Deep Ocean: Kingdom of the Coelacanth

An international OceanX-led expedition sets out aboard the OceanXplorer to solve one of natural history’s greatest mysteries: how a “living fossil” that predates the dinosaurs is still alive in our oceans today. Deep Ocean: Kingdom of the Coelacanth documents this groundbreaking mission using next generation 8K deep-sea cameras, manned submersibles, and ROVs to capture the world’s first high-resolution footage of a group of coelacanths in their natural habitat.

The team conducts an unprecedented 72-hour continuous observation, revealing behaviour strongly indicative of reproduction—an extraordinary scientific first—and offering new insights into how this ancient species moves, hunts, and survives in the modern ocean.

Produced by NHK in co-production with ZDF/ARTE and OceanX, the film premiered on BBC Two in September 2025 and has already received international acclaim, including the IBC Innovation Award (Content Creation) for its innovative underwater cinematography. The expedition is led by OceanX, the same organisation behind OceanXplorers (National Geographic / Disney+), bringing brand familiarity, premium quality, and strong global recognition.