Riding the Ocean Dragon

Australian Rachael Thornton goes where no Western documentary filmmaker has ever been. She is the only non-Chinese member of the first major scientific mission of Ocean Dragon, China’s powerful manned submersible.

Rachael’s not from any superpower; she reports environmental and native Australian stories from the bush. She’s never been to sea, but she’s never met a language barrier she didn’t like.

These five weeks will test her as extreme deep-sea pressure tests Ocean Dragon and its diving scientists. No sub has ever taken three humans to full ocean depth. What will crack? Who might die? The deep sea remains a challenge to finding new life — and resources to extract. For the very first time, China opens its doors on its highest-risk mission of all.

Broadcasters: PBS, France 5 TV, SVT, CCTV10, SBS, Seven Network, Off the Fence

Riding the Ocean Dragon Teaser

Biologist Dr Yu looks to the deep sea for answers to the origins of life on Earth. 

27 year old Yi's historic moment as China's first female deep sea submersible pilot.

Heroic pilot Fu inside China's Ocean Dragon, the world's deepest-diving three-person research sub. 

Zhang Yi, China's first female deep sea submersible pilot. 

Rachael Thornton, the first Western journalist ever on a Chinese deep sea expedition films on deck. 

Rachael and Fu at sea.