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Only one creature
has carved a life for itself

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in every habitat on earth.

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That creature is us.

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All over the world, we still use our
ingenuity to survive in the wild places,

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far from the city lights,
face to face with raw nature.

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This is the Human Planet.

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The sea covers 70%
of our planet's surface.

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It's home to three-quarters
of all life on earth.

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All the creatures found here are perfectly
adapted to thrive in the ocean...

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...all except one.

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We are not evolved for a life aquatic...

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...and we're way out of our depth
in this dangerous and alien world.

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But great opportunities await those people
who dare to venture into the water.

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As we immerse ourselves
ever deeper in the big blue,

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how do we overcome
the enormous challenges that confront us?

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Our relationship with the ocean
begins on the coast.

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Even here,
the sea is a force to be reckoned with.

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Galicia, in Northern Spain, is home

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to one of Europe's
most treacherous coasts.

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But the more extreme the conditions,
the greater the rewards,

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if, like Javier and Angel,
you're prepared to take the risk.

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Javier and Angel are on the hunt
for a strange creature

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that clings to the wave-battered rocks...

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at the bottom of these cliffs.

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They have to move fast.
Their quarry is only exposed at low tide.

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Vamos! Arriba! Arriba!

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(SPEAKS SPANISH)

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It's goose barnacles they're after,

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a highly prized delicacy
that can sell for 200 euros a kilo.

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But it's not easy pickings.
Each year, about five collectors die.

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Few dare work when it's this rough.

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But those who do can charge
a premium for their harvest.

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Despite the onslaught,
Javier's filled his bag.

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Now it's Angel's turn,
and though it's getting even rougher...

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...he's going in with no safety rope.

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Working unattached
allows him to dash between waves

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and reach the lowest rocks,
where the biggest barnacles grow.

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But one slip could be fatal.

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Although the tide's coming in,
Angel's determined to collect more.

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Javier and Angel's gamble paid off.

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In two hours, they've gathered
enough goose barnacles

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to fetch around 800 euros.
Not bad for a day at the seaside.

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It's this abundance of food
that entices us into the waves.

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And just a little further out,
there are even greater riches.

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Coastal waters account forjust
one-tenth of the world's oceans,

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but they're home
to the vast majority of marine life.

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The trouble is, as we venture further
from the shore, the dangers escalate.

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Benjamin's training to be a harpoonist

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and he knows, any day now,
all he's learned could be put to the test.

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He lives on a small Indonesian island
called Lembata.

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Few crops grow in this rocky land,

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and even surviving from the sea
is a struggle.

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(CHATTER)

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But there's one animal they wait for

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that can dramatically change
their fortunes.

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(SHOUTING)

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(SHOUTING)

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The whole village springs into action.

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(SHOUTING)

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It's a race against time
to get out to sea.

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Benjamin and the rest of the crew

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are about to take on
the biggest predator that's ever lived.

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They all know the risks,

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but opportunities don't come
much bigger than this.

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The sperm whale.

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(WHALE SONG)

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Up to 1 8 metres long, these mighty
leviathans are powerful animals

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and they won't go down without a fight.

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With simple wooden boats
and handmade weapons,

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the whalers seem ill-prepared for battle,
but this is how it's been for 600 years.

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They can only harpoon the whale
when it surfaces to breathe...

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...so they need to move fast.

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Benjamin's brother prepares
to launch himself at the whale.

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This is the most dangerous moment of all.

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But he misses,

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and now someone else must step up
before the whale dives.

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(SHOUTING)

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Benjamin's moment has arrived.

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He's got it.

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But the battle has just begun.

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As the whale fights to break free,
they move to harpoon it again.

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They need to prevent it from diving
and pulling a boat under.

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But it's not enough.

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Terrified of the thrashing whale,
the crew scramble to safety.

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Another boat attacks
and harpoons the whale once more.

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Now dragging several boats,
the whale slowly tires.

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Eventually, its struggles are exhausted

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and a final cut, through its backbone,
is made.

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It's been an epic eight-hour battle,

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but Benjamin has shown his skill
and bravery...

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...and this time everyone returns
safely home.

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The death of a whale may be sad to us,
but this is their lifeline.

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One catch can feed a village for months,

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and this small-scale hunt in Lembata

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doesn't threaten whale numbers
in these oceans.

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They only take around six whales a year.

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Nothing is wasted. The meat is shared out.

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As the man who dealt the decisive blow,
Benjamin gets a larger share,

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and for a while at least,
his family won't be going hungry.

