All language subtitles for Great.Blue.Wild.Series.1.Part.13.Maldives.1080p.HDTV.x264.AAC.MVGroup.org.eng

The Maldives.

A remote island paradise

in the sapphire waters
of the Indian Ocean.

(♪♪♪)

But the ocean is rising

and threatens to engulf
this tiny island nation.

The corals are suffering
from climate change.

It's of course impacting

as well the erosion
of the island.

But the people here
won't let it go without a fight.

We are transplanting
as much as possible

to help the marine life.

Rebuilding the reef

that may keep the Maldives
from disappearing,

and working to save
this incredible home

of rare creatures
and soaring giants.

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)

In the heart of
one of the richest ecosystems

on the planet.

David Mesnard
prepares his body and mind

for a transformative
underwater experience.

It's being like in heaven.

You really feel
a special moment.

You feel the harmony
of your tribe with you

and being underwater
all together gives you

such a different dimension.

It's hard to explain.

(♪♪♪)

He's in the Maldives,

a chain of low-lying islands
in the Indian Ocean

surrounded by extensive
coral reefs and blue lagoons

that explode with marine life
making the Maldives

a popular destination
for divers.

But David isn't an ordinary
scuba diver,

he's a free diver

piercing the depths of the ocean
for 6 minutes or more

on a single breath.

Without bubble-making
oxygen tanks

and scuba equipment

David is inconspicuous
underwater.

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)

We try to interact
with big animals

like the dolphins,
the whale sharks,

the manta rays.

So it's very natural.

Moving silently
through the seascape,

as the fish do

David has a special appreciation
for this undersea paradise

and a personal interest
in its uncertain future.

The Maldives has a lot to
offer.

It is a beautiful place.

Far south you can discover
the Maldives like 40 years ago.

There's not much interaction
with tourism.

There's still places
where no one goes

and if you want tranquility
and peace

you can find it here
definitely.

On this vibrant reef
David is rarely disappointed.

The Maldives is the result

of an ancient
geological collision

between India and Africa.

It lies about 1,300 miles
southwest of India.

The thousand-plus islands
stretch over an area

roughly the size of Maine.

(♪♪♪)

The Maldives is surrounded
by a range of marine ecosystems.

From sandy shores
and lagoons

to coral reefs.

Nearly 200 species of coral

provide a habitat for more than
1,000 species of fish:

Such as the
oriental sweetlips...

The schooling banner fish...

And the massive whale shark,
the largest fish on the planet.

The Maldives has a lot to
offer.

It is a beautiful place.

When you look at all the
beautiful dive sites we have

from the whale shark
to the manta rays

to places where you can be
on your own diving

and no other people,

I think it's really a paradise
for diving.

Sadly, the Maldives is in
danger of becoming paradise
lost.

These islands
are constantly changing.

Currents claw at the rock,

eroding the land
with every wave

and changing the shape
of the beaches

with every season.

But the Maldives faces a threat
far greater than erosion,

the islands barely crest
above sea level.

The highest part
of the Maldives

is just 8 feet above the ocean.

More than 80% of its land
sits no higher than

three feet above sea level,

making the Maldives
the lowest-lying country

in the world.

As the warming global climate

causes the polar ice caps
and sea ice to melt

sea levels are rising,

so much, in fact,
that scientists estimate

most of the Maldives
will be under water

by the year 2100.

This tiny island nation
is sinking.

But the Maldives
is not helpless.

It has a natural,
built-in defense system,

its coral reefs.

The islands rest
on a ring of coral,

called an atoll.

They're surrounded
by the largest reef

in the Indian ocean,

a coral garden that covers
more than 2,000 square miles.

The reef system circles
the nearly 1,200 islands

of the Maldives
and acts as a protective barrier

to stop waves
from eating away its shores.

The waves do break down
the coral, producing the sand

that fortifies old islands

and creates new ones.

Lives above
and beneath the water,

depend on the health
of the coral reefs.

(♪♪♪)

Baa Atoll is home

to the Maldives'
Marine Discovery Centre.

(♪♪♪)

Since 2005,
the centre has developed

conservation programs
to safeguard

the fragile ecosystems here,

led by marine biologist
Sebastien Stradal.

The coral reef as an
ecosystem is very important

because it's hosting
nearly 25% of biodiversity

on the planet.

It's as rich as the jungle
in the Amazon for example.

On the coral you have more than
500 species in the Maldives.

But all the different fish
that are living on it,

all the different organisms:

the sea urchins,
the sea cucumbers,

the crabs, the shells,
everything.

