The Big List of Diving Documentaries Water Lovers Must Watch

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With a world out there many of us may never get to see, diving documentaries are a way for filmmakers to share their stories in a different medium.

Providing a platform for us to learn more about Marine Life, Underwater Ecosystems  and the people who push the limits of human endurance to it’s extreme. At the same time shining a light on important issues that would otherwise go unseen.

Which is why we have compiled a list of awe-inspiring, award-winning true accounts, we believe every water lover should watch at least once in their life.


Diving Documentaries About Marine Life

The animals of the oceans are truly unlike any other you would find on this planet. These diving documentaries show some of these amazing creatures and unfortunately some of the things that are threatening their very existence.

Chasing Coral

We follow the story of corporate marketer Richard Vevers in his attempt to advertise the effect of climate change has on coral reefs.

Recruiting a team of scientists, divers and photographers, he chases a heat wave around the globe, trying to use specially adapted underwater cameras to document the dying reefs.

A uniquely personal documentary. Not only do we build on our awareness and knowledge of corals but we can see the personal relationships the photographers develop with the animals over the project.

Contribute to the project through helping document bleaching events, voting on important issues and help share the knowledge with other people by sharing the documentary.

Available to watch on Netflix or YouTube for free.

Racing Extinction

Posing as restaurateurs and importers, a small group of filmmakers gain access to businesses which are profiting from the endangered species trade.

Using undercover cameras they document unprecedented footage that illustrates the man-made causes of what is known as the sixth mass extinction. Something that threatens to eradicate up to half of all living species on earth within this century.

To raise awareness of these practises, they team up with Tesla to project images onto the buildings of businesses said to endanger animals.

Filmed in the eco-vigilante style of Louis Psihoyos who brought us The Cove.

Available to watch on Amazon Prime.

The Cove

An attempt to make a documentary about the killing and capturing of Dolphins in a cove in Japan turns into a covert mission as filmmakers battle against police and fishermen for access to the town.

Using special equipment, they sneak in to capture the emotional footage of hundreds of dolphins being lured to their death. The meat which is actually poisonous is then sold to unsuspecting customers.

Led by Ric O’Barry, a former dolphin trainer in his life long mission to undo the work he had done in helping start the marine park trade.

Available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Since its release the town of Taiji has faced huge international outcry. So much so that a second documentary was made, A Whale of a Tale, to explain their side of the story.

Blackfish

Attempting to explain why SeaWorld’s largest killer whale killed his highly experienced trainer in 2010, we follow the story of Tilikum.

Captured in the wild when young then punished by other whales for underperforming. It tells a sad and eye-opening story of what these animals go through in captivity.

We watch as attacks and even deaths on humans are downplayed until the day of Dawn Brancheau’s tragic end. An event which cased the former trainers to speak out and sparked dramatic change in the industry and peoples opinions.

Available to watch on Amazon Prime and for free on Youtube.

Sharkwater

At the age of twenty-two Rob Sewart discovered illegal longline fishing in the Galapagos. It was a discovery that sent him on a four year long journey to document the threats sharks face. Watching their populations get smaller and smaller.

Changing perspectives on many levels, Sharkwater reveals the importance sharks play in marine ecosystems and the misconceptions we have about this awe inspiring species.

The film not only uncovered a massive, illegal shark finning industry but went on to bring about real change in the affected countries with the help of Sea Shepherd. You can help them on their mission to protect sharks through their official website.

Sadly Rob died in a diving accident and his sequel Sharkwater Extinction was completed without him.

Available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Sea of Shadows

Directed by Leanardo Decaprio is an intense documentary following a team of scientists, conservationists, investigative journalists, undercover agents and the Mexican navy as they put their lives on the line to save one of the most elusive ad endangered species on the planet. The Vaquita porpoise.

With Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers teaming up, it isn’t long before their deadly poaching methods threaten to destroy virtually all marine life in the Sea of Cortez.

Available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Sonic Sea

Sound is one form of pollution that is easy to overlook when we think about all the threats the oceans face today. However human presence is only increasing, bringing with it a dramatic rise in noise levels that are doubling every decade.

Although looking and sounding tranquil, beneath the waves there is no peace and quiet.  Especially for marine mammals who use echolocation as their primary way to navigate and communicate. Now shipping, seismic exploration and military sonar are overwhelming the senses and they have nowhere to escape increasing noise.

Leading to whales stranding themselves on beaches as they try to escape military sonars and increasing struggles to compete with the background noise to communicate to mates.

Showing us the unseen pollution these creatures have to deal with everyday and night. Like being at a rock concert and not being able to leave. 

If you want to find out what can be done you can visit their official website. Also available to watch via Vimeo

My Octopus Teacher

In 2020, ‘My Octopus Teacher’ took both the diving and non-diving world by storm. Documenting a year of filmmaker Craig Foster’s life as he develops a friendship with a wild common octopus in a kelp forest near his home in South Africa.

After gaining her trust she lets him into her life, showing how she sleeps, eats, mates and even gives birth. As a consequence, reawakening Foster’s connection with nature and his own family.

It is available to watch on Netflix. If you find this interesting you will probably also enjoy the TV Mini Series ‘Secrets of the Octopus’ which follows other scientists sharing similar experiences.