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(CHATTER)

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Although we've evolved for a life on land,

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we've become
remarkably efficient oceanic hunters.

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Adaptability is the secret of our success

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at discovering new ways
to exploit the ocean.

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And in a few special places, this means
working with the creatures of the sea.

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These fishermen of Laguna in Brazil

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have forged one of the most
extraordinary partnerships

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between humans and wild animals
found anywhere on earth.

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Edson is up early
to fish the large numbers of mullet

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that migrate through these waters
every May.

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But there's a problem.

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The water's so murky, the fishermen
can't see where to cast their nets.

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So, they join forces with
the most intelligent animal in the sea.

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But, like all relationships,
a certain amount of patience is required.

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(CHATTER)

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Finally, their friends surface.

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(CLICKING AND WHISTLING)

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The local bottlenose dolphins
are celebrities in Laguna.

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In fact, Edson and his pal Alfredo
know each one by name.

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Incredibly, the dolphins drive the mullet
towards the fishermen,

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and even signal when to cast their nets,
with these distinctive dives.

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(CHATTER)

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The fishermen say they can tell
the size of the school,

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and which way it's travelling,

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from the vigour and direction of the dive.

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The dolphins do the hard work,
herding the mullet.

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The fish are served
to the fishermen on a plate...

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...but what the dolphins stand to gain
is less clear.

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Since they detect prey by echolocation,

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they have no problem
hunting in the murky water,

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but picking off individuals
from the school is more difficult.

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It seems the nets panic the fish
into breaking formation,

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making them much easier
for the dolphins to chase down.

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(CHATTER AND SHOUTING)

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(CHATTER)

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As the nets are hauled in,
the benefits of teamwork are revealed.

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(CHATTER)

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Edson and the other fishermen
have no doubt

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how much the dolphins help them.

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No matter how we catch it,
seafood is vital to human survival,

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providing the main source of protein
for about half the world's population.

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(SHOUTING)

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But there's a lot more to our ancient
connection with the sea than just food.

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The more we've come to depend
on the ocean,

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and the further we've pushed
into its vast frontier,

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the greater its influence
has become in our lives.

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The Pacific covers one-third of the globe.

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The tiny specks of land
in the middle of it

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are about as remote as life can get
for a human being.

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With so few options on land,

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the surrounding ocean underpins almost
every aspect of life on a Pacific island.

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Over 3,000 kilometres
from the nearest continent,

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Hawaii is one of the most isolated of all.

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There are few places where the sea has had
a greater impact on human existence.

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(CHANTING SONG)

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(CHANTING SONG)

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MAN: The ocean, significantly to us,
it's...it's our home.

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Our connection is so great,
we look at it as our origin.

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The water is who we are, and the water
is our mother, our father, our gods.

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For Tom ''Pohako''Stone,
displaying his skill in the ocean

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is a central part of what it means
to be Hawaiian.

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Sliding on waves, as it was known,

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has been practised
by the Polynesians for millennia.

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But it was around 1,000 years ago,
when they arrived in Hawaii,

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that it evolved into surfing.

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TOM: When we actually learned
that we could construct boards

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to stand up and surf a wave,

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it became a very ritualistic component
of our culture.

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Far more than just a sport, surfing was
a sacred art form for Tom's ancestors.

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It was a core part of their society,

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and the noble pursuit
of warriors, kings and queens.

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TOM: We have a lot of history
about women that...that surf,

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and, you know, they surfed so well
that they actually reached godly status.

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We revered these women.

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From ancient origins,
surfing has now gone global.

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And for some,
searching for the ride of your life

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has become an extreme obsession.

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December 9th, 2009.

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The world's surfing elite
has gathered in Hawaii,

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to ride some of the biggest swells
to hit these shores in over a decade.

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Surfing's certainly changed,
but for many it's still a way of life,

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and the best riders are still
revered as gods

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amongst the worldwide surfing tribe.

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With waves over 1 5 metres,
five storeys high,

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this is a real test of skill and stamina.

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Ken Bradshaw is famed
for taming a 26-metre wave,

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probably the biggest ever ridden.

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But these unpredictable swells
can claim even the most seasoned surfer.

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Trapped in a rolling mountain
of white water,

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Ken is tossed around like a rag doll
in a washing machine.

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Just as he surfaces,
another giant breaker comes crashing in.

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After a relentless pounding
from six successive waves,

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Ken eventually escapes in one piece.

