Mesmerizing, murky tales of drug-financed Indo exploration in the 1970s.
Although their lives took very different turns, Martin Daly, Mike Boyum, soon-to-be industry execs, and many more helped to pioneer a new surfing lifestyle. It's an instant classic.
"Sea of Darkness," directed by Michael Oblowitz, tells the story of how surfing pioneers Mike Boyum and Martin Daly initiated a lifestyle of adventure and surf exploration.
While Mike Boyum turned to a life of drug smuggling and crime, Martin Daly and mentor Dave Barnett battled high-seas piracy during salvage diving and treasure hunting.
Their lifestyles gave birth to a legacy of a healthy, global commercial concept of surfing, discovering new unexplored surf areas and helping preserve the pristine environment of the exotic locations visited.
What major international surf companies like Quiksilver, Billabong, and Rip Curl do today is based on Mike Boyum's original blueprint.
It's the true story of how this came about.
The film features interviews with several names well-known in the surfing world, including Jeff Divine and Steve Pezman from Surfer's Journal, Greg Noll, Peter McCabe, Martin Daly, Jeff Chitty, Dick Hoole, Steve Spaulding, Shaun Tomson, Rory Russell, Roscoe Hannon, Dave Barnett, and Kelly Slater, as well as Bob McKnight, Jeff Hakman and Bruce Raymond.
Cinema and surfing legend John Milius (writer of "Apocalypse Now," based on "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad) is also involved.
"Sea of Darkness" was a three-year labor of love for Michael, who produced, wrote, and directed the film.
His son even served as a cinematographer on location in Indonesia.
Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Michael has called Venice, CA, home for the past several years, and he surfs there every morning.
During production at G-Land, Michael and his producing partner and editor, Rob Taylor, almost drowned while attempting the classic Lopez/McCabe go-behind maneuver on a ten-foot G-Land death barrel.
Directed by Michael Oblowitz.