Cocos Island: Journey to Jurassic Park 

Cocos Expedition Notes - Year 1997

Cocos Island is an island shrouded in mystery and blessed with beauty some 300 miles off the coast of Costa Rica and over 35 hours by boat. It is a special place that through the years has captured the imagination of adventurers, explorers, writers and more recently, scuba divers. Mist and fog often obscure its steep mountainous terrain. Its dense vegetation is fed by over 30 feet of rainfall a year, and over 200 waterfalls cascade down to the nutrient rich waters that surge along its shores.

Swirling in its riotous currents is an abundance of marine life unparalleled in the world today. Schools of Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks circle the island, while large Manta Rays dance in the ocean swells. White-tip Reef Sharks patrol the rocky reefs by the dozens and dense schools of Jacks, so numerous they block out the sunlight, can be found between its steep, undersea pinnacles.

Join Eco-Photo Explorers as they take you on a journey of discovery to the island that inspired both Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" and Michael Crichton's "Jurassic Park". Explore the island's natural history and dive beneath the waves to encounter some of its most interesting denizens. Finally, travel inland and navigate through icy cold, hip-deep rivers filled with large rocks and boulders, dense, water soaked vegetation and a treacherous humidity filled jungle terrain to a thundering 200ft waterfall.

IMAX Movie - New IMAX movie on the remote animal sanctuary of Cocos Island. Please note that this link is provided for additional information only, and is not associated with the above program.

Running time: 90 minutes
Audience: Families
Program Number: DP15

Beneath the Emerald Sea
The Pacific Northwest

PNW Expedition Notes - Year 1998

Tucked quietly away in the Northwest corner of the United States is a marine wonderland of cold, clear water teeming with life. Journey with Eco-Photo Explorers to Washington State's San Juan Islands, the Straights of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Peninsula and Canada's Vancouver Island to dive into these mysterious waters.

This presentation introduces the viewer to the diverse forms of marine life found here, from pods of resident Orca Whales to walls of fascinating invertebrates, from Kelp forests to huge Metridium Anemones and everything in between.

Find out what it is like to dive in these cold waters, where swift currents and massive tidal changes dictate the dive schedule. Explore the shipwreck of the HMS Saskatchewan in Canada and photograph Wolf Fish in the Puget Sound. From the peaks of the Olympic Mountains to the underwater wilderness offshore, Beneath the Emerald Sea is a fascinating journey to one of the special places in North America.

Running time: 90 minutes
Audience: Families
Program Number: DP16

The Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon

Truk Expedition Notes - Year 2000

In February 1944, Operation Hailstorm, a well-orchestrated attack on Japanese forces at Truk Lagoon by the American Navy, sent dozens of ships to a watery grave beneath the tranquil seas of Truk lagoon. In just a few days of fierce action, freighters, cargo vessels, submarine tenders, submarines and destroyers were all sunk, creating a watery grave of unprecedented proportions. Today, the tragedy of war has given way to the splendor of the underwater world as these ships have now been transformed into living reefs of riotous colors and teeming marine life.

This presentation first examines the history of the island and the wartime activities that took place here, and then takes the viewer on a journey to some of these fascinating ships, including the Fujikaka Maru, San Francisco Maru, Heian Maru and others.

Running time: 90 minutes
Audience: Families
Program Number: DP17

SCUBA Diving: The Ultimate Adventure

This lively, fun-filled discussion will introduce the audience to the exciting and wonderful world of SCUBA Diving. With hands on demonstrations of SCUBA equipment, Eco-Photo Explorers will explain what is involved with this sport, from getting started to purchasing equipment to traveling to exotic places.

Any and all questions are welcomed and no prior experience is necessary. The program will conclude with a multi-media presentation illustrating the beauty and mystery of the underwater world.

Running time: 90 minutes
Audience: Families
Program Number: DP18