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00:24:39,687 --> 00:24:42,599
All big wave surfers know the risks,

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but the adrenaline and the glory
is addictive.

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And just as the ancient Hawaiians
discovered,

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surfing is still the most
spectacular demonstration

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00:24:55,207 --> 00:24:58,165
of our ability to conquer the waves.

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Our mastery of the sea is impressive,
but we'll never tame its full fury.

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The enormous waves of December 9th

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were created by intense
tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific.

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00:26:14,767 --> 00:26:19,557
When warm waters fuel the ferocity
of depressions over the ocean,

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they can create
the most violent weather systems on earth.

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00:26:24,767 --> 00:26:27,804
People must stay well away
from the raging sea

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00:26:27,847 --> 00:26:30,759
during these tempestuous times,

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00:26:30,807 --> 00:26:33,162
but they can't stop it coming to them.

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00:26:39,327 --> 00:26:44,276
These super-storms, with winds
of over 300 kilometres per hour,

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wreak havoc on the human world.

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00:26:48,967 --> 00:26:51,401
(SHOUTING)

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00:26:51,447 --> 00:26:54,996
It can take years to recover
from the destruction.

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00:26:57,527 --> 00:26:59,961
(SHOUTING)

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00:27:03,127 --> 00:27:06,642
Sometimes over 1,600 kilometres wide,

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00:27:06,687 --> 00:27:12,762
hurricanes and typhoons are persistent
reminders of the ocean's awesome force.

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00:27:16,687 --> 00:27:20,236
It's little wonder that coastal people
look at these mighty waters

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00:27:20,287 --> 00:27:21,959
with great reverence...

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00:27:23,487 --> 00:27:26,843
...but not just for
the power of the ocean,

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00:27:26,887 --> 00:27:29,924
but also the power
of the creatures that live in it.

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00:27:34,927 --> 00:27:41,924
In the islands off Papua New Guinea,
Blais is known as a sorcerer of the sea.

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00:27:46,847 --> 00:27:51,398
Possessing the mysterious ability
to summon sharks from the deep,

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00:27:51,447 --> 00:27:56,202
he's one of the last so-called
''shark callers';

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a traditional hunting technique
steeped in superstition.

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(CHANTS SONG)

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00:28:33,727 --> 00:28:38,198
Blais respects ritual,
but he also understands shark behaviour.

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00:28:38,247 --> 00:28:44,243
Rattling in the water
mimics the activity of feeding fish.

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00:28:44,287 --> 00:28:47,916
Sharks can detect these vibrations
from three kilometres away,

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00:28:47,967 --> 00:28:50,242
but they don't always respond.

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(CHANTS SONG)

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(RATTLING)

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(RATTLING)

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00:29:16,487 --> 00:29:20,446
And as industrial fishing
decimates shark numbers,

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00:29:20,487 --> 00:29:23,365
the waits are getting even longer.

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(RATTLING)

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00:29:34,967 --> 00:29:39,563
Finally, a grey reef shark
emerges from the blue.

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00:29:40,847 --> 00:29:43,725
Blais has appeased its spirit.

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00:29:45,247 --> 00:29:50,241
But now he has to catch it,
and sharks are notoriously skittish.

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00:29:56,967 --> 00:30:00,243
It's a game of cat and mouse.

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00:30:06,207 --> 00:30:10,405
Blais tries to entice the shark close
enough to slip a noose around its neck...

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00:30:15,047 --> 00:30:18,357
...but one false move and it's game over.

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00:30:23,247 --> 00:30:29,197
Finally it takes the bait.
Slowly he prepares the noose.

240
00:30:52,247 --> 00:30:55,956
Blais can't keep hold of
the thrashing shark,

241
00:30:56,007 --> 00:30:59,477
but this wooden float prevents it diving.

242
00:31:17,407 --> 00:31:22,606
Then, as if under a spell,
the shark suddenly stops.

243
00:31:29,487 --> 00:31:34,163
But in fact the float exploits
a quirk in shark biology,

244
00:31:34,207 --> 00:31:40,077
exhausting it so much, it enters a state
known as tonic immobility.

245
00:31:42,487 --> 00:31:44,876
Blais approaches with caution.

246
00:31:45,887 --> 00:31:51,041
The shark is still very much alive
and its bite could cause serious injury.

247
00:32:04,127 --> 00:32:08,086
In the past, Blais would have
killed the shark for food.

248
00:32:09,847 --> 00:32:12,998
But today he lets it go free.

