‘Sharkfest 2025' teams go to new depths for footage

Yahoo

3 days ago

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Dan Beecham has been in the water with and photographed sharks at countless points around the globe for nearly two decades.
He has developed a great respect for the underwater beasts that prowl the oceans but that didn't come until a little later in his life.
He recalls that he was scared the first time he came face-to-face with a shark. Part of his fears can be traced back to the film work of Steven Spielberg.
'It was in the Red Sea, and I would have been 13 or 14 years old,' Beecham says. 'I remember being pretty scared of it. I remember not really knowing how to deal with the situation. I wasn't of the 'Jaws' generation but I did watch 'Jaws' when I was very young and do remember being scared to get into the bathtub. So, in a way it is kind of weird that I have become so obsessed with sharks.'
Beecham is not quite sure when he changed from fearing sharks to respecting them and finally being obsessed. No matter when that happened, his latest underwater work can be seen with the National Geographic production 'Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory' debuting at 8 p.m. July 5 on the cable channel.
The series kicks off this year's 'Sharkfest 2025' for National Geographic that will include more than 25 hours of programming diving deeper than ever into the science, power and beauty of the ocean's most misunderstood predator.
As an example of the depths the filmmakers were willing to go, Beecham and Gregory set off on a mission to film great white sharks off the coast of South Africa. The difference for their underwater shoot would be that it would not include a cage to protect the filmmakers.
Beecham's project is one of a host of new programs examining sharks. The difference between 'Sharks Up Close' and the others is the focus on the connection between humans and the sharks.
'That particularly has happened here in South Africa because of the changing ocean. The ocean is changing all the time and that has caused these quite shocking human and shark conflicts that didn't happen before,' Beecham says.
The underwater cinematographer adds that while there have been endless hours of research done, many mysteries remain. He points out that very few sharks have been filmed while mating.
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Not many species of sharks have been filmed while feeding.
Beecham has done his part to help fill in the gaps. He developed a passion for diving and underwater photography at the age of twelve and has since then logged thousands of dives across the globe. He worked for nearly a decade as a cameraman for the Save Our Seas Foundation, where he chronicled research projects, conservation efforts before being selected to the prestigious BBC Natural History Unit camera bursary program.
For two years, he worked exclusively on the series 'Blue Planet II' followed by 'Hostile Planet,' 'Seven Worlds, One Planet,' 'Frozen Planet II' and 'Mammals.'
This year's 'Sharkfest' features leading marine scientists and experts, offering insights into shark behavior and how we can coexist with these extraordinary creatures. It is a global deep dive from California shores to the seas down under in Australia.
Other programming slated to air as part of National Geographic's 'Sharkfest 2025' are:
'Investigation Shark Attack' (9 p.m. July 5): The six-part production provides an in-depth look inside the mind of these apex predators and explores shark behavior from their unique perspective.
'Super Shark Highway' (10 p.m. July 5): Sharks have ruled our oceans for over 400 million years. In the six-part series, two elite shark research teams infiltrate two of Australia's busiest shark migration routes to unlock the mysteries of these apex predators.
'Jaws @ 30: The Definitive Inside Story' (9 p.m. July 10): The documentary celebrates the film that redefined Hollywood, 50 years after its premiere. It features archival footage and interviews with Hollywood directors, top shark scientists, and conservationists.
'Sharks of the North' (10 p.m. July 12): Sightings of great white sharks have been on the rise on Canada's Atlantic coast. Alanna Canaran, a passionate science educator and dive instructor, embarks on a mission to unravel the enigmas surrounding these magnificent creatures and is determined to dispel fear of sharks in Nova Scotians.
'Shark Quest: Hunt for the Apex Predator' (9 p.m. July 13):As shark populations are declining, finding ways to share the seas is more critical than ever. Survivors recount their encounters with massive sharks where some emerged miraculously unscathed and others were less fortunate.
Select series and specials will stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Shark-infested content will air on Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney Jr., and DisneyXD throughout the month. A 24/7 live stream of content from 2024 will also air on YouTube.
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