gasp for air, 356 00:47:03,520 --> 00:47:07,640 but Sulbin must keep his mind on the hunt. 357 00:47:16,920 --> 00:47:22,080 After a minute and three-quarters, Sulbin spots a fish. 358 00:47:33,760 --> 00:47:40,320 Sulbin can go even deeper than this and stay down for up to five minutes, 359 00:47:41,480 --> 00:47:45,640 but he's not one to show off and, after all, he's got what he came for. 360 00:47:48,440 --> 00:47:54,080 Two-and-a-half minutes of hunting under pressure on one breath. 361 00:47:54,080 --> 00:47:58,040 Perhaps the idea of humans existing as marine mammals 362 00:47:58,040 --> 00:48:00,440 is not so far-fetched after all. 363 00:48:12,320 --> 00:48:15,480 Through amazing adaptability and endeavour, 364 00:48:15,480 --> 00:48:19,000 we've pushed our limits of survival into the ocean 365 00:48:19,000 --> 00:48:22,920 and, as we've immersed ourselves deeper in the sea, 366 00:48:22,920 --> 00:48:26,200 it's had a profound effect on our lives. 367 00:48:32,160 --> 00:48:37,160 But as we continue to change the nature of the greatest environment on our planet, 368 00:48:37,160 --> 00:48:42,840 how we'll adapt in the future remains to be seen. 369 00:48:54,080 --> 00:48:58,960 The most technical and demanding shoots for the Human Planet: Oceans programme 370 00:48:58,960 --> 00:49:01,760 were those that took place underwater. 371 00:49:03,000 --> 00:49:07,800 The dive camera crew were well prepared to film fishermen in the Philippines. 372 00:49:07,800 --> 00:49:12,280 But they weren't quite prepared for the dangers they witnessed 373 00:49:12,280 --> 00:49:14,840 and the friendships they'd forge. 374 00:49:18,080 --> 00:49:20,360 Liminangcong is home to the 80 375 00:49:20,360 --> 00:49:23,360 Pa-aling fishermen that the film crew will follow. 376 00:49:39,120 --> 00:49:44,120 Two fishing boats are crammed with 80 divers, their food and provisions, 377 00:49:44,120 --> 00:49:47,360 before heading out for two weeks at sea. 378 00:49:51,080 --> 00:49:53,800 At the fishing grounds, Simon and Roger are playing catch-up, 379 00:49:53,800 --> 00:49:58,320 as their technical underwater equipment is slowing them down. 380 00:49:58,320 --> 00:50:00,840 They've dropped the lines. They didn't even tell us. 381 00:50:00,840 --> 00:50:03,360 The captain seems to be on a mission to prove something today 382 00:50:03,360 --> 00:50:05,840 so we've got to go fast. 383 00:50:08,960 --> 00:50:12,480 Underwater filming is risky, but these risks are nothing 384 00:50:12,480 --> 00:50:16,440 compared to those faced daily by the compressor divers. 385 00:50:20,440 --> 00:50:24,040 Compressor diving is a dangerous way to make a living. 386 00:50:25,240 --> 00:50:28,360 Air, often tainted with diesel, 387 00:50:28,360 --> 00:50:31,840 is pumped through thin plastic tubes right down to the divers. 388 00:50:34,840 --> 00:50:38,200 At 64, Joning is one of the veterans on the boat, 389 00:50:38,200 --> 00:50:41,440 and knows the harsh realities of compressor diving. 390 00:50:55,520 --> 00:50:59,240 Most of the divers are young and fit, and they need to be. 391 00:50:59,240 --> 00:51:00,680 It's physically demanding work, 392 00:51:00,680 --> 00:51:05,240 and the men are totally reliant on the compressor to keep them breathing. 393 00:51:21,840 --> 00:51:26,040 To use, basically, what's essentially a garden hose down at 25 metres, 394 00:51:26,040 --> 00:51:27,920 to pump air into your mouth, is just mad. 395 00:51:30,960 --> 00:51:34,240 The biggest danger for these fishermen is known as 396 00:51:34,240 --> 00:51:37,200 decompression sickness, or "the bends". 397 00:51:39,080 --> 00:51:43,760 The bends can happen when divers have been down deep for a long time, 398 00:51:43,760 --> 00:51:46,560 and then come up too quickly to the surface. 399 00:51:46,560 --> 00:51:49,520 Nitrogen is absorbed into the body 400 00:51:49,520 --> 00:51:50,960 and, as the divers rise up, 401 00:51:50,960 --> 00:51:55,880 bubbles are formed that can lodge in the joints, causing intense pain. 402 00:51:58,040 --> 00:52:03,400 Two guys are in real trouble on this deep dive. 403 00:52:03,400 --> 00:52:06,280 Martin, a young diver, is in such pain 404 00:52:06,280 --> 00:52:10,000 that his friend tries to relieve it by massaging him. 405 00:52:12,240 --> 00:52:15,440 Once on the surface, it's obvious to everyone 406 00:52:15,440 --> 00:52:17,880 that Martin is still in trouble. 407 00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:27,240 If not treated, the bends can lead to permanent injuries and even death. 408 00:52:29,320 --> 00:52:34,080 Meanwhile, the second diver, Michael, is also having problems. 409 00:52:34,080 --> 00:52:37,200 It seems like two men just came up with the bends. 