Freddy Maugatai in "Deadliest Catch"e

Adventure on the high seas has fascinated moviegoers and TV viewers since the dawn of moving pictures, and one Discovery Channel series is proving that it's still a big draw. There are no swashbucklers or dashing buccaneers, but viewers are hooked on "Deadliest Catch," which airs Tuesdays on the cable specialty channel.

In the show, daring camera operators board crab-fishing boats on the Bering Sea, just off the Alaskan coast, in some of the most dangerous waters in the world. Although the show airs in the spring and summer, it is filmed in the harsh fall and winter, during the Alaskan king crab and opilio crab fishing seasons.

Despite the perilous conditions, "Deadliest Catch" has sailed through seven seasons and is now celebrating its eighth, a tremendous feat for any TV series these days, let alone such a gritty, unglamorous one. It's been a labor of love for those involved, though.

"From the very first day it has been a privilege to share this amazing journey with the fishermen of the Bering Sea," said Thom Beers, executive producer and creator of "Deadliest Catch." "Everyone at Original Productions is proud to be a part of such a groundbreaking and successful series."

The show has certainly been successful. Since it premiered in 2005, it has become an international hit and now airs in more than 150 countries. It has won seven of the 25 Emmys it has been nominated for -- five of them in 2011 alone. More recently, the show hit its milestone 100th episode mark with this spring's season premiere.

It appears the element of risk is what draws millions to the series. There are no sets or scripts, and the danger seen on the screen is very real, hence the "Deadliest" part of the title. Many people claim that crab fishing in the region is one of the world's most dangerous occupations.

"Deadliest Catch" footage reveals how deckhands struggle to avoid tripping over hazards on already slippery decks, while also facing gale-force winds and massive waves. Mike Rowe of "Dirty Jobs" narrates the series.

Crab fishing is so hazardous that the U.S. Coast Guard often shows up in the footage, rescuing crewmembers. In fact, Original Productions stations a camera crew with the coast guard while the show is being filmed.

The show goes beyond what happens on the ship to delve into the lives of the remarkable crewmembers that risk life and limb, literally, in the hopes of hauling in a big catch. The real stars, however, are the captains of the featured vessels, which have included the Cornelia Marie, the Wizard, the Northwestern, and the Time Bandit.  The captains, such as Northwestern's Sig Hansen and Time Bandit's Johnathan Hillstrand, share an entertaining on-screen rivalry.

Family ties are also explored as many of those working on the boats are related. Crab-fishing dynasties of note are the Hansen brothers -- Sig and Norm -- on the Northwestern, and the Hillstrand family aboard the Time Bandit.

All of these elements combine for riveting television. However, the loss of a captain during the filming in Season 6 has cast a dark shadow on the show's success. In January 2010, Capt. Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie suffered a stroke and was airlifted to Anchorage, and cameras continued to roll during his evacuation, reportedly at Harris' insistence. Doctors tried to save the beloved sea captain, but 11 days later he died.

The show has persevered, and Season 7 averaged more than three million viewers per episode, and it ranked tops among the non-sports cable programs on Tuesday nights.

Computer-savvy viewers can use Twitter to keep up with what others are saying about the show at #DCatch. The eighth season promises lots to tweet as the crews struggle to make enough to support their families with fishing quotas slashed by almost half, thanks to the downturn in the economy. Captains must figure out how to haul in bigger profits as some consider hunting for the more-elusive blue crab.

Also, the crews switch things up as Phil's sons Jake and Josh join the crews of the Northwestern and the Time Bandit, respectively.

"Deadliest Catch" isn't the only hit TV show making waves on the Bering Sea. Discovery's new "Bering Sea Gold" has reeled in viewers, thanks to its eccentric characters and high-stakes adventure as treasure hunters search for gold on the bottom of the sea floor off the coast of Nome, Alaska.  The show's January premiere struck ratings gold with 3.66 million viewers, becoming the highest-rated series launch in Discovery Channel history among key demographics.