At the heart of the Coral Triangle, in an area of the ocean cradled by the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia lies an abundance of life that rivals the tropical rainforests in species richness. This is the Celebes Sea, and the sunlit waters found here boast the highest biodiversity of marine species of any of the oceans light zones. But scientists suspect that the shallow parts of the Celebes Sea only hint at what might be lurking in the abyss a gorge reaching depths of over 20,000 feet below. Now, National Geographic photographer and explorer Dr. Emory Kristof and a team of scientists sponsored in part by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration attempt the first-ever descent into this mysterious basin. But is this really a place that spawns bizarre new life, or will the forbidding expanse prove barren and empty? Watch as we travel with Kristof and the team, in the hopes of learning the truth about this Crucible of Life.