249
00:32:15,527 --> 00:32:19,440
Blais is committed to keeping
his shark-calling culture alive...

250
00:32:19,487 --> 00:32:22,047
(SOUNDING HORN)

251
00:32:24,527 --> 00:32:27,325
...and this means keeping sharks alive.

252
00:32:44,327 --> 00:32:48,286
And it's not just traditions
that are threatened.

253
00:32:49,887 --> 00:32:51,923
In some seas around the world,

254
00:32:51,967 --> 00:32:55,562
a growing shortage of fish
is forcing people deeper and deeper,

255
00:32:55,607 --> 00:32:58,599
just to land a decent catch.

256
00:32:59,647 --> 00:33:04,323
So deep, they venture
to the very limits of human survival.

257
00:33:10,127 --> 00:33:12,880
Welcome to the world
of the Pa-aling divers,

258
00:33:12,927 --> 00:33:16,715
perhaps the most dangerous
fishing method of all.

259
00:33:18,167 --> 00:33:21,284
80 men, many of whom are still teenagers,

260
00:33:21,327 --> 00:33:24,603
are preparing to dive to over 40 metres,

261
00:33:24,647 --> 00:33:30,836
breathing air pumped through these
makeshift tubes by this rusty compressor.

262
00:33:32,047 --> 00:33:37,724
Joseph is one of the youngest aboard,
but he's aware of the risks.

263
00:33:44,327 --> 00:33:48,366
He's already witnessed
just how lethal his job can be.

264
00:34:06,327 --> 00:34:10,081
The seas around the Philippines
were once rich with life,

265
00:34:10,127 --> 00:34:12,083
but they've been so over-exploited

266
00:34:12,127 --> 00:34:17,838
that decent fish numbers
are only found at perilous depths.

267
00:34:20,767 --> 00:34:22,598
(SHOUTING)

268
00:34:31,527 --> 00:34:36,362
The divers guide the huge ball of nets
40 metres down to the sea floor,

269
00:34:36,407 --> 00:34:39,763
but all the while
their air supply is at risk.

270
00:34:41,607 --> 00:34:43,563
Back on the boat,

271
00:34:43,607 --> 00:34:47,156
the ailing compressor
and the ever-worsening tangle of tubes

272
00:34:47,207 --> 00:34:48,720
need constant attention.

273
00:34:51,047 --> 00:34:55,325
Like a failing heart
pumping through clogged arteries,

274
00:34:55,367 --> 00:34:57,562
if this circulation system fails,

275
00:34:57,607 --> 00:35:01,646
at this depth, it's almost certain death.

276
00:35:08,447 --> 00:35:10,642
Joseph and the team unravel the nets

277
00:35:10,687 --> 00:35:13,281
and lay them out
by securing them to rocks.

278
00:35:26,407 --> 00:35:28,079
They must work fast.

279
00:35:28,127 --> 00:35:31,642
Joseph knows, the longer he spends
at these depths,

280
00:35:31,687 --> 00:35:33,757
the more dangerous it becomes.

281
00:35:33,807 --> 00:35:37,686
With every breath,
more nitrogen dissolves in his body,

282
00:35:37,727 --> 00:35:42,847
making him increasingly vulnerable
to decompression sickness - ''the bends''.

283
00:36:02,607 --> 00:36:06,885
The top of the net is suspended
by plastic containers filled with air,

284
00:36:06,927 --> 00:36:10,522
creating a huge cavernous trap beneath.

285
00:36:18,367 --> 00:36:21,916
Now it's time to set the scare-line.

286
00:36:32,007 --> 00:36:37,718
The boats drag the 1,000-metre line
to form a huge circle around the net,

287
00:36:37,767 --> 00:36:40,804
and the divers position themselves
along it.

288
00:36:43,647 --> 00:36:49,279
Joseph and the team begin closing
the trap by swimming towards the net.

289
00:36:49,327 --> 00:36:52,717
The waving streamers
and the curtain of rising bubbles

290
00:36:52,767 --> 00:36:55,406
panics the fish and they flee.

291
00:37:02,687 --> 00:37:05,679
As the line of divers tightens,
more and more fish

292
00:37:05,727 --> 00:37:08,844
swim straight into the gaping net.

293
00:37:14,687 --> 00:37:16,723
This deep-sea round-up is so effective,

294
00:37:16,767 --> 00:37:20,362
it can take 50% of the fish
from a reef.

