Whale of a time...
Ken’s stunning underwater footage of sea giants to feature in RTE show
Ireland’s Deep Atlantic airs on RTE in early April where film crews zoom in on some of the largest blue and sperm whales on Earth.
Filmmaker Ken O’sullivan voyaged out into the North Atlantic and discovered these fascinating animals.
Ken said: “As you come out from Ireland the sea is about 200 metres deep and then suddenly, 1,600km offshore, it drops down to 5,000 metres so it makes it a very interesting area.
“Some of the largest animals to have lived are out there, blue whales, sperm whales, all kind of sharks.
“Then down in the deep seabed 3,000 metres down we’ve managed to get camera systems on to a remote submarine.”
Without scuba equipment the brave Whale snapped off the coast of our island cameraman battled the rough seas to film the incredible creatures. Ken added: “Scuba gear is too big and bulky, to try and film whales particularly baleen whales, blue whales and fin whales, they move very quickly and you try to get in front of them without disturbing them and you then sit in the water waiting. “You’re pushing a big camera and kicking with your legs, you try to get in front of the animal and then dive down. I hold my breath for about 30 seconds each time.” Ken’s documentaries have aired on the BBC’S The Natural History Unit and CBC Canada and the Kerryman said his innate passion for the sea stems from a long family legacy. He added: “I’m not a trained marine biologist, I’m an amateur, but I’ve got quite a family legacy with the ocean. “My father came from Fenit Island, Co Kerry, and my family lived there for 250 years.” Ken O’sullivan Majestic animal in the sea
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