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North Atlantic: Searching For Monsters

In Episode 2, North Atlantic: Searching For Monsters Ken travels the south coast of Ireland searching for fin whales. These hugely enigmatic creatures are the second largest animals to have ever lived, but almost nothing has been documented about their migration routes, especially for breeding until now.  

Ken also voyages 1,500km out to the Mid-Atlantic ridge in search of more fin whales. Here, he finds sea mounts, oases of life in the open ocean, and gains a deeper understanding of the ocean’s eco-system.  

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North Atlantic reveals never-before filmed behaviours of iconic creatures, with stunning imagery, and original soundtrack performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra 

RTÉ is set to broadcast an extraordinary new series from Irish underwater cameraman Ken O’Sullivan North Atlantic – The Dark Ocean begins Sunday 14th May, 6.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. 

The series features iconic creatures and marine life of the North Atlantic from Ireland’s shores and reveals never-before-seen behaviours and challenges of some of our greatest wild animals. 

Inspired by the spirit of adventure of early explorers such as St Brendan the Navigator, Ken journeys out into the open North Atlantic in search of the great sea monsters described in their early texts. After more than ten years of trying, Ken finally swims with a fin whale with incredible footage captured, documenting its individual patterns. 

Using an unmanned submarine aboard the Celtic Explorer, Ken journeys to the deepest part of our Atlantic waters where, he discovers thousands of cat sharks in a deep-water nursery. Ken also addresses the harrowing decimation of sharks in Ireland and across the globe. Prepare to be immersed in the waters of the North Atlantic like never before. 

North Atlantic also addresses the concerning issue of the treatment of our oceans and its creatures. The series explores devastating issues such as toxicity in whales from human activity in the ocean and the decimation of fin whales due to whaling, and emphasises how we must work harder to conserve these precious ecosystems. 

In Episode 1, Ken explores the dark ocean waters to the north of Ireland. Here, he encounters monstrous winter storms and discovers that these are a huge source of fertility in the ocean. He meets a group of Minke whales lunge feeding on shoals of sprat, and travels to Arctic Norway in search of massive herring shoals that once abounded in Ireland. 

In Episode 2, North Atlantic: Searching For Monsters Ken travels the south coast of Ireland searching for fin whales. These hugely enigmatic creatures are the second largest animals to have ever lived, but almost nothing has been documented about their migration routes, especially for breeding until now.  

Ken also voyages 1,500km out to the Mid-Atlantic ridge in search of more fin whales. Here, he finds sea mounts, oases of life in the open ocean, and gains a deeper understanding of the ocean’s eco-system.  

Finally, in the series finale, North Atlantic: Into The Light Ken embraces the spirit of early explorers, and gains an understanding of some of the ocean’s greatest and most diverse animals, from the surface waters to the deepest parts of the North Atlantic. He documents more than thirty basking sharks engaged in a courtship ritual – possibly the largest ever group of their kind captured on camera. 

The series also features an original classical music soundtrack by young composer Bradley Ayres, performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. 

Ken O’Sullivan filming whales, Azores islands, North Atlantic. Episode 2
Ken O’Sullivan filming whales, Azores islands, North Atlantic. Episode 2
Fin whale lunge feeding off Ireland – North Atlantic Episode 2
Ken O’Sullivan filming whales, Azores islands, North Atlantic. Episode 2