Binge Watching on Disney+ During the Covid-19 Lockdown

Streaming channels are multiplying like an algal bloom – one of the most successful recently has been the launch of Disney+. It's not just cute cartoons for kids (who doesn't love Finding Nemo) and endless Marvel blockbusters, it also has a stack of great documentaries and some film classics.  Here are our top picks…

Sea Of Hope: America's Underwater Treasures

Beloved champion of the oceans and oceanographer Sylvia Earle, sets out to inspire a new generation to protect our ocean realms and underwater treasures, for the 100th anniversary of the US national parks system. With the help of renowned Nat Geo photographer Brian Skerry and writer Max Kennedy, Slyvia and a team of budding marine conservationists explore the blue depths and undertake a year-long quest to create 'blue parks' to protect the oceans.

Giants of the Deep Blue 

Go deep for a fascinating look-and-listen into the extraordinary lives of whales and dolphins. Explore how and why they behave in certain ways, their hunting strategies and what can be done to protect these majestic giants of the deep.

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Finding Nemo/Finding Dory

A top ocean-themed list wouldn't be complete without everyone's favourite clownfish and his friends. Released in 2003, Finding Nemo is a tale of a father rescuing his kidnapped child, think Liam Neeson's Taken but underwater. 13 years later, Finding Dory came to cinemas, this time focusing on Dory, an amnesiac blue tang who seeks to discover her past. With spectacular voice acting from the likes of Ellen De Generes and Willem Dafoe, these films are a must-watch. 

Drain the Oceans 

While the title of this tv series sounds quite ominous, like the words of an ocean-hating supervillain, it is quite the opposite. A Nat Geo documentary series about pulling the plug on the ocean to discover its hidden secrets and lost worlds. Using the latest groundbreaking technology and top marine archaeologists, Drain the Oceans delivers a fascinating insight into the history of our oceans, exposing forgotten shipwrecks, lost cities and natural wonders of the deep. 

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea 

Another classic, this time from 1954. 20,000 Leagues stars the late James Mason as Captain Nemo, who wages war against a world he perceives as evil, from his nuclear submarine. With quite possibly the best sea battle to ever grace our screens, featuring a giant squid, this film is a must-watch for any fan of the ocean.

Titanic: 20 years later 

James Cameron dives deep into the mystery of the Titanic one more time, looking back at the choices he made when creating the film. With a team of experts, he puts those choices and ideas to the test against new Titanic discoveries, footage and research, continuing to unravel the mystery behind this tragic event.

Kingdom of the Blue Whale 

Blue whales are the largest animals on earth, yet are elusive and difficult to find or track. Some of the locations where they give birth are unknown. With the help of the National Geographic Society, the world's top marine scientists embark on a mission to follow migrating Californian blue whales to an area known as the Costa Rica Dome, discovering unforgettable scenes and new perspectives on how these creatures live. 

Journey to Shark Eden 

Jagged reefs, powerful waves and being stranded are among some of the challenges a team of scientists face as they journey to five remote islands near Tahiti, in the South Pacific. Led by National Geographic explorer Dr Enric Sala, their goal is to explore the pristine coral reefs of the south pacific and the shark than inhabit them, with hopes of creating a protected marine area. 

Looking for more? Check out our Netflix and Amazon Prime binge-lists for scuba divers and ocean lovers.