295
00:37:36,287 --> 00:37:40,439
The net is closed, and now Joseph must do
something even more dangerous,

296
00:37:40,487 --> 00:37:45,083
get inside and herd the catch
to the far end.

297
00:38:03,887 --> 00:38:08,278
On deck, the tangled web of tubes
is getting worse.

298
00:38:26,287 --> 00:38:30,917
Once the catch is concentrated, the net
is released from its anchor points.

299
00:38:37,607 --> 00:38:40,644
Now comes the most lethal stage of all -

300
00:38:40,687 --> 00:38:44,123
guiding the net
as it shoots to the surface.

301
00:38:44,167 --> 00:38:48,843
All too often, the divers ascend
too quickly and get the bends.

302
00:39:08,327 --> 00:39:12,684
As the catch is hauled onto the boat,
its size is revealed.

303
00:39:14,767 --> 00:39:17,759
Just under a tonne of fish isn't bad,

304
00:39:17,807 --> 00:39:23,006
but it's nowhere near what these fishermen
were landing a few years ago.

305
00:39:24,047 --> 00:39:30,077
And this isn't the only problem.
Some of the crew do have the bends.

306
00:39:30,127 --> 00:39:34,200
One diver has returned to the bottom
to relieve the symptoms,

307
00:39:34,247 --> 00:39:37,444
whilst, closer to the surface,
another is massaged

308
00:39:37,487 --> 00:39:40,718
to release the painful bubbles
in his spine.

309
00:39:45,327 --> 00:39:47,841
Every day, these Pa-aling divers

310
00:39:47,887 --> 00:39:51,516
are taking greater risks
for dwindling rewards.

311
00:40:11,527 --> 00:40:14,087
Joseph has his dreams,

312
00:40:14,127 --> 00:40:21,044
but the harsh reality is he'll be diving
twice again today,just to make ends meet.

313
00:40:23,327 --> 00:40:25,682
We've become so successful in the ocean,

314
00:40:25,727 --> 00:40:30,562
it's predicted that in 50 years
almost all the fish could be gone...

315
00:40:33,487 --> 00:40:36,957
...and this may not be
the only change to come.

316
00:40:38,447 --> 00:40:42,326
All around the world,
sea levels are rising.

317
00:40:42,367 --> 00:40:47,157
Soon our planet could be
even more dominated by the ocean,

318
00:40:47,207 --> 00:40:51,803
and our ability to survive here
will be pushed to the very limit.

319
00:40:58,887 --> 00:41:04,166
Yet there are some people who've
already adapted to life in a water world.

320
00:41:09,007 --> 00:41:14,081
In the coral seas between Borneo,
Sulawesi and the Philippines,

321
00:41:14,127 --> 00:41:17,437
there are people who live
more intimately with the ocean

322
00:41:17,487 --> 00:41:19,443
than any other culture on earth.

323
00:41:29,167 --> 00:41:33,524
The Bajau Laut build their lives
in the middle of the sea,

324
00:41:33,567 --> 00:41:36,161
often many kilometres from land.

325
00:41:36,207 --> 00:41:38,323
(CHATTERING)

326
00:41:47,887 --> 00:41:52,517
The ocean has a profound influence
on every aspect of their existence.

327
00:41:52,567 --> 00:41:56,003
They even measure the passage of time
by the rhythm of the tides

328
00:41:56,047 --> 00:41:58,641
rather than minutes and hours.

329
00:42:07,007 --> 00:42:11,523
And there are some whose relationship
with the sea runs even deeper.

330
00:42:20,847 --> 00:42:23,486
The Bajau, who live on houseboats,

331
00:42:23,527 --> 00:42:27,315
have almost completely
severed their ties with the land.

332
00:42:32,287 --> 00:42:35,359
Nohara rarely sets foot ashore.

333
00:43:02,127 --> 00:43:08,566
Nohara and her family usually only
visit land to trade for rice and fuel,

334
00:43:08,607 --> 00:43:11,405
or to mend their boats.

335
00:43:11,447 --> 00:43:14,996
But, like many Bajau,
Nohara gets ''land-sick''

336
00:43:15,047 --> 00:43:17,515
and she prefers to stay aboard.

337
00:43:19,887 --> 00:43:24,597
Her family has no nationality,
no fixed abode and almost no money,

338
00:43:24,647 --> 00:43:28,162
but the ocean provides
everything they need.

339
00:43:30,887 --> 00:43:34,436
They eat a bewildering variety of seafood.

