Their latest 82-minute feature “OceanWorld 3D” is the result of 26 international expeditions around the world, 1500 hours of diving and 200 hours of footage.

The Mantello Brothers shared their experience in an exclusive interview with RT.

“We’ve done underwater movies for 20 years and have been underwater for more than 30 years. But 30 years ago the ocean was totally different. We’ve seen the ocean declining, animals disappearing everywhere. And in 2001 we decided to make a movie about all the oceans and animals that were in danger. As we were involved in the 3D production before we decided that the best way to show the people the beauty of the ocean was with 3D. With 3D you really feel that you’re diving with the animals. And as Cousteau was saying, to protect something you have to love it. And we thought that showing people the real beauty of the ocean we’ll make them love the ocean more and help protect it,” explained the film’s director Jean-Jacques Mantello.

His brother, producer Francois Mantello, says it took them nearly seven years to complete the film.

“This is not another documentary about the sea. It’s a new experience and you’re gonna be part of it, because we break the screen, so you can get inside and meet the animals. In fact, you’re making a dive of 82 minutes. It’s a new step in cinema,” Francois Mantello believes.

Using ground-breaking technology, the filmmakers say they are trying to spread a message of alarm.

“The most challenging thing was to find some animals because some of them are very rare now and it’s very difficult to find them. As a matter of fact, for example, 80% of the shark population in the world has already disappeared, some of them are in big danger and in 10 or 15 years will disappear completely if nothing is done,” Jean-Jacques Mantello predicts.

An experienced diver, Jean-Jacques can talk about the film’s shooting for hours. “One of the most incredible things I’ve seen is the encounter with the Orcas which you know as whales. This is the most intelligent animal on Earth after humans. They are incredibly clever and are very difficult to approach, but when they come close to you and you look them in the eye it’s just incredible!”

Are the Mantello brothers ever having cold feet when they go deep underwater getting too close to some animals, like in Steven Spielberg’s classic thriller?

“If we were scared we wouldn’t have done it. When you decide to go and dive with the sharks, you know that they are there and you are very happy. You’re just doing your job – that’s it.”

Valeria Paikova, RT