So it's a very, very important
ecosystem.

The centre's top priority
is to protect the coral.

And if the coral dies,

of course, you will already have
500 species that will die.

But not only that,
because all this shelter

will disappear.

And if you just have
an underwater desert,

like the sand,

like you can have under your
feet here,

you will not have
a lot of shelter

for these animals,

and these animals
will have to disappear.

They will have to go
somewhere else.

And if they don't find
another place,

they will completely disappear
as well.

This troubling scenario
is a very real possibility.

The coral that surrounds
the Maldives

is in trouble.

In 1998,
the weather phenomenon El Niño

brought warmer water
to the archipelago,

raising the sea temperature here
by as much as 5° Fahrenheit

and killing two-thirds
of its coral reefs

in a massive 'bleaching' event.

Reef bleaching occurs
when abnormally warm water

kills the algae
that lives in the coral.

It is the algae that gives coral
its vibrant color

and provides it
with vital nutrients.

When the algae goes,

so does the coral's
main food source.

The corals starve, break,
and wash ashore,

making the islands
more vulnerable.

Then in 2004, just as the reefs
of the Maldives

were beginning to recover
from El Niño

a powerful tsunami
swept through the islands.

The reefs absorbed
most of the impact.

But where the coral was already
weakened by bleaching,

the land took a direct hit.

20 islands were wiped off
the map altogether.

Then in 2010,
another bleaching event

killed off even more coral.

The corals are suffering
from, of course,

this global warming as well
and climate change.

The fact that
they're not doing really well

and they're not growing
that good

is of course impacting
as well the erosion

of the island.

(♪♪♪)

But the people of the
Maldives aren't letting their
reef go

without a fight.

The Marine Discovery Centre
is home

to one of the world's largest
reef projects.

A coral propagation program
called 'Reefscapers'.

The Reefscaper program plants
living coral in spots

where reefs are most needed

to provide a refuge
for marine species

and help spawn
a new generation of corals.

But first they have to build
the new reefs.

Today, we're going to build
a coral frame.

Medium-size
with 65 coral fragments.

Sebastien and his team
have carefully picked

only the toughest species,

corals that have proven to be
more resistant to bleaching.

We take this one
because they are very colorful,

they grow fast, they're solid.

They're very resistant
to our program

and they're easy to transplant.

The coral fragments
are carefully attached

to an iron frame covered
with several layers of sand.

We just use a cable tie.

We hold the coral firmly
on top of it

and we just zip it like this.

Now we have just finished
to attach

all the coral fragments
to the frame.

So Monty is cutting
the cable ties,

just what is leftover.

So now you can see,
it looks really nice.

They install the frame
in the water

as quickly as possible
to avoid stressing the coral.

It is not a delicate process.

The Reefscapers program
has already installed

more than 3,000 coral frames
on the ocean floor.

Every 6 months,
they replace fragments

that might have died

and take pictures
of the new growth

to monitor the progress
of the coral.

Slowly, but surely,
new reefs are forming.

The first year,
the first year-and-a-half,

the coral will grow really slow.

The corals
will attach themselves

to the bar, first of all.

After that, it will be growing
exponentially,

because more tips
will start to form.

They will all grow
at the same time.

After three years,

we estimate that
your coral frame

will be covered entirely.

As the corals take shape,
fish begin to arrive.

Coral reefs form nurseries

for about one-quarter
of the oceans' fish.

The first year,
you don't have a lot fish.

But suddenly, when you have
hundreds of frames,

it attracts a lot of fish.

All sorts of animals that
needed the shelter in this area,

and they were happy
to find this area,

because in nature,

the animals in the ocean
they cannot survive

if they don't have a shelter.

If they are small or even
if they're little bit big.

Where coral thrives,
so do other animals.

During the day,

soldier fish hide
among the coral,

where their bright coloring
helps them blend in.

The moray eel also uses the reef
as a hiding spot

waiting for the opportunity
to dart out and catch a meal.

Strong Indian ocean currents
act as superhighways,

carrying animals
and nutrient-rich water

to the reef.

They are what make the Maldives
an underwater paradise.

They also carry
the world's garbage

far away
from its original source.

Most of that garbage
is plastic.

It's estimated that
5.3 trillion pieces of plastic

float in our oceans.

275,000 tons of plastic.

The weight of that much plastic

equals the weight
of 570 fully loaded Boeing 747s.

It's believed that
up to 10% of the plastic

comes from free-floating
'ghost nets',

nylon fishing nets
discarded by fishing boats

on the high seas.