340
00:43:41,647 --> 00:43:46,482
Her children adapt to an aquatic
way of life from a very young age.

341
00:43:50,607 --> 00:43:54,885
Some Bajau children
spend so much time in the sea,

342
00:43:54,927 --> 00:43:57,805
their eyes adjust
to focus better underwater.

343
00:44:01,367 --> 00:44:06,395
But there's one member of this community
whose adaptation is even more staggering.

344
00:44:10,047 --> 00:44:13,039
Sulbin is an underwater hunter,

345
00:44:13,087 --> 00:44:16,875
and the living proof ofjust how far
we can push our bodies

346
00:44:16,927 --> 00:44:18,679
towards a life aquatic.

347
00:44:41,887 --> 00:44:47,359
Sulbin's search for supper takes him
on a incredible journey under the waves,

348
00:44:47,407 --> 00:44:51,320
and his abilities
will take your breath away.

349
00:44:55,607 --> 00:45:01,079
First he prepares
by entering a trance-like state.

350
00:45:19,607 --> 00:45:26,285
Sulbin is about to push his body
almost beyond the realms of possibility,

351
00:45:26,327 --> 00:45:30,206
and if you want to try and join him,
get ready to hold your breath

352
00:45:30,247 --> 00:45:32,124
for as long as you can.

353
00:45:37,727 --> 00:45:41,037
He takes one last breath.

354
00:46:03,127 --> 00:46:08,520
Focused and calm, Sulbin descends
20 metres to the sea floor.

355
00:46:18,447 --> 00:46:22,565
His heartbeat slows
to around 30 beats per minute.

356
00:46:24,127 --> 00:46:27,164
The pressure at these depths
crushes his chest,

357
00:46:27,207 --> 00:46:31,962
squeezing the air in his lungs
to one-third of its usual volume,

358
00:46:35,567 --> 00:46:39,082
Even without weights,
he's negatively buoyant enough

359
00:46:39,127 --> 00:46:43,359
to stride across the bottom of the sea
as if hunting on land.

360
00:47:00,967 --> 00:47:04,357
By now, the carbon dioxide in his blood
causes

361
00:47:04,407 --> 00:47:07,763
an almost irresistible urge
to gasp for air,

362
00:47:07,807 --> 00:47:11,880
but Sulbin must keep his mind on the hunt.

363
00:47:21,207 --> 00:47:26,327
After a minute and three-quarters,
Sulbin spots a fish.

364
00:47:38,047 --> 00:47:44,566
Sulbin can go even deeper than this
and stay down for up to five minutes,

365
00:47:45,767 --> 00:47:49,885
but he's not one to show off
and, after all, he's got what he came for.

366
00:47:52,727 --> 00:47:58,324
Two-and-a-half minutes of hunting
under pressure on one breath.

367
00:47:58,367 --> 00:48:02,280
Perhaps the idea of humans
existing as marine mammals

368
00:48:02,327 --> 00:48:04,682
is not so far-fetched after all.

369
00:48:16,607 --> 00:48:19,724
Through amazing adaptability
and endeavour,

370
00:48:19,767 --> 00:48:23,237
we've pushed our limits of survival
into the ocean,

371
00:48:23,287 --> 00:48:27,166
and, as we've immersed ourselves
deeper in the sea,

372
00:48:27,207 --> 00:48:30,438
it's had a profound effect on our lives.

373
00:48:36,447 --> 00:48:41,396
But as we continue to change the nature
of the greatest environment on our planet,

374
00:48:41,447 --> 00:48:47,079
how we'll adapt in the future
remains to be seen.

375
00:48:58,367 --> 00:49:03,202
The most technical and demanding shoots
for the Human Planet: Oceans programme

376
00:49:03,247 --> 00:49:06,000
were those that took place underwater.

377
00:49:07,287 --> 00:49:12,042
The dive camera crew were well prepared
to film fishermen in the Philippines.

378
00:49:12,087 --> 00:49:16,524
But they weren't quite prepared
for the dangers they'd witness

379
00:49:16,567 --> 00:49:19,081
and the friendships they'd forge.

380
00:49:22,367 --> 00:49:27,600
Liminangcong is home to the 80 Pa-aling
fishermen that the film crew will follow.

381
00:49:43,407 --> 00:49:48,356
Two fishing boats are crammed
with 80 divers, their food and provisions,

382
00:49:48,407 --> 00:49:51,604
before heading out for two weeks at sea.

