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EXPEDITION! "INVISIBLE WORLD OF THE DEEP " SOVIET UNDERWATER EXPLORATION DIVERS DIVING BELL 66444 — DeepCutsArchive
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EXPEDITION! "INVISIBLE WORLD OF THE DEEP " SOVIET UNDERWATER EXPLORATION DIVERS DIVING BELL 66444

R.E.M.WeenNME
1960s


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Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Visit our website www.PeriscopeFilm.com This film is an episode from an American travel documentary series, “Expedition!”, that aired on television between 1960-1961, and hosted by famed explorer John D. Craig. The footage is borrowed from a Russia Pacific Institute research group (likely the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences aka Shirshov Institute of Oceanology ) doing research in two very different marine environments. Close on shot of host John C. Craig, removing a diving helmet (:06-:43). Title card (1:27-1:40). Host is seated at desk. He stands and talks to camera. Photos from the expedition of film projected behind him, final image is a map of the North Pacific and the Sea of Okhotsk (1:41-2:29). Shot of Soviet research vessel A-488 at sea.It looks like a trawler. Assistant passes film camera to the camerawoman, who is in the observation chamber or diving bell. Chamber shut. Captain of ship addresses camerawoman Nina Yryschina. (2:30-3:01). Chamber is lowered into the sea, seen from various angles (3:02-3:22). Murky shot of chamber lowering deep into sea (3:23-3:28). Camerawoman observing the sea floor (3.29-3:40). Footage of different kinds of sea life; sea squirts, a large bass and smaller fish. Bass catches a smaller fish (3:41-4:17). A second bass arrives and fights the other bass in competition for prey. They butt each others’ sides (4:18-4:57). Close-up on a group of three small squid, a group of unidentified striped fish swim past the camera (4:58-5:22). Close-up on a shell. A hermit crab emerges, then crawls into a new shell. A moving sponge reveals self to be a hermit crab in an atypical shell, followed by another well camouflaged crab (5:23-6:06). Two crabs fight (6:07-6:35), then several Japanese clams propel selves along the seabed (6:36-6:51). A plankton net is lowered into the water, then raised to decant water sample into a jar (6:52- 7:28). A female scientist enters lab and places sample of sea water under the microscope. Macro photography of contents of the water show huge amount of life, followed by isolated shots of specific life forms (7:29-8:41). Two SCUBA divers with oxygen rebreather units explore a coral reef, with an underwater camera (8:42-9:19). Shots of coral reef, including macro footage of coral polyps (9:20-9:51) and sea anenomes (9:52-10:10). More shots of divers navigating the reef, interspersed with shots of a puffer fish (10:11-10:40). Divers observe several sea cucumbers, featuring footage of them. Macro shot of a starfish. (10:41-11:12). A diver picks up a Kamchatka crab and carries behind him as he swims (11:13-11:42). A hard-hat diver submerges and begins to rapidly fill his collecting bag, bagging a catfish (11:43-12:54). Large octopus swims past camera, floats along the sea bed (12:55-13.27). Octopus wraps itself round observation chamber (13.28-13:37). Captain addresses skin divers, and they dive into the water with harpoons (13:38-13:56). They address hard helmet diver or hard hat diver in sign language then shoot octopus (13:57-14:24). Exterior shot of observation chamber, then macro shot of starfish stuck to glass (14:25-14:42). Host addresses camera again, with image of fur seal colony behind him (14:44-14:59). A map demonstrates route taken by research crew. Shot of research boat motoring ahead. Whales surface and cameraman takes footage (15:19-16:06). Footage of violent waves, then of surf spraying onto crew over side of vessel. (16:07-16:33). Shot of snow-clad volcano. Lookout climbs to gauge ship’s position (16:34-16:56). Row boat arrives at destination, and crew bring equipment ashore, several falling into water in process. Shots of fur seals diving into water throughout (16:57-17:45). Cameraman sneaks up and films a sea otter playing in the sea, a fish in its mouth. Otter dries self on shore (17:46-18:38). Crew lands in another location, and climb a steep hill (18:39-19:14). Long shot panning over massive fur seal colony (19:15-20:02). Closer footage of the fur seals, showing family units (20:03-21:38). Fighting breaks out amongst males (21:39-22:01). Chaos ensues and hundreds of seals jump into sea (22:02-22:20). Seals play in surf and underwater shots of them catching fish (22:21-22:46). Shots of female seasons with their pups, and of pups practising swimming in shallow surf (22:47-23:43). Electic shots of the colony and individual seals. A flock of birds leaves the island (23:44-24:04). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com

About R.E.M.

R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. R.E.M. was noted for Buck's arpeggiated "jangle" guitar playing; Stipe's distinctive vocal style, unique stage presence, and cryptic lyrics; Mills's countermelodic bass lines and backing vocals; and Berry's tight, economical drumming. In the early 1990s, other alternative rock acts suc...

More about R.E.M.→

Added 19 Apr 2026

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The Invisible World of the Deep

In 1960, a team of Soviet underwater exploration divers embarked on an expedition to explore the depths of the North Pacific and the Sea of Okhotsk. Their journey was documented in a rare and fascinating episode of the American travel documentary series "Expedition!", hosted by John D. Craig. This footage is not only a remarkable piece of historical documentation but also a testament to the ingenuity and bravery of the Soviet researchers who ventured into the unknown.

The expedition's focus on underwater exploration was groundbreaking for its time, and this footage provides a unique glimpse into the world of deep-sea research in the early 1960s. The camerawoman, Nina Yryschina, captures stunning images of sea life, including sea squirts, bass, and squid, as well as hermit crabs and Japanese clams. These creatures are observed in their natural habitats, often interacting with each other in complex ways.

What makes this footage even more remarkable is the context in which it was filmed. The Soviet Union was at the height of its Cold War-era scientific endeavors, and this expedition was likely part of a larger effort to explore and map the world's oceans. The fact that this footage has survived for over six decades is a testament to the dedication of the researchers involved.

For music fans, this clip may seem out of place, but it's actually a fascinating example of how different art forms can intersect. The "Expedition!" series was likely broadcast on television between 1960-1961, and it's possible that some of these episodes were even featured in music documentaries or programs. However, there is no direct connection to the artists mentioned - R.E.M., Ween, and NME.

What a viewer will take away from watching this footage is a sense of wonder and awe at the natural world. The images captured by Nina Yryschina are breathtakingly beautiful, and they provide a glimpse into a world that few people have ever seen. This clip is not just a historical artifact but also a reminder of the importance of scientific exploration and documentation.

The "Expedition!" series was likely broadcast on television between 1960-1961, and this episode is one of the rarest and most fascinating examples of the series. The footage has been preserved by Periscope Film, which has made it available to a new generation of viewers. By supporting channels like Periscope Film through Patreon or visiting their website, viewers can help preserve old films and make them accessible to everyone.

In conclusion, this clip is a must-watch for anyone interested in history, science, or the natural world. It's a rare and fascinating example of underwater exploration in the early 1960s, and it provides a unique glimpse into the world of deep-sea research.

Curated from public records and music databases.

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