Most fishermen
around the Maldives

don't even use nets,

yet the nets still find
their way to these shores

carried by the strong
monsoon winds

that blow from every direction
with each season.

Ghost nets present
a terrible threat

to the wild life
of the Maldives.

Each year in the Baa Atoll,

dozens of sea turtles
are found entangled

in these nets.

Each time the monsoon
will turn,

it's also synonymous that
a lot of wind is coming

and a lot of current
is coming as well.

Suddenly, there is
a big movement in the ocean,

and these turtles
will arrive here

along the coast of the Maldives.

So this is how we find them.

Unfortunately for these turtles,
when they arrive there,

they will get trapped

because they get their flipper
inside these nets

and they will not be able
to escape anymore.

So they will try to escape
desperately

for a certain time, weeks,
but they are not able to do it.

Only if they cut off
their flipper,

which happens,
actually quite often.

If they are not able
to cut off their flipper,

they start to drift
with the current,

and they will arrive here
in the Maldives.

Fortunately, locals tip
the marine discovery centre

whenever a turtle is found.

Today, the rescue team
is heading out to a nearby dock

to pick up a stranded turtle.

Good morning,
how is it going?

You can see
the left front flipper

has been cut,
but it's already healing.

Barnacles.
Nearly healed already.

Lots of barnacles.

Animal is calm, so that's good.

It's not very dirty, as well.

Looks in good state.

So we're just going to carry it
and put it in our boat.

It's an olive ridley turtle,

named for its distinctive
olive-colored shell.

You can see the main injury

is the missing
left front flipper.

Kinda look like this.

We can imagine it was a bite.

It doesn't really look like
a previous entanglement.

You can see some wounds
between the neck

and the carapace.

Not so bad.

Olive ridley turtles
are not meant to be

in the Maldives.

They're solitary animals,
that live out in the open ocean,

often more than 2,000 miles
from shore.

The olive ridley is the smallest
species of sea turtle,

they weigh an average
of 100 pounds,

and reach just 2 feet
in shell length.

But they are strong swimmers,

an olive ridley turtle
can migrate

thousands of miles in a year,

by following the currents
through the ocean.

Five species of sea turtles
live in the Indian ocean

around the Maldives,

but it's the olive ridley turtle
that rescuers see most often,

likely because
they're being swept here

in ghost fishing nets.

That's exactly
what the team thinks

happened to this turtle.

They'll bring it back
to the Marine Discovery Centre

where marine biologist
Sarah Davies will perform

a thorough checkup to determine
the extent of its injuries.

Anyone in the Maldives,

if they find any injured
or sick turtles,

they call us and we bring them
here to our centre,

where we provide care, TLC,

bit of loving
for the turtles,

to try and get them
back to health

and back to the ocean
as soon as possible.

So we're going to flip
the animal

to have a look what's going on
the other side of its body

because now obviously this side
looks good,

but we don't know
what's on the other side,

if it's injured as well.

So, just gonna flip it.

This part looks kind of damaged.

Like the animal had a shock.

It's a little bit broken
actually.

You can see
there's a lot of blood

beneath this plastron.

It's clear to Sebastien

that the turtle
is bleeding internally.

The team can only hope

the injuries
are not too extensive.

Since the turtle arrived
at the centre,

it has barely moved.

The medical team puts it
into a tank.

It manages to float
and attempts to swim,

a good sign.

At the moment it's fine.

So we're also gonna try

probably to give him
something to eat.

To have a look
if it's still hungry.

It doesn't seem to be
very interested in this fish.

This turtle, now named
Rafaela, will stay here

until she's healed enough
to handle

the rigors of sea life.

(♪♪♪)

Later in the day,
the Marine Discovery Centre

receives another call.

It's a second
olive ridley turtle.

This one is
in serious condition.

It looks like it spent months
entangled in a ghost net,

drifting
and unable to feed itself.

We received a phone call
from the police.

they have found a turtle
that was injured, beached.

So we're gonna go there.

It's an island about 20 minutes
from here.

We're gonna pick up
the turtle.

Hopefully,
it's still in good shape

and still alive.

Yeah, this is Sebastien from
the Marine Discovery Centre.

We're in Landa Vaandu
right now.

Where are you exactly?

Apparently
we have very bad news,

they just informed us
that the turtle died.

We're still gonna go pick up
the turtle.

To have a look at it,
why it died.

To see the species,
to take several records:

the measurements, the weight,
etc.

