Monty Halls

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Monty Halls (born November 5, 1966, in, England) is a former Royal Marines officer who presents the documentary programmes “Great Ocean Adventures”, co-produced by RDF Television, Channel Five, Scubazoo and Animal Planet and “Perfect Weapon” for the National Geographic Channel. He has also led a number of diving expeditions.

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[edit] Background

Halls attended Bedstone College,[1] after which he was commissioned as a Royal Marines officer. His time in the Marines included a stint in the British Military Assistance and Training Team in South Africa, where he assisted with the integration of former ANC guerrillas into the South African Army. At 29, having left the Marines, Monty decided to study Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth where he got involved with fascinating projects including the underwater filming of a rare species of crocodile, in Belize in partnership with the Natural History Museum. He graduated with a First Class Honours degree in 1999. More recently he has been concentrating on his television work.

[edit] Television host

In 2005, Monty presented a nine-part TV series called “Great Ocean Adventures” (Channel 5). A second series was broadcast in 2007. Memorable moments include Monty diving among a frightening number of Giant Humboldt Squid. In 2008 he co-hosted a National Geographic series, “Perfect Weapon”, looking at aspects of medieval weaponry.


[edit] Expedition Leader

In 2002 Monty led a group of adventurers and scientists (from the Scientific Exploration Society) to the sunken city of Mahabalipuram off Tamil Nadu (India), researched by Graham Hancock, and discovered 6 temples, which are still being explored.

[edit] Charity Work

With his background as an ex-Marine and deeply moved when his close friend and best man, Major Jason Ward RM was killed in a helicopter crash on the second day of the Iraq War (Operation Telic) in 1993 Monty has always supported military charities. In particular he is a Patron of Help for Heroes, a charity committed to improving the facilities for injured servicemen. As a marine biologist he naturally supports charities associated with the marine environment, and is also a Patron of Shark Trust.

[edit] TV Shows (UK names shown)

  • Contestant and winner of Superhuman (2004) on Channel 4.[2]
  • Great Ocean Adventures (Season 1, nine episodes in 2005).
  • Great Ocean Adventures (Season 2, eight episodes 2007).
  • Perfect Weapon [3](Six episodes in 2008).


[edit] Writing

Monty has written a number of books[4] about diving. He writes a regular column for “Diver Magazine” in the UK.

[edit] Awards

In 2003 Monty Halls was awarded the Bish Medal by the "Scientific Exploration Society" for his services to exploration.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bedstone College, http://www.find-a-school.co.uk/news_article.asp?articleid=1204, retrieved 17 May 2008,
  2. ^ Superhuman, http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/S/superhuman/contestants/monty/monty_index.html, retrieved 17 May 2008
  3. ^ Perfect Weapon, http://natgeochannel.co.uk/Programmes/Main.aspx?Id=643, retrieved 17 May 2008
  4. ^ Monty Halls Books, http://www.montyhallsbooks.co.uk/, retrieved 17 May 2008

[edit] External links