The Crystal Ocean

Charting the freeze and thaw which transforms Antarctica each year, this NHNZ documentary follows an icebreaker as it manoeuvres towards the permanent polar ice cap — the furthest south any ship has yet ventured in winter. The cold has trapped icebergs in frozen seas, as well as 25,000 male emperor penguins, waiting out the three month polar night. Veteran Antarctic filmmaker Mike Single captures eerie undersea environments, icebergs in beautiful decay, the towering Ross Ice Shelf, seals and a massive summer explosion of krill. Single won an Emmy Award.

Even the most sophisticated, modern icebreaker cannot be assured of a path through.

– Narrator Jeffrey Thomas

Key Cast & Crew

Jeffrey Thomas

Narrator

Allan Baddock

Writer

Mike Single

Director, Camera, Producer

Frank Lodge

Video Post-Production

Mervyn Aitchison

Sound Mix

Stuart Waterhouse

Editor