Up for an adventure to Africa? How about swimming underwater off the African coast in a gigantic cluster of sardines being picked off by hungry ocean predators?

You don’t have to find your passport or buy diving gear because you can head down to the Esquire IMAX theater and check out the documentary “Wild Ocean 3D.”

And when it says 3D, it means 3D.

An IMAX screen is the size of a building and you sit in comfortable stadium seating. You are given these 3D glasses which look like a really cool version of those massive glasses you get from an optometrist after your eyes are dilated.

Tony award winner, John Kani narrates the film with a thick South African accent, which make Morgan Freeman’s narrations seem dull and ordinary.

The film explores the sardine migration and its global ramifications. Every year, off the South African KwaZulu-Natal Coast, billions of sardines migrate north which spark a feeding frenzy. However, sharks, whales, diving gannets (a type of sea bird), and seals aren’t the only predators enjoying the edible “show” of sardines grouped together in a swarm of moving unity: Man is there as well.

All over the world, commercial fishing has depleted the sardines causing a cultural and economic crisis. The film shows African locals gathering during the annual migration in the hopes of ensuring financial stability and the hopes to feed their families.

The South African government has joined other organizations to monitor and maintain this sustainable resource. “Wild Ocean 3D” hopes to urge other countries to do the same.

And the movie will blow you away while you witness all of this transpire.

Prepare to breath underwater as the 3D images surround you with an explosion of sea-life and a performance of nature’s awesome spectacle. You will never be able to witness these events even if you had diving gear. The film is unbelievable and makes it difficult to eat popcorn while your jaw is on the floor.

The musical score feels like someone inserted an orchestra in your chest and they are heavily influenced from the beat of STOMP. You might find yourself needing to take a deep breath to decompress from the intensity.

Writer, director, editor and composer, Luke Cresswell is a self-taught percussionist from the United Kingdom – along with Steve McNicholas – has created numerous award winning productions including “STOMP” and the Academy Award nominated “Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey.”

Why go the IMAX route as opposed to a standard feature?

“I think its three main things. One is you get far more control with an IMAX film because you’re not working with a studio and all that side which is fantastic.

The 3D is phenomenal in IMAX because it’s a bigger screen and the bigger the screen the bigger the 3D ’cause it seems to shrink. You watch 3D on a regular size it comes out smaller. The cameras are great.

We did one before. We did an IMAX film called “Pulse” which was much more like “STOMP” as an MC all around the world all about rhythm which was great. But we wanted to something that was more nature based. And I wanted to do something about diving because I am a passionate diver.

This format is just great to work with. It’s just the best, it’s the richest format, I mean it’s the most expensive format. But it looks like a real canvas. It’s the best paints.” You have an impressive resume of things you’ve done. Is filmmaking something you want to be known for?

“I think it’s one. I love working with music. I love theater. I like film. I think any of those things. I’m not desperate to be a film director.”

“I wouldn’t be very good at directing someone else’s stuff.”

Do you have any good advice for someone who would want to follow in your footsteps?

“The one thing we’ve always done is made something that we would like. I think that is the main thing is make something that you enjoy watching.”

What is the one thing that you want people to take from this movie?

“I think several things. First of all I want them to enjoy 3D and really see how it works as a medium, which I think is great. And this film, I them to understand the phenomenon they see that it used to happen all over the world. It used to happen off the east and west coast of America. It used to happen in Britain. I mean in Britain before the Industrial Revolution all the lights of Britain were run on sardine oil that’s how many fish were in the see and it’s all gone. And the last thing, which is a hopeful message, is to see that it can be sustained because in South Africa they do it in a really good way. But, you know, enjoy it as well.”

Greg Westcott can be reached at [email protected]