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Scuba Documentaries Every Diver Should Watch
They say that scuba divers represent some of the strongest ocean advocates. It’s easy to see why when they come face to face with environmental change every time they stick their heads in the water.
With coral reefs being irreparably damaged and bleached, plastic and pollution clogging the waters and marine life species being fished to extinction. There are very few people who can see these things with their own eyes and not want to do something about it.
Although fair to say that we won’t be able to see it all from diving alone. To learn more we will need a bit of help from people who have dedicated years of their lives to show what’s really going on out there with scuba documentaries.
These scuba documentaries cover the animals, ecosystems and personal stories that make up our wonderful blue planet.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you go through them to make a purchase we will earn a commission. Our aim is to help our readers through these links so everything we promote will be high quality products we personally believe in.
Animal Scuba Documentaries
The animals of the oceans are truly unlike any other you would find on this planet. These documentaries show some of these amazing creatures and unfortunately some of the things that are threateneing their very existence.
1) 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.
2) 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.
Their corresponding website will also help you do your part.
Available to watch on YouTube or to rent from Amazon Prime.
3) 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 on as whale meat.
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.
4) 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.
To this day there has been no record of any orca doing any harm to a human in the wild.
Available to watch on Amazon Prime or through their official website.
5) 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.
6) 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.
7) 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.Â
If you want to find out what can be done you can visit their official website.
Available to watch via Vimeo.Â
Ecosystem Scuba Documentaries
An ecosystem needs many different parts working together to function correctly. Plastic, pollution, climate change and overfishing are not some of these parts. These scuba documentaries show some of the most beautiful ecosystems in the world but also the things that can be most damaging for them.
1) A 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.
2) 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.
3) 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.
4) 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.
5) 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.
Personal Scuba Documentaries
1) Given
Every family has traditions but for one family some are more unique than others.
Told from the viewpoint of a young boy we follow the journey of legendary surfers Aamion and Daize Goodwin through 15 countries in the quest to surf and fulfil a calling handed down through generations.
Available to watch through Amazon Prime or through the official website.
2) 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.
3) 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 and audio and interviews from the crew involved we learn what went on in that horrific 30 minutes.
There are lots of other scuba documentaries out there and new ones being made everyday. Leave a comment below if you have any more suggestions!
If you’re interested in learning more and have a bit more time to spare why not pick up a diving book.
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Katie Braunstein
I have been a traveler my whole life, having been born in Zimbabwe but growing up mostly in the UK. I first got into diving three years ago when I met my partner and fell in love. Since then it has been my passion to share this love of our underwater world with others.
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