410 00:52:37,200 --> 00:52:39,600 They went pretty deep on this dive, trying to get more fish. 411 00:52:39,600 --> 00:52:43,800 But we've taken them onto our boat to get some medical attention 412 00:52:43,800 --> 00:52:46,240 so, hopefully, they're all right. 413 00:52:47,280 --> 00:52:51,680 Simon tries to relieve their symptoms with the crew's first aid supplies. 414 00:52:51,680 --> 00:52:53,160 One more. 415 00:52:53,160 --> 00:52:56,200 Michael's had 15 minutes on oxygen. Now put Martin 416 00:52:56,200 --> 00:53:00,560 onto another set of 15 minutes. This is the...you know, 417 00:53:00,560 --> 00:53:02,720 the rudimentary decompression first aid 418 00:53:02,720 --> 00:53:04,360 we can give them at the moment - 419 00:53:04,360 --> 00:53:08,360 give them oxygen, give them water to rehydrate and keep them warm. 420 00:53:08,360 --> 00:53:12,320 Both of them are saying that their symptoms are decreasing 421 00:53:12,320 --> 00:53:16,480 and they are looking a lot more happy than they did about half an hour ago. 422 00:53:16,480 --> 00:53:18,280 He gives them oxygen, 423 00:53:18,280 --> 00:53:22,080 which helps reduce the nitrogen in their bodies and relieves their pain, 424 00:53:22,080 --> 00:53:25,640 but even this most basic of diving first aid 425 00:53:25,640 --> 00:53:28,880 is not normally available to the Pa-aling fishermen. 426 00:53:28,880 --> 00:53:30,320 No pain? 427 00:53:30,320 --> 00:53:32,520 This isn't surprising 428 00:53:32,520 --> 00:53:36,760 as the fishermen in the Philippines belong to the lowest wage earners in the country, 429 00:53:36,760 --> 00:53:41,600 earning about 25 US dollars for a week's work. 430 00:53:42,880 --> 00:53:45,880 However, for many, like Joning and his family, 431 00:53:45,880 --> 00:53:48,320 this is their whole way of life. 432 00:54:19,080 --> 00:54:23,160 His son had got the bends, and now has to use crutches. 433 00:54:24,840 --> 00:54:29,080 But this isn't the only time the dangers of compressor diving 434 00:54:29,080 --> 00:54:30,920 have hit Joning's family. 435 00:55:03,840 --> 00:55:05,600 I'm very sorry about that. 436 00:55:05,600 --> 00:55:09,200 WOMAN TRANSLATES FROM ENGLISH Yeah. That's terrible. 437 00:55:09,200 --> 00:55:11,640 MUTTERS That's really... 438 00:55:11,640 --> 00:55:14,560 That's really sad, isn't it? It is. 439 00:55:25,040 --> 00:55:28,640 Having spent a week living and working with the compressor divers, 440 00:55:28,640 --> 00:55:32,680 Simon and Roger have become very close to the fishermen. 441 00:55:32,680 --> 00:55:34,720 CHATTERING 442 00:55:34,720 --> 00:55:37,280 To fully understand their way of life, 443 00:55:37,280 --> 00:55:42,000 Simon needed to experience first-hand what it's like to be a compressor diver. 444 00:55:44,760 --> 00:55:49,120 So Joning is keen to take him on a shallow dive. 445 00:55:49,120 --> 00:55:50,800 AIR HISSES 446 00:55:50,800 --> 00:55:54,360 I've seen the boys do it. They've made it look easy. 447 00:55:54,360 --> 00:55:57,920 But we've had several guys that have gone down with symptoms of the bends. 448 00:55:57,920 --> 00:56:01,040 I've got to admit that I'm feeling a little bit apprehensive. 449 00:56:06,200 --> 00:56:11,440 Simon has scuba-dived for 16 years and has logged over 3,000 dives, 450 00:56:11,440 --> 00:56:15,160 but this is diving at its most basic. 451 00:56:21,640 --> 00:56:25,120 About the first minute, I got sent out, 452 00:56:25,120 --> 00:56:28,560 I was, er...a little bit petrified, actually. 453 00:56:28,560 --> 00:56:33,000 This is a violent thing. It's just punching air down your throat. 454 00:56:33,000 --> 00:56:34,120 It's quite mad. 455 00:56:34,120 --> 00:56:37,040 It took me a minute to kind of get myself under control 456 00:56:37,040 --> 00:56:39,240 and then once you've got the hang of it, 457 00:56:39,240 --> 00:56:42,800 and once you believe in it and trust in it, then you can swim on. 458 00:57:00,920 --> 00:57:03,920 There were a couple of times when I lost it, though. 459 00:57:03,920 --> 00:57:05,840 I was flailing around everywhere. 460 00:57:05,840 --> 00:57:08,840 I was trying to find it again and get it back in. 461 00:57:08,840 --> 00:57:14,040 But Joning was keeping a good eye on me, and the rest of the guys were as well, 462 00:57:14,040 --> 00:57:19,800 but I wouldn't want to do that for a whole fish-catching session 463 00:57:19,800 --> 00:57:21,240 that's for sure. 464 00:57:22,880 --> 00:57:26,800 A strong camaraderie between the divers has been forged. 465 00:57:26,800 --> 00:57:30,200 The film crew have captured a dramatic sequence, 466 00:57:30,200 --> 00:57:34,240 and the fishermen head home happy, with a boatload of fish to sell. 467 00:57:53,760 --> 00:57:59,040 Joning and everyone on board have finished another Pa-aling fishing trip, 468 00:57:59,040 --> 00:58:02,840 and all can return safe and sound to their families.