I have always loved nature documentaries, ever since I was a child. I have been in awe of the natural world and have always felt a powerful urge to protect, learn from, and be in harmony with it. Wildlife and nature documentaries were the gateway drug, so to speak, for a little nature nerd like myself. Although being a nature lover was not, and possibly still isn’t, particularly cool. I remember on one of my first days at high school, a group of girls asked me what TV shows and movies I liked to watch. When I proudly proclaimed that I loved watching nature documentaries, I was swiftly dismissed. Needless to say, those girls and I did not become good friends. Funnily enough, many of them now wax lyrical about the importance of natural products for their skin and hair on Facebook… but I digress.

Nature documentaries have the potential to teach and show us parts of the world that we are unlikely to know or see. This isn’t just that people can take us to remote locations and show us strange animals and plants that are foreign to our own backyards, but that they can also show us beautiful parts of our own landscapes that we don’t always have access to – whether it be the depths of nearby bodies of waters or remote caves and mountains.

Knowing that something exists in the natural world helps us take care of it. Understanding how humans are harming the natural world also helps us identify the necessary changes to protect it. David Attenborough, as a writer, documentary maker, and advocate for the natural world, has been helping to document nature and how humans have impactedit, often to its detriment. He is 99 years old, and yet he continues to travel and do extraordinary things. Sometimes I wonder how nature got so lucky to have someone like Attenborough on its team.

Ocean is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. And I am thoroughly impressed by the cinematography and storytelling of Attenborough and his crew. The imagery of the ocean floor and the beauty he captures is some of the most breathtaking stuff I have ever seen. Being able to see it on the big screen felt truly special. Attenborough shows the horrific destruction of the ocean floor, the ocean forests, and the loss of animal life through destructive commercial fishing practices. Images of fishing trawlers dragging heavy chains with spikes across the ocean floor, destroying everything, brought tears to my eyes.

Yet the documentary is not all doom and gloom. Nor is his message to never eat seafood again. Attenborough presents the cold, hard facts: the ocean is warming, and if we don’t take action soon, we will experience mass extinctions in our waterways that could wipe out countless species. It will also have catestrophic effects on human survival. The documentary conveys a serious yet achievable message: establish marine sanctuaries for at least 30% of our oceans and encourage truly sustainable fishing practices. Simple, right? Let’s see what our governments do.

The companion piece to Attenborough’s documentary is Ocean: Earth’s Last Wilderness co-authored by Colin Butfield. If you’re thinking, I’ve already seen the documentary I don’t need to read the book – you’re wrong. Attenborough and Butfield’s book is a great addition that goes into far deeper discussions on marine biology and marine flora and fauna. This book is great for anyone who is an amateur nature nerd and nature lover, and together the documentary and book make for some really beautiful educational reading.

The coloured photography in Ocean: Earth’s Last Wilderness is truly stunning. I am hoping that Attenborough and Butfield can come out with some prints from this expedition. I would happily be their first customer.

If you are wanting to untangle information about our climate crisis and what we can do to help – then Attenborough’s texts are a great starting point. He is able to explain things in a very clear and accessible way. He interviews experts and local first nations peoples about marine conservation practices that are in harmony with our own relationship with the ocean and our food supplies.

I will be thinking about this book and documentary for many years to come. I hope that we can get it right before it is too late. Let me know in the comments below if you have seen or plan on reading Attenborough’s documentary and new book. As always, share the reading love.