And put it on our database.

The centre keeps a record
of each turtle they encounter.

They'll use that data
to find out

how and why this happened.

And hopefully, stop it one day.

Good evening, how are you?

Good?
Hello.

It's obviously dead.

Olive ridley.

That's pretty bad shape.
Yeah, that's really bad.

And you saw
it's quite a big turtle

and the guy was just carrying it
like this,

so it must be completely
underweight.

Just have the carapace left,
and the bone.

Sebastien moves the turtle
onto a Marine Centre boat

where he makes
a shocking discovery.

Did it move?

It's still alive.

It just moved.

It was still breathing,
I mean...

In the fresh water
it will be better.

Sebastien thinks the turtle
has been trapped

for at least two weeks.

Its attempts to escape
have caused the net to cut

into its front-left flipper,
almost completely severing it.

Here you can see
it's extremely weak.

It's very raw.

It's in extremely bad shape.

You can imagine,
the animal was suffering

for a couple of weeks.

Maybe months.

Let's see
what's possible to do now.

The team has never
encountered a turtle

in such critical condition
before.

Without a minute to spare,

they head back
to the Marine Discovery Centre.

He's gonna be fine.

So I'm basically just
gonna have a quick look at the
wounds

and try to clean
as much as I can.

Just try to disinfect the wounds
a little bit.

So, just putting
some iodine

just to try and clean out
the wounds.

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)

Let's see, now it's cool,
it's in fresh water.

It can hydrate a little bit,
relax, as well.

So, let's see tomorrow.

Of course the animal
is still suffering, a lot.

And let's see tomorrow
how this one is going,

if there's some life still.

Olive ridley turtles
were once considered

the most abundant sea turtle
in the world

with more than
800,000 breeding females.

But in the last 100 years,

the population has dropped
more than 80%.

(♪♪♪)

The new dawn brings bad news.

The turtle did not survive
the night.

It's a heartbreaking morning
for the team,

but the fight for survival
continues

for the rest of the residents
in their rehab facility.

The Marine Discovery Centre
is a permanent home

to those turtles
that never heal enough

to survive in the wild.

The marine centre gives them
a new home.

We have Aussie,
so Aussie is one

that's very active.

She's always very enthusiastic,

always kinda swimming around
in the tank.

But unfortunately,

her main problem
is that she can't dive.

She has a buoyancy problem.

She was found tangled in a net,

so she did had to have

unfortunately one of her
flippers amputated.

When a turtle suffers
from trauma,

its system releases gas
into its body cavities

inflating them like a balloon
and preventing the turtle

from submerging in the water.

Feeding time
is a great opportunity

for these floating turtles
to exercise.

Sarah encourages them to swim
after pieces of frozen fish

to keep the turtles active.

This strength training
is necessary

to help the turtles recover
the propelling power lost

with their amputated
flippers.

We have Elsa.

Elsa is usually
everyone's favorite.

She's missing
both her front flippers,

unfortunately.

We really thought
it was, you know, gonna be

the end for Elsa really.

We didn't think she would really
be able to survive

and recover after that.

But she's really amazing.

In two years, she's managed
to be able to dive.

But unfortunately,
she's still very slow.

She doesn't have
the reaction speed

to overcome any predators

or to potentially get food
for herself.

Ghost nets have destined
Aussie and Elsa to a life in
captivity.

But the Marine Discovery Centre
and its world-wide partners

can at least offer them
a second chance.

So recently, we had some
contact with an aquarium
in Spain.

And they're really keen
to take Aussie.

They have an interest

in putting a prosthetic flipper
on her.

I think with another flipper,

she'd really be able
to get herself down

under the water.

I think it would be
a really good opportunity.

When we rescue a turtle,
of course,

it's always very painful
to see the state of the animal.

But at the same time,

we are happy that
we have managed to rescue it

and take it here
under observation.

The positive thing is that
more and more people are aware

about our rehabilitation centre,

especially the locals
also the marine biologists.

So everybody now is calling us
whenever they find a turtle.

Olive ridleys aren't native
to the Maldives.

But five different species
of sea turtle

do call these islands home
including the hawksbill.

They are typically
solitary creatures,

and, unlike
the olive ridley turtle

tend to avoid the open ocean

preferring to lounge
in coral reefs near the shore.

The hawksbill is able to push
its massive shell

which can grow
up to 3 feet long

into tight spots in the reef
to search for food.

This hawksbill is on the lookout
for a meal.

And it has the perfect tool
for the job.

