Into the Abyss: Creatures of the Midwater (Full Movie)

In the deep ocean, life is divided between very different worlds inhabited by weird and wonderful deep sea creatures. In the midwater, pelagic wanderers tread migratory routes that span entire oceans, and planktonic drifters and their predators take part in bioluminescent light shows. It is separated into zones based on depth, including the sunlight zone (epipelagic), twilight zone (mesopelagic), midnight zone (bathypelagic), abyssal and hadal zones. And below, lies the deep sea floor. A kingdom of mud and ooze, where sessile creatures cling to any solid outcrop and corals craft kingdoms on the seamount crusts. The worlds of the deep sea could not be more different, and yet their stories are fundamentally intertwined. In this episode, we delve into the Midnight Zone and the Twilight Zone, where anglerfish, giant sharks, and bioluminescent wonders are found traversing the void. Join as we uncover fascinating deep ocean facts and mysteries.

This film features only real footage of deep sea creatures. It is the combination of my Twilight Zone and Midnight Zone films, featuring re-recorded narration and updated visuals. You can find the episodes on my channel individually as well.

Written, narrated and edited by me, Leo Richards. This channel (Natural World Facts) is a solo passion project dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world and telling stories that inspire! I'm so excited to share this series with you at last.

If you love my content, you should check out Planet Wild. They're an environmental protection YouTube channel from Berlin. They’re on a mission to protect biodiversity in troubled ecosystems around the globe. They're on a mission to bring back endangered species, clean up our oceans from plastic and rewild entire forests to give them back to nature.

Music Used:

00:00:00 - Introduction to The Deep Sea
00:03:40 - Prologue: Remotely Operated Vehicles
00:04:54 - Chapter 1.1 - The Epipelagic Zone (Sunlight Zone)
00:06:55 - Chapter 1.2 - The Mesopelagic Zone (Twilight Zone)
00:08:41 - Chapter 1.3 - Deep Sea Bioluminescence
00:10:14 - Chapter 1.4 - Deep Sea Plankton
00:13:37 - Chapter 1.5 - Jellyfish Life Cycles
00:14:34 - Chapter 1.6 - Mesopelagic Jellyfish
00:15:41 - Chapter 1.7 - Mesopelagic Nekton
00:20:40 - Chapter 1.8 - Camouflage in the Twilight Zone
00:25:04 - [Sponsored Interlude]
00:26:22 - Chapter 1.9 - The Diel Vertical Migration
00:32:44 - Chapter 2.1 - The Bathypelagic Zone (Midnight Zone)
00:36:04 - Chapter 2.2 - Ctenophores (Comb Jellies)
00:37:52 - Chapter 2.3 - Deep Sea Anglerfish
00:39:29 - Chapter 2.4 - Fusiform, Compressiform & Globiform Fish
00:41:48 - Chapter 2.5 - Anguilliform Fish
00:44:36 - Chapter 2.6 - Camouflage in Midnight Zone Fish
00:48:38 - Chapter 2.7 - Mesmerising Deep Sea Cephalopods
01:00:21 - Chapter 2.8 - Larvae & Hitchhikers in the Bathypelagic
01:09:11 - Chapter 2.9 - Jellyfish & Siphonophores
01:15:46 - Nutrient Cycles in the Deep Sea
01:20:56 - The Deep Sea Floor

#deepsea #wildlife #nature #documentary #ocean #marinebiology #science #biology

[pantsuchan]

I hate that the AI disclaimer was needed, but I'm glad you put it there. Thanks for making this documentary.

[mangogo]

Can we appreciate that he's doing all of it by himself? This video looks like there were 30 people in the production team involved

[NaturalWorldFacts]

After being much requested, I’m excited at last to release the feature-length, uncut ‘Deep Sea Midwater’ film, combining my Twilight Zone and Midnight Zone films into one continuous, immersive, relaxing adventure beginning at the ocean surface and descending right down to 4, 000 metres! Through the twilit gloom we encounter silver cutlassfish shimmering in our headlights, and deeper down, snake-like gulper eels, anglers, and starving mother squid tending to their young in a world without any solid shelter!

This combined film marks 2 years of work and is how I originally intended to release these projects, but I had to initially split them up as they were taking much more time (and turning out far more in-depth) than expected. So, here is ‘Wonders of the Deep Sea Void’ as it was always meant to be, filmed by the brilliant Schmidt Ocean Institute!

To bring everything up to quality, I’ve completely re-recorded the voice-over for the Twilight Zone with a newer far superior microphone, introduced some new music, and some brand new footage. I really hope you enjoy, even if you’ve seen both episodes before! It’s a long one (and I know many of you like to sleep to my films), so settle down, perhaps tuck yourself in, relax, and prepare to descend into the deep ocean!

Episode 3 in the ‘Worlds of the Deep’ series, The Deep Sea Floor, is still in production, along with another science-oriented film about the unexplored Deep Sea off the coast of Chile, where unseen geology has crafted an unusual set of hollows supporting life thriving in near-total isolation - featuring brand new species and 4K unreleased deep sea footage filmed just this year!!

[tomatobisque]

projecting this onto my ceiling before bed is HEAVENLY

[voidoccupant]

Easily one the best creators on this platform

[DMBVR]

The production value of this is INSANE. Rivals the best of anything on traditional media, thank you!!

[ChristophMewes]

Thank you for the statement/clarification regarding AI usage in your video. That instantly made me want to watch the video more :)

[kubskiplays]

The amount of work put into these is extraordinary. Thank you so much for everything you do for all of us that we can experience the wonders of our oceans from home!

[probower]

I've found your videos to be not only incredibly relaxing, but quite informative too. For those of us fascinated by marine biology and alien-like life in the deep sea. My thanks for the same!

[TheJazziestNightwood]

i wanna mention this because it means a lot to me: Whenever I'm having a rough time, I can always relax at night, with a bigass bowl of popcorn and watch your documentaries, loosing my care of reality, while also getting some amazing knowledge.

i thank you very much for these amazing videos, its a huge comfort to me :)

[sephikong]

I have followed this channel for over 3 years now, I believe, and I must say : you might not be pregnant, but you always deliver

[realworkoutsforrealpeople]

I cannot believe this footage. I sat completely mesmerized and robbed of my breath at times. Incredible. Thanks!

[The-Seal-Of-Approval]

My excitement is immeasurable and my day has been made better

[KippiExplainsStuff]

You have a huge future in this and i have no doubt you will be doing big tbings. Thank you so much for all the hard work. This is my very humble contribution to the effort.

[lisamann]

Leo, I'm recovering from a broken leg and I've been playing your videos while I rest in bed. The footage is sublime, and your voice soothes my soul. Bless you for sharing your passion with the rest of the world!

[Jesse-]

We did it boys, u have to clarify that no AI was used

[whatharmcanitdo]

I've been waiting for a new video for so long! Welcome back Leo!

[morbiusprime]

This was hands down the best documentary I've seen on YouTube. Thank you so much!

[logicturtle]

Leo, the technical detail you put into the Chemosynthetic Oases episode made it my most highly regarded documentary of all time. Most mainstream nature documentaries are like "here watch all this footage we captured while we tell you snapple facts about what you're seeing", whereas I have a sense that you're using the footage as examples and illustration to teach me about larger more important concepts. KEEP IT UP.

[rottingsun]

This is on par with the most renound nature documentaries, with better imagery and picture quality- and honestly I perfer the narration too. Not overdramatic or redundant, no loud distracting music, just a nonstop flow of knowledge and new creatures to behold. Definitely my favourite nature channel! Always a treat when you post a new upload- never stop making these.