SCUBA DIVING & HUMAN RESILIENCE MOVIES
Diving Into Survival: Real-Life Stories from Beneath the Surface
These documentaries are real tales of survival, danger, and the mental fortitude it takes to return to the surface alive. Whether it’s deep caves or extreme depths, these films show how divers face the ultimate test underwater.
The Deepest Breath
A champion and expert safety diver seemed destined for one another. Despite different paths taken, they meet at the pinnacle of the free-diving world, experiencing the thrilling rewards and inescapable risks of chasing dreams through the depths of the ocean.
Netflix, 2023, 1h 48min
The Rescue
A chronicle of the enthralling, against-all-odds story that transfixed the world in 2018: the daring rescue of twelve boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand.
National Geographic, 2021, 1h 47min
best CONSERVATION & MARINE AWARENESS
The Ocean is in Crisis — These Films Show Why It Matters
Our seas are warming, bleaching, choking. But through stunning cinematography and moving personal stories, these films show us why the ocean needs us now more than ever.
My Octopus Teacher
A filmmaker forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, learning as the animal shares the mysteries of her world.
Netflix, 2020, 1h 25min
Chasing Coral
Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. A team of divers, photographers and scientists set out on a thrilling ocean adventure to discover why and to reveal the underwater mystery to the world.
Netflix, 2017, 1h 33min
Turning the tide
This powerful documentary follows their efforts to rehabilitate Aruba’s interconnected marine habitats and inspire a community to protect its future. Turning the Tide is a gripping story of hope, unity, and the fight for survival in the face of a mounting ecological crisis.
Netflix, 2017, 1h 33min
SHARKS & MISCONCEPTIONS MOVIES
Jaws vs Reality: Films That Reclaim the Shark Story
Jaws created a global wave of fear — and triggered a legacy of shark persecution. But the truth is very different. These films balance the narrative, showing sharks as misunderstood keystone species, not monsters.
Playing with Sharks
Pioneering scuba diver Valerie Taylor, who has dedicated her life to exposing the myth surrounding our fear of sharks.
Disney+, 2021, 1h 35min
Sharkwater
An investigation of sharks’ importance to ecosystems and humankind’s mass destruction of shark species worldwide..
Netflix, 2006, 1h 29min
Sharkwater Extinction
Filmmaker Rob Stewart exposes the illegal fishing industry that threatens the survival of the world’s sharks.
2018, 1h 25min
INVESTIGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL Movies
Dark Waters: Who’s Really Harming the Ocean?y
From overfishing to plastic pollution to shady seafood trade — these investigative films pull back the curtain on the damage being done and hold corporations, governments, and consumers accountable.
Seaspiracy
Passionate about ocean life, a filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species – and uncovers alarming global corruption.
Netflix 2021, 1h 29min
OCEAN EXPLORATION & LEGACY Movies
Explorers of the Blue: The Ocean as You’ve Never Seen It
The sea still holds more mysteries than answers. These films take us into the depths of discovery, from Jacques Cousteau’s pioneering dives to today’s ultra-HD deep-sea missions.
Becoming Cousteau
A look at the life, passions, achievements and tragedies surrounding the famous explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau, featuring an archive of his newly restored footage.
National Geographics, 2021, 1h 34mins
Blue Planet
Mammoth series, five years in the making, taking a look at the rich tapestry of life in the world’s oceans.
BBC mini series, 2001
Blue Planet II
David Attenborough returns to the world’s oceans in this sequel to the acclaimed documentary filming rare and unusual creatures of the deep, as well as documenting the problems our oceans face.
BBC mini series, 2017
Ocean with David Attenborough
Attenborough explores the planet’s undersea habitats, revealing the greatest age of ocean discovery and emphasizing the ocean’s vital importance while exposing its problems and highlighting opportunities for marine life recovery.
National Geographics, 2025, 1h 35 mins
LEARN MORE
Why Ocean Matters
Sharks
Coral Reefs
Post credits
Featured image – Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash