Swimming with the Fishes

June 18, 2012 PBS Wisconsin Leave a Comment

I love the ocean. But mostly it terrifies me to no end. Earlier this year when I watched Nature “Ocean Giants” I was inspired, entertained and completely horrified that underwater cameramen like Didier Noirot were swimming right next to humpback whales. I’ve tried to overcome this fear, even got to the point where I enjoyed snorkeling. All that came to an end this February while snorkeling Nicaragua’s Corn Islands. I was alone and a couple hundred yards from shore when out of the sandy blue water emerged a spotted eagle ray. I was poised to enjoy the rare sight, but instead of turning and running like the whitetails in Wisconsin, this guy thought it’d be fun to turn and close in on my personal bubble. The time it took me to double back to land would surely take gold in London this summer.

Well, this Wednesday I get another opportunity to explore the ocean with bated breathe when Nature encores “Superfish.” The whales in “Ocean Giants” might be huge, but they seem less hostile than the marlin, sailfish, spearfish and swordfish featured in “Superfish.” I was reading the press release from Nature and the statements “dives deep into secret undersea canyons” and “embarks on a quest for an elusive thousand-pound ‘grander'” sold me on the fact that this’ll be another inspiring and horrifying episode. Join me in watching Nature “Superfish” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 20. Here’s a clip in which marine biologist Rick Rosenthal goes in search of something in the deep that no one has ever seen. And yes, it made my hair stand on end.

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