A pointed bill,
shaped like a hawk's beak

that helps them get at prey

hidden among
the coral crevasses.

The Hawksbill
is actually a species

that is constantly foraging.

So, you will see them,
they will be very active,

they will be on the bottom,
not that deep,

between 2-3 meters,
until like maybe 6-7 meters.

Hawksbills are always
on the lookout for food.

They will eat almost anything.

Crabs, shellfish,
spawning corals,

even the soft corals themselves.

It's a good thing hawksbills
have such a voracious appetite.

They help to keep reefs healthy

by eating sponges that compete
for space

with reef-building corals.

They are the lawnmowers
of the sea,

grazing on sea grass,

and preventing
underwater meadows

from becoming overgrown
and unhealthy.

The sea turtle is vital
to maintaining

a stable marine ecosystem
in the Maldives.

But it's not the only creature
with an important job.

These grey reef sharks
have company.

Remora, or suckerfish,
swim with the sharks

and act as a spa attendant.

Cleaning their skin,
eating tiny parasites

and snacking on leftover
food fragments

the shark may spill
in the water.

Of course, remoras gets plenty
in return for the work they do.

Besides being well fed
with very little effort,

they get a speedy form
of transportation,

and a bodyguard, to protect them
from other hunters

that roam the sea.

Remoras are powerful swimmers.

Even when not latched on
they can keep up,

swimming alongside the shark
with ease.

(♪♪♪)

This kind of relationship
isn't reserved

just for powerful predators.

A sleek unicorn fish
visits a cleaning station

where the attendants
are far more stationary.

Cleaner wrasses will invite fish
into their station

by swishing their tails
up and down.

These tiny fish fill
a crucial role here:

Helping bigger fish
clean their nooks and crannies

eating any parasites
that might have taken hold.

This kind of
inter-species cooperation

is called
"a symbiotic relationship".

It's common
throughout the world's oceans.

Clownfish, for example,

have a special relationship
with their homes.

These colorful creatures
live among sea anemones.

Though they look like flowers

anemones are relatives
of the jellyfish

and pack a powerful sting.

Special stinging cells
on their tentacles

hold an incredibly powerful
paralyzing neurotoxin

deadly to most creatures.

But not to the clownfish,

thanks to a layer of mucus
that surrounds its body,

protecting it
from the sting.

By living among sea anemones,

the clownfish gets
a powerful defense system.

And in turn,
the anemone gets to snack

on the clownfish's leftovers.

Cooperation occurs
within a species as well,

especially when there are
thousands on a journey

and no time for traffic jams.

Silver sprats,
at just 3-inches long

are a favorite meal
of many creatures

in these waters.

But what they lack in size,

they make up for
in coordination.

These massive schools swirl
through the sea

in perfectly choreographed
swarms

dipping and dodging
to confuse potential predators.

It's as though the school
has a mind of its own.

(♪♪♪)

Traveling in a massive group
like this

also helps in the search
for food.

Thousands of eyes
are better than two.

The fish share information
by watching each other closely.

When one makes a move
toward something interesting,

the rest immediately
follow suit

cascading through the water
towards their intended target.

Manta rays,
on the other hand,

aren't known for traveling
in a group.

But here in the Maldives,
they do,

soaring through the water
like eagles in flight.

These charismatic creatures
have exceptionally large brains.

Some researchers believe
that mantas, like primates

can recognize themselves
in a mirror.

Though this self-awareness
has yet to be proved.

(♪♪♪)

The strong currents that
carry plankton to the islands

make the Maldives
an ideal feeding site

for these gentle giants.

With an estimated population
of 5,000 mantas

the Maldives
is the world epicenter

of manta ray research.

So guys, we're gonna be
diving at Manta Point today.

Beth Taylor
is a marine biologist

with the Maldivian
Manta Ray Project.

A network of researchers
stationed across the country

with one common goal:

To learn more about
the life cycle and behavior

of one of the world's
most fascinating

manta populations.

Might be a little bit more
shy.

Here on Laamu Atoll,

Beth and her team
are headed down

to one of the busiest
cleaning stations

in the Maldives,
Manta Point.

Perfect, it's right here.

What makes Laamu in general
very, very special is the health

and the diversity of the reefs.

They host so many fish.

And obviously,
the most important being

the cleaner wrasse.

So, without these guys,
the sharks, the grouper,

the snapper
and the manta ray

would have nowhere to come
and clean.

The team hopes
to get close enough to identify

as many local mantas
as possible.

But dive conditions
are far from ideal.

