Dive the South Pacific for just $8 dollars – Under the Sea 3d
For not much more than an air fill you can virtually dive the waters of Palau and Australia. The Scuba Gadget team saw Under the Sea 3D IMAX film this weekend at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center. We give it 2 thumbs up for divers and everyone else.
The experience is as close to diving these magnificent sites as it gets with out a getting wet and spending a small fortune. It feels real enough you may want to bring your log book. I found myself getting so engaged that it was physical shock when a scene change struck without warning. Additionally the 3-d was excellent, causing both children and adults to reach out to try to touch the sea creatures “floating by.”
While there were a few worthwhile tidbits in Jim Carey’s narration, as well as a few of the usual “we are harming the sea with our excesses” statements, I could have easily done without the narration. I would have been just as happy with a soft musical background or a bubbles track. But do not let anything discouraging you from having this experience. The up close perfect experience with the critters are what makes this film a must dive.
Most people who see this film will not understand the Sisaphean accomplishment of the filmakers, Howard and Michele Hall. The IMAX 3D camera weighs 1200 pounds and holds only 3 minutes of film. The process of shooting is unimaginably impractical even if you just think through the steps. You prepare the camera, crane its 1200 lb mass into the water, set it up in the right place to catch a mating squid, shoot for just three minutes, take it back to the surface, hoist it onto the boat, change the film, then do it all over again and again. If you find the this fine 3-d acccomplishment is in your area – see it. It’s well worth the time and money.
Here is a video snippet of the process and the film.