383
00:49:55,367 --> 00:49:58,040
At the fishing grounds,
Simon and Roger are playing catch-up,

384
00:49:58,087 --> 00:50:02,558
as their technical underwater equipment
is slowing them down.

385
00:50:02,607 --> 00:50:05,075
They've just dropped the lines.
They didn't even tell us.

386
00:50:05,127 --> 00:50:07,595
The captain seems to be on a mission
to prove something today

387
00:50:07,647 --> 00:50:10,081
so we've got to go fast.

388
00:50:13,247 --> 00:50:16,717
Underwater filming is risky,
but these risks are nothing

389
00:50:16,767 --> 00:50:20,680
compared to those faced daily
by the compressor divers.

390
00:50:24,727 --> 00:50:28,276
Compressor diving
is a dangerous way to make a living.

391
00:50:29,527 --> 00:50:32,599
Air, often tainted with diesel,

392
00:50:32,647 --> 00:50:36,083
is pumped through thin plastic tubes
right down to the divers.

393
00:50:39,127 --> 00:50:42,437
At 64,Joning is one of
the veterans on the boat,

394
00:50:42,487 --> 00:50:45,684
and knows the harsh realities
of compressor diving.

395
00:50:59,807 --> 00:51:03,482
Most of the divers are young and fit,
and they need to be.

396
00:51:03,527 --> 00:51:04,926
It's physically demanding work

397
00:51:04,967 --> 00:51:09,483
and the men are totally reliant
on the compressor to keep them breathing.

398
00:51:26,127 --> 00:51:30,279
To use, basically, what's essentially
a garden hose down at 25 metres,

399
00:51:30,327 --> 00:51:32,158
to pump air into your mouth, is just mad.

400
00:51:35,247 --> 00:51:38,478
The biggest danger for these fishermen
is known as

401
00:51:38,527 --> 00:51:41,439
decompression sickness,
or ''the bends''.

402
00:51:43,367 --> 00:51:47,997
The bends can happen when divers
have been down deep for a long time,

403
00:51:48,047 --> 00:51:50,800
and then come up too quickly
to the surface.

404
00:51:50,847 --> 00:51:53,759
Nitrogen is absorbed into the body

405
00:51:53,807 --> 00:51:55,206
and, as the divers rise up,

406
00:51:55,247 --> 00:52:00,116
bubbles are formed that can lodge
in the joints, causing intense pain.

407
00:52:02,327 --> 00:52:07,640
Two guys are in real trouble
on this deep dive.

408
00:52:07,687 --> 00:52:10,520
Martin, a young diver, is in such pain

409
00:52:10,567 --> 00:52:14,242
that his friend tries to relieve it
by massaging him.

410
00:52:16,527 --> 00:52:19,678
Once on the surface,
it's obvious to everyone

411
00:52:19,727 --> 00:52:22,116
that Martin is still in trouble.

412
00:52:25,007 --> 00:52:31,480
If not treated, the bends can lead
to permanent injuries and even death.

413
00:52:33,607 --> 00:52:38,317
Meanwhile, the second diver,
Michael, is also having problems.

414
00:52:38,367 --> 00:52:41,439
It seems like two men just came up
with the bends.

415
00:52:41,487 --> 00:52:43,842
They went pretty deep on this dive,
trying to get more fish.

416
00:52:43,887 --> 00:52:48,039
But we've taken them onto our boat
to get some medical attention

417
00:52:48,087 --> 00:52:50,476
so, hopefully, they're all right.

418
00:52:51,567 --> 00:52:55,924
Simon tries to relieve their symptoms
with the crew's first aid supplies.

419
00:52:55,967 --> 00:52:57,400
One more.

420
00:52:57,447 --> 00:53:00,439
Michael's had 1 5 minutes on oxygen now.

421
00:53:00,487 --> 00:53:02,796
I've now put Martin back
onto another set of 1 5 minutes.

422
00:53:02,847 --> 00:53:06,965
This is the...you know,
the rudimentary decompression first aid

423
00:53:07,007 --> 00:53:08,599
we can give them at the moment -

424
00:53:08,647 --> 00:53:12,606
give them oxygen, give them water
to rehydrate and keep them warm.

425
00:53:12,647 --> 00:53:16,560
Both of them are saying
that their symptoms are decreasing

426
00:53:16,607 --> 00:53:20,725
and they are looking a lot more happy
than they did about half an hour ago.

