10 replies to this topic

[drbill]

Just left the tube after watching Jean-Michel's PBS documentary on sharks. Personally, I thought this was the best of the three I've seen so far in this series. The footage was very good, the story told well, and some very positive take home messages given to the viewer.

Of course watching old friends doing these dives and knowing that others I've worked with in the past were involved behind the camera and topside made it more personal for me. But I was also thinking... all these friends from our early days still doing these shows. I wanna too! Dive to 200 ft, no big deal. Ride on the dorsal fin of a great white... um, let me think about that one for a while!

PS I just e-mailed JMC and Nan, Don Santee, Dick Murphy and Pam Stacey (the writer) saying the only thing that would have made it better for me was to be there with them! We'll see if that gets any favorable response! I could use a new adventure.

Edited by drbill, 12 July 2006 - 10:20 PM.

[annasea]

I just saw this as well! I found some of the tanks they were diving to be quite interesting... what kind were they? I'd never seen them before.

[drbill]

I just saw this as well! I found some of the tanks they were diving to be quite interesting... what kind were they? I'd never seen them before.

If we're thinking along the same lines, you were seeing a hard shell around a set of tanks used to improve hydrodynamics, etc. They've dived with some form of these tank shells for several decades

[gcbryan]

I just saw the show. Finally a decent diving documentary with no excess drama, scarey music, awful diving technique, etc.

Under those circumstances I think I would do the Great White dives but it wouldn't take much to talk me out of it

[annasea]

I just saw this as well! I found some of the tanks they were diving to be quite interesting... what kind were they? I'd never seen them before.

If we're thinking along the same lines, you were seeing a hard shell around a set of tanks used to improve hydrodynamics, etc. They've dived with some form of these tank shells for several decades

Yes, that's it!

[Capn Jack]

I just saw the show. Finally a decent diving documentary with no excess drama, scarey music, awful diving technique, etc.

Under those circumstances I think I would do the Great White dives but it wouldn't take much to talk me out of it

Agree about a good show. I've had my fill of adrenaline though, so I'll give my fin ride to someone else.

Watching the attacks on seals where they come out of the water made me think the guy who was laying on the dive platform, tapping them on the snout to get the full mouth gape effect, was NUTS.

Have to admit the sight of all those fins choked me up though. Terrible, absolutely terrible.

[drbill]

Have to admit the sight of all those fins choked me up though. Terrible, absolutely terrible.

I had a long discussion with a mainland Chinese buddy of mine about shark fin soup. She saw nothing wrong with it, and felt the growing Chinese middle class should have the benefit of eating the soup now that more of them could afford it. Can't say it was the friendliest discussion she and I had.

Edited by drbill, 12 July 2006 - 10:52 PM.

[gcbryan]

Regarding the shark fin soup...one can only hope that increasing education catches up to one's increasing wallet one day.

[Basslet]

Maybe the fact that the fins are full of mercury will deter them when they start giving birth to deformed children.
I thoght the show was pretty good. I wish there were fewer shots of "the stars" and more of the critters though. I'm glad he emphasized conservation.

[CaptSaaz]

Very enjoyable to watch. JMC does it right whereas the grandkids leave me shaking my head at their stupidity. I like the mix of exploring and discover with the conservation message. Sometimes I think, when it comes to our oceans... out of sight, out of mind... thus we are destroying them.

[drbill]

Very enjoyable to watch. JMC does it right whereas the grandkids leave me shaking my head at their stupidity. I like the mix of exploring and discover with the conservation message. Sometimes I think, when it comes to our oceans... out of sight, out of mind... thus we are destroying them.

This is the primary reason I write my "Dive Dry with Dr. Bill" nerwspaper column and produce my daily TV show... to reach the many who never experience the underwater world we do in hopes they will learn to love it and protect it. One of Jean-Michel's motivations as well.