Underwater Wonders of the National Parks

Underwater Wonders of the National Parks is a captivating documentary series that made its debut on CuriosityStream in 2016. This unique series truly dives deep into the lesser-known worlds teeming with life, not in the majestic mountains or sprawling grasslands, but beneath the calm surfaces of America's National Parks' waters. The series aims to appreciate, explore, and reveal the incredible marine ecosystems and the underwater treasures hidden within these protected areas.

The series, flaunting a total of seven episodes, explores different national parks throughout the United States, each episode devoted to examining the distinct aquatic life and underwater environments of a specific park. The creators of this series meticulously represent the underwater ecosystems, thanks to their innovative and state-of-the-art filming techniques which allow audiences to feel the excitement of personal immersion in these places.

The first episode of the series kicks off with a visit to Biscayne National Park, located in Florida. Here, 95% of the park is underwater which provides a habitat to numerous marine creatures, including manatees, turtles, and a variety of tropical fish. The park not only accounts for the lush underwater life but also features historical shipwrecks hidden away beneath the water's surface, a mysterious aspect that adds a whole new layer to the enchantment of Biscayne National Park.

Next, the series navigates us to Yellowstone National Park, where underwater thermal features form a unique environment, supporting geology and organisms that cannot be found anywhere else. The glimpse into the vibrant and diverse microorganism ecosystem thriving in this extreme environment is truly awe-inspiring, and it is all happening just below the surface of the water where the people often overlook these fascinating underwater geysers for the more famous above-ground counterparts.

The intrigue continues as the series visits the Olympic National Park located in Washington. This national park is not only acknowledged for its spectacular rainforests and stunning mountains, but also for the intertidal life on its coastal waters, home to colorful sea stars, bulging anemones, and the hardy barnacles that make this their home. Visible at low tide, these organisms display a tenacity for survival that is unparalleled.

The underwater journey is taken further to the Channel Islands National Park. Situated off the coast of Southern California, the viewers are introduced to the kelp forests which are incredibly diverse underwater habitats. The sight of these underwater forests swaying gently in the clear water currents, home to a wide variety of aquatic species, is indeed quite mesmerizing.

The Florida Keys are the next stop where the United States' only living barrier coral reef is under protection within a national park. This marine sanctuary is an eco-paradise teeming with magnificent corals, tropical fish, turtles, reef sharks, and a multitude of other species, displaying a vibrant array of colors rarely seen on the earth. The episode’s spotlight on the importance of preserving these ecosystems will instill in audiences a new appreciation for our environment.

At the Virgin Islands National Park, expansive seagrass meadows harbor creatures like conch and sea turtles. The importance of the seagrass ecosystem for both park wildlife and global carbon sequestration provides a balanced perspective on why such places matter on a global scale.

The series concludes with a visit to the Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior, home to some of the most pristine freshwater habitats for the diverse aquatic life, and the final resting place of numerous shipwrecks. These underwater graves further underscore the unpredictable and sometimes unforgiving nature of these bodies of water.

Southwest of Miami to remote islands in the Great Lakes, Underwater Wonders of the National Parks takes a deep dive into the depths of these bodies of water, transports viewers into the heart of each remarkable aquatic ecosystem, and inspires us to reflect upon and appreciate the clandestine beauty of America's National Parks. This show creates a growing awareness and respect for these aquatic environments that harbor incredible biodiversity and unique flora and fauna, revealing the depths of nature's wonders that usually stay hidden from our terrestrial purview. This series offers viewers a chance to appreciate our national parks from an entirely new perspective and opens our eyes to the hidden treasures beneath the waters of our National Parks.