Beneath the glittering surface of the Pacific lies a world of ancient kinship—and a hidden legacy of destruction. Guided by the abalone and the voices of the Tongva and Acjachemen peoples, this immersive journey into the California depths confronts a half-century of chemical dumping off the coast of Catalina Island, asking us to face what we have done and find the courage to do better.

Created by artist Rebeca Méndez, The Sea Around Us is an immersive cinematic experience born from the shocking revelation that over 500,000 barrels of toxic chemicals—including the pesticide DDT+, acid sludge, and radioactive waste—were dumped into the ocean off Santa Catalina Island between 1947 and 1972. Méndez's vision weaves together underwater footage, Indigenous song, and poetic storytelling into a call to action for all who share this fragile, living sea.