Diving Documentaries About Ecosystems

An ecosystem needs many different parts working together to function correctly. Plastic, pollution, climate change and overfishing are not some of these parts. These diving documentaries show some of the most beautiful ecosystems in the world but also the things that can be most damaging for them.

Plastic Ocean

While searching for blue whales in the pacific, journalist Craig Leeson discovered plastic in what he thought was a clean ocean. Teaming up with a producer and free-diver he travels all over the world witnessing many of the issues associated with plastic.

With some of the biggest problems being the ones we can’t see: micro-plastics. These small particulates accumulate in the food chain causing major health issues.

Although worrying, Plastic Ocean also shows us how changing our consumer behaviour has impacts we can’t see from the comfort of our homes. Find out how you can help.

Available to watch on Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Plastic Paradise

Miles away from civilisation is a small island called Midway Atoll. It is one of the most remote places on earth and yet has become a comb for The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Traveling to this dump site Angela Sun tries to uncover why pollution from three distant continents is ending up concentrated on this small island in the middle of nowhere.

Diving deeper into the path it took to get there, she also questions the effect of our rapid plastic consumption. How the choices we make in our daily lives can have a disastrous or positive effect down the line. Also how the concentrated pollutants and toxins can have horrific consequences for not just the animals in the sea but us as well.

Find out what action is being taken. Available to watch on Amazon Prime.

The Last Ocean

The Ross Sea in Antarctica is the last pristine ecosystem on earth. Previously untouched by humans, now an international fishing fleet has come into its waters to target Toothfish (also known as Chilean Sea Bass).

Ecologists, scientists and political leaders rally together in an international battle to stop commercial fishing before the natural balance is lost forever.

Examining science and politics in the debate over earths last truly wild ocean.

Available to watch through their Official Website or Amazon Prime.

The End of The Line

An expose of the consequences of overfishing. In The End of the Line we are introduced to the other side of our eating habits.

Highlighting how many well known species like bluefin tuna and cod that we all love are likely to be extinct by 2048. We follow a group of men a they question the companies that remove these and other vulnerable species from the sea and process them for consumption.

They also tackle the mislabeling of food stuffs and regulations that contribute to us finding endangered species in our supermarkets and restaurants.

In response to the film, many people are more conscious about what fish they are eating. Made easier with websites and apps like FishWatch.

Mission Blue

A biography of the life of legendary oceanographer, marine biologist and explorer, Sylvia Earle who dedicated her life to protecting the oceans.

Exposing shocking environmental atrocities in a wake up call for the oceans before it’s too late.

Available to watch through Netflix.


Diving Documentaries About People

Delving into the personal struggles and triumphs people face when diving. These diving documentaries are a rollercoaster of emotions. Taking the audience to places they may never see outside of the screen.

Diving Into The Unknown

A group of Finnish divers attempt to dive through a cave system in Norway. To do so they will need to cut through ice, squeeze through tight passages and reach depths of 130m before getting to a dry cave on the other side. Their journey will cost them the lives of two of their team.

After an international group of rescue divers attempts to retrieve the bodies and fails the caves are closed by police. Despite the original dangers, fatalities and now forbidden nature of a recovery mission the survivors of the original team return to retrieve their friends.

With additional support and the documentary crew from the previous attempt we follow their covert journey back to where it all went wrong.

Available to watch with Amazon Prime.

The Last Breath

Chris Lemons along with a team of his colleagues were carrying out repairs under the North Sea when the positioning system of the support boat above them failed.

Now drifting in the rough seas, the diving bell and then divers are dragged along 100m under the water eventually snapping the chord supplying Lemons with air, hot water to heat his suit and power for his light and radio link to the surface.

Stranded in the dark with only a few minutes of breathable gas, his team must now try and locate him using a remote underwater vehicle. Thirty minutes later they find him lying on the seabed. For reasons they could not fathom he was still alive.

Using a mixture of genuine footage, audio and interviews from the crew involved, we learn what went on in that horrific 30 minutes.

The Rescue

In late June 2018 a young football team were led by their assistant coach into the Tham Luang Non cave system in the Chiang Rai province of Northern Thailand. Either to explore or celebrate someones birthday, we do not know. 

However heavy rains quickly caused the tunnels to flood, cutting off their only way out. When the children all aged between 11 and 16 never returned home, the coach went to investigate and found the boys bicycles at the entrance of the cave. So the rescue efforts began.

With rising water levels, tight passages and strong currents it quickly became apparent that getting the group out was going to be a challenge. Cave divers from across the world joined together to try and come up with a plan.

This is their story of a terrifying two weeks spent trying to perform a daring and dangerous rescue. Risking their own lives in the process.

Find out more about the filmmaking with National Geographic. Watch it for yourself on Disney+. Or check out the movie based on this story by the name of  ‘Thirteen Lives’ on Prime.

The Last Breath

In a world where everything relies on the strength of one breath, athletes must train rigorously to push their limits into the depths of the ocean.

One such athlete is Alessia Zecchini who we follow on her quest to break the world record with the help the help of her safety diver Stephen Keenan.

Available to watch on Netflix.

Before You Go …

There are lots of other diving documentaries out there and new ones being made everyday. Leave a comment below if you have any more suggestions!

But in the meantime if you’re still craving more then why not browse the big scuba book list.

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