He tracked the octopus to its den and says on the documentary – shot over a full year - that he feels there is something to learn from this creature. The Octopus is long gone—octopuses rarely survive more than 18 months in the wild—but her co-star … In her case – avoid animals.’. CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - South African nature filmmaker Craig Foster was burned out. The film shows how, in 2010, Foster began free-diving in a cold underwater kelp forest at a remote location in False Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa. In 2012, in order to protect the stretch of water he loves so dearly, Foster co-founded the Sea Change Project: “The idea was to get this great African Sea Forest, the home of the octopus teacher, recognized as a global icon, like the Serengeti or the Great Barrier Reef.” 'I didn’t name her because I didn't want to make her into a curiosity or a pet. But in real terms they’re the least of your worries. ‘We are woven of the same thread. Then the octopus darted away - and Craig was mesmerised. 'About 10 months ago I had the great fortune of not only meeting Craig for his work with seachangeproject.com, but going swimming with him in these very kelp forests. We’re made of the same stuff. You may click on “Your Choices” below to learn about and use cookie management tools to limit use of cookies when you visit NPR’s sites. I’ve dived with five white sharks in open water and none of them threatened me at all. And we then join him at the beginning of his friendship journey with an animal that he discovers day by day is truly remarkable. Driving to the dive site by car is far more dangerous. And then they go out on their forays. ‘But what is a real danger is the Cape of Storms [also known as the Cape of Good Hope] – it’s one of the wildest most powerful ocean areas on our planet. The documentary seeks to evoke empathy by telling a story about the bond between a human and a wild octopus off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. One octopus began coming out of her den to hunt or explore while Foster … 'It was a big moment for me – not least because I opted for no wetsuit as Craig does – but because I had been following Craig's career for 20 years prior, from when he and his brother Damon spent three years living in the central Kalahari of Botswana filming the award-winning 'The Great Dance', a documentary about the role of hunting in Bushmen psyche and society. He continued: ‘I decided to dive every day, not only to know her but to know the environment, to immerse myself in it and teach myself [underwater] tracking to the highest level I possibly could. ‘The big predators are surprisingly wary of humans. We'll see the creature cunningly riding the back of a shark that’s hunting it, camouflaging itself almost magically with its surroundings – and greeting Craig with the affection of a pet dog. 'Britain joined the vaccine marathon in the last mile': Now US's top doctor Fauci accuses UK regulator of not properly scrutinising data before rushing approval through - as bitter EU tells Gavin Williamson to stop gloating 'as if it is a football game', Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, I have dived on a number of occasions with white sharks. 'Saving The World Through The Wall Of Water' is a Tom Foster TEDx Talk. This is a behind-the-scenes image, taken in the kelp forest. They don’t see humans as natural prey. African on the Cape Town coast were the first people to make art. He started to document his experiences and, in time, met a curious young octopus that captured his attention. 'So it’s absolutely critical that if we want to stay on the planet as a species, that we get together and figure out how to regenerate that wild system that’s keeping us alive every second.’. It was very, very clear.’, Craig dived to the kelp forest partly to 'teach himself underwater tracking to the highest level possible'. ‘In your psyche, of course, especially in the beginning, you’re a bit worried. Southern Africa's kelp forest [is a] wonderland of abundance and biodiversity [that's] home to many creatures that are found nowhere else on earth. My Octopus Teacher, a feature documentary, by Craig Foster, Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, follows the story of Craig’s year with a wild octopus. The trailer for the documentary, which won Best Feature at the 2020 EarthxFilm Festival, can be seen here www.netflix.com/za/title/81045007. Craig said: ‘What was incredible was to realise “oh my goodness, this animal is the ultimate teacher for me”. The story is about Craig Foster, who suffering from a loss of purpose, begins a daily diving regimen in the freezing kelp forests at the tip of Africa in order to re-energize himself. And what does Craig hope viewers will learn from the documentary? The true star here is not the human. He documents their unlikely friendship in 'My Octopus Teacher,' now on … Stay in Will Smith's Fresh Prince of Bel-Air kingdom! Her onetime den lies a couple of dozen feet off the coast of Cape Town suburb Simon’s Town. Deborah Calmeyer, founder and CEO of luxury holiday firm Roar Africa, swum with Craig in the kelp forests that My Octopus Teacher was filmed in and wrote in a blog about the experience that it was a 'big moment'. In the documentary, before the octopus’s ‘lessons’ become apparent, we learn that Craig, 52, began free-diving without a wetsuit in the frigid kelp forest at the tip of Africa - part of the 800-mile long Great African Sea Forest - to re-energise himself after suffering burnout. Underwater Inspiration Off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, the water holds an incredible love story between a man and an octopus. ‘They have a whole body language and a skin language – you can tell how they’re feeling. To learn more about the work of the Sea Change Project - 'a community of scientists, storytellers, journalists and filmmakers who are dedicated to the ocean' - visit, stories.seachangeproject.com/my-octopus-teacher, To buy Craig Foster's book, Sea Change, which showcases his work and reveals the art of underwater tracking, visit, My Octopus Teacher | Netflix Official Site, My Octopus Teacher | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube. Off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, the water holds an incredible love story between a man and an octopus. If the natural system suffers, we suffer. Also revealing how in the natural world, the bushmen were completely in it, versus us who are outside of it.'. 'We as human beings are completely part of nature, we are designed and made wild. ‘Then she taught me how she moves in the water in a way that doesn’t disturb other animals. Craig, who lives in Cape Town, described to MailOnline Travel the moment when he realised that the octopus was showing signs of friendship. And then she’d often reach out to make contact. Needing a reset, he returned to the underwater kelp forests off the southwest tip of Cape Town. My Octopus Teacher tells the story of a Capetonian film maker and free diver, Craig Foster who needed a break from a busy schedule that was taking its toll. Then you realise that she trusts a human and she’s prepared to come out and go about her hunting and daily activity – and that’s a huge moment, because The Great African Sea Forest is just teeming with predators. The documentary seeks to evoke empathy by telling a story about the bond between a human and a wild octopus off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. 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