In 1969 off the California coast, a US Navy crane carefully lowered a massive tubular structure into the waters. It was designed for an elite group of divers to spend days or even months at a stretch living and working on the ocean floor. The video tells the little-known story of the daring program that tested the limits of human endurance and revolutionized undersea exploration.

Documentary "Based in part on the book 'Sealab : America's forgotten quest to live and work on the ocean floor' by Ben Hellwarth." Originally broadcast as an episode of "American experience" on the PBS network. Program content: ©2019. Wide screen (16:9).