427
00:53:20,767 --> 00:53:22,519
He gives them oxygen,

428
00:53:22,567 --> 00:53:26,321
which helps reduce the nitrogen
in their bodies and relieves their pain,

429
00:53:26,367 --> 00:53:29,882
but even this most basic
of diving first aid

430
00:53:29,927 --> 00:53:33,124
is not normally available
to the Pa-aling fishermen.

431
00:53:33,167 --> 00:53:34,566
No pain?

432
00:53:34,607 --> 00:53:36,757
This isn't surprising,

433
00:53:36,807 --> 00:53:41,005
as the fishermen in the Philippines belong
to the lowest wage earners in the country,

434
00:53:41,047 --> 00:53:45,837
earning about 25 US dollars
for a week's work.

435
00:53:47,167 --> 00:53:52,560
However, for many, like Joning and his
family, this is their whole way of life.

436
00:54:23,367 --> 00:54:27,406
His son had got the bends,
and now has to use crutches.

437
00:54:29,127 --> 00:54:33,325
But this isn't the only time
the dangers of compressor diving

438
00:54:33,367 --> 00:54:35,164
have hit Joning's family.

439
00:55:08,127 --> 00:55:09,845
I'm very sorry about that.

440
00:55:09,887 --> 00:55:13,436
That's...yeah, that's terrible.

441
00:55:13,487 --> 00:55:15,876
(MUTTERS)

442
00:55:15,927 --> 00:55:19,203
- That's very sad, isn't it?
- It is.

443
00:55:29,327 --> 00:55:32,876
Having spent a week living
and working with the compressor divers,

444
00:55:32,927 --> 00:55:36,920
Simon and Roger have become
very close to the fishermen.

445
00:55:36,967 --> 00:55:38,958
(CHATTERING)

446
00:55:39,007 --> 00:55:41,521
To fully understand their way of life,

447
00:55:41,567 --> 00:55:46,243
Simon needed to experience first-hand
what it's like to be a compressor diver.

448
00:55:49,047 --> 00:55:53,359
So Joning is keen to take him
on a shallow dive.

449
00:55:53,407 --> 00:55:55,045
(AIR HISSES)

450
00:55:55,087 --> 00:55:58,602
SIMON: I've seen the boys do it.
They've made it look easy.

451
00:55:58,647 --> 00:56:02,162
But we've had several guys that have
gone down with symptoms of the bends.

452
00:56:02,207 --> 00:56:05,279
I've got to admit I'm feeling
a little bit apprehensive, actually.

453
00:56:10,487 --> 00:56:15,686
Simon has scuba-dived for 1 6 years
and has logged over 3,000 dives,

454
00:56:15,727 --> 00:56:19,402
but this is diving at its most basic.

455
00:56:25,927 --> 00:56:29,363
SIMON: The first minute, I've got to say,

456
00:56:29,407 --> 00:56:32,797
I was, er...a little bit petrified,
actually.

457
00:56:32,847 --> 00:56:37,238
This is a violent thing. It's just
punching air down your throat.

458
00:56:37,287 --> 00:56:38,356
It's quite mad.

459
00:56:38,407 --> 00:56:41,285
It took me a minute
to kinda get myself under control

460
00:56:41,327 --> 00:56:43,477
and then once you've got the hang of it,

461
00:56:43,527 --> 00:56:47,042
and once you believe in it
and trust in it, then you can swim on.

462
00:57:06,207 --> 00:57:08,163
There were a couple of times
when I lost it, though.

463
00:57:08,207 --> 00:57:10,084
I was flailing around everywhere.

464
00:57:10,127 --> 00:57:13,085
I was trying to find it again
and get it back in.

465
00:57:13,127 --> 00:57:18,281
But Joning was keeping a good eye on me,
and the rest of the guys were as well,

466
00:57:18,327 --> 00:57:24,038
but I wouldn't want to do that for
a whole sort of fish-catching session,

467
00:57:24,087 --> 00:57:25,486
that's for sure.

468
00:57:27,167 --> 00:57:31,046
A strong camaraderie
between the divers has been forged.

469
00:57:31,087 --> 00:57:34,443
The film crew have captured
a dramatic sequence,

470
00:57:34,487 --> 00:57:38,480
and the fishermen head home happy,
with a boatload of fish to sell.

471
00:57:58,047 --> 00:58:03,280
Joning and everyone on board have
finished another Pa-aling fishing trip,

472
00:58:03,327 --> 00:58:07,081
and all can return safe and sound
to their families.