Jean-Michel Cousteau's efforts to protect ocean habitats are featured in a new IMAX^® theatre movie, Coral Reef Adventure by MacGillivray Freeman Films, which debuted in February 2003.

Coral Reef Adventure follows the real-life expedition of two ocean explorers and underwater filmmakers, Howard and Michelle Hall, on a daring 10-month journey to document life among Earth's most threatened reefs. The journey is filmed in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the majestic islands of Fiji and Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora, and the mysterious Rangiroa atoll. Cousteau is featured in the film as he leads a group of Fijian children on an eco-tour of their local reefs off the island of Gau.

"Ocean Futures Society applauds MacGillivray Freeman Films for raising public awareness about the mission to preserve and protect the world's coral reefs through this dynamic production," Cousteau said. "We hope that people of all ages see this film to learn more about the importance of preserving coral reefs, and to see for themselves the dazzling beauty of all forms of life in these habitats."

Cousteau will appear at some "opening night" functions for Coral Reef Adventure as it is distributed to more than 100 IMAX^® theaters in the first year.

Cousteau noted that Coral Reef Adventure displays amazing technical feats including: the first time a diver has taken an IMAX^® camera down to 370 feet in open ocean; 2,421 dives encompassing 2,810 of underwater time were logged; and five new species of fish were discovered in Fiji during filmmaking.

To learn more about Coral Reef Adventure, click here to view their website.