The incoming current
is not stirring enough plankton

to attract large numbers
of mantas.

Even if a few do show up,
they may not want to come close.

In low light,
with limited visibility

mantas must be wary
of any possible predator.

(♪♪♪)

Beth signals the team.

She has spotted a male manta
named Harris.

This may be a successful dive
after all.

Harris himself,
he's a wonderful manta

but he is one of the more
shy individuals.

And this is mainly due,
we believe anyway,

to the slight damage
he has on his cephalic fin.

Cephalic fins extend
from the head

like devil's horns.

They are essential
to a manta's ability to feed.

They funnel water and plankton
into its mouth.

An injured fin affects
the manta's capacity,

not only to feed,
but to mate and clean itself.

The team believes this injury
may be the reason

Harris is keeping his distance.

(♪♪♪)

A second manta
has been spotted.

This one has no qualms about
approaching the divers.

It is Michelle,
Laamu's most famous Manta.

And then we saw Michelle,
and we were, like,

"Yeah, we gonna get
a good shot today."

Every time when we dive
with Michelle

it's-- it's amazing,
every time.

(♪♪♪)

Michelle is different
from all the other mantas.

He always comes over you,
he will always check you,

he will take a good look at you.

Mantas are identified
by the pattern of spots

on their bellies.

Each is unique,
like a human fingerprint.

The research team hopes
to photograph these patterns

so they can catalogue
and monitor the resident mantas

of the Laamu Atoll.

Back on land,
Beth and her colleagues

will enter the photos
and data collected on this dive

into a shared database
cataloging the biology, behavior

and migration patterns
of the Maldivian manta rays.

Today was a lot more rough
than I was expecting.

The team's observations
may help explain

the low number of mantas
at the cleaning station today.

Yeah.
Did you notice how many very,
very large groupers there were?

Really--
Especially, on the second dive.

Yeah, exactly.

Really, really dominating.

It is because
on the lunar calendar,

from the 26th to 30th,

they're breeding
on the channel.

I see.

So we've been seeing them
like last couple of days.

Manta rays
are incredibly intelligent.

So, they're very, very aware
of their surroundings.

For a long time we've believed

that this area
could potentially be

a spawning ground
for grouper.

And what I've noticed
with my colleagues is that

when the very, very large
of the species are present,

the mantas won't be there.

When it's the spawning time

and you're seeing
all these adults

and these really, really
mature grouper,

you won't find any mantas.

And if you do, they cruise by
and they don't stay.

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Dive after dive,
the Maldivian Manta Ray Project

uncovers the complex behaviors
of these majestic creatures.

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125 five miles north of Laamu

Marine biologist Nicola Bassett
prepares for a dive

in one of the archipelago's
largest isles.

The Ari Atoll.

The reef here has both feeding
and cleaning stations,

making it a prime research spot
for marine biologists

and another key stop
for mantas

migrating through the Maldives.

It is an amazing day.

As you can see the sea
is really calm, blue skies,

few clouds
and sun shining.

So, hopefully, luck will be
on our side under the water

as well as above it.

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Parrotfish are the first
to greet Nicola on the reef.

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Not far from them

she spots
three juvenile male mantas.

Like humans,
female and male mantas

can be distinguished
by their sex organs.

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Females have two pelvic fins
that resemble paddles

at the base of their tails.

Males also have a pair
of pelvic fins,

but in addition,
they develop a set of claspers

that are only visible

as the male reaches
sexual maturity.

When they do, these male mantas
will return

to this station to reproduce.

Cleaning stations in general
we know are an important area

for manta courtship
and manta mating behavior.

Mantas are solitary but then
at these cleaning stations

they come together.

So it's a good area
for males to meet females.

(♪♪♪)

And after 7 years,
and more than 25,000 sightings

the Maldivian Manta Ray Project
has recorded

3,000 different mantas
in these waters.

It's the largest number
of identified manta rays

anywhere in the world.

Yet there is still much
to be learned

about their behavior.

The charismatic fish
with the largest brain

in the ocean
remains one of the most

captivating wonders
of this underwater realm.

(♪♪♪)

From white-sand beaches
and emerald seas...

To vibrant seascapes...

And majestic giants...

The Maldives
is a stunning natural wonder.

But this fragile paradise

so vulnerable
to the powers of nature

needs protection.

In this untamed environment

where coral reefs
barricade islands

from destruction

and fish develop alliances
to guarantee their survival

every small effort counts

to preserve
this tiny island treasure

perilously scattered
in the planet's rising oceans.

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