The 9 Best Scuba Diving Films of All Time

In cinema, scuba diving has always fascinated humanity, offering a glimpse into a mysterious and often unexplored world. This passion is reflected in captivating works that blend adventure, suspense and natural beauty. From timeless classics like “The Big Blue” to modern thrillers like “47 Meters Down”, scuba diving films take us to the depths of the oceans...

Whether you’re interested in sci-fi, horror, or survival thrillers, there’s something for everyone on our top scuba diving films list! From alien spaceships being explored at the bottom of the ocean, to cave diving expeditions gone wrong, there’s a lot of scuba diving action to be found in film, and these are some of the best…

Get ready to plunge with us into a universe where every air bubble, every moving shadow and every sea creature contributes to a breathtaking visual narrative.

The Dive (2023)

"The Dive" is a 2023 German Maltese diving film written by Max Erlenwein and Joachim Hed. This thriller stars Sophie Lowe and Louisa Krause and is a remake of the 2020 Norwegian film "Breaking Surface". This is the story of two sisters that go on a scuba diving excursion in a beautiful, isolated spot. May and Drew discover a cave with oxygen they can breathe so they decide to explore the underwater caverns. As they continue their exploration, a catastrophe occurs on the surface, causing rocks to fall into the water. One of the sisters, Drew, is trapped under one of the heavy projectiles... With dangerously low oxygen levels and freezing temperatures, it's up to her sister to fight to save her. Will you have the courage to watch until the end?

Without using special effects, this thriller depicts the situation with realism and minimalism, building tension and evoking agony throughout: a real good horror movie! But do not worry, if you plan to scuba dive, you will not face those feelings!

Mission Blue (2014)

"Mission Blue" is a documentary released in 2014, focusing on renowned oceanographer and marine biologist Sylvia Earle. The film highlights her work to preserve the oceans and her commitment to raising public awareness of the importance of protecting marine ecosystems. Sylvia Earle is a pioneer in the field of marine biology, known for her underwater explorations and conservation work, she has spent her life exploring the oceans and documenting the marine world! The film shows the consequences of human activity on the oceans, including ecosystem destruction and declining fish numbers. She shares her personal journey and passion for marine life and how it is important that we take care of Mother Earth... This work of art is inspiring and engages viewers to take action. The underwater scenes are beautifully shot, capturing the splendor and diversity of marine ecosystems. The vivid colors of coral, fish and other marine life are highlighted, creating an immersive visual experience...

Breaking Surface (2020)

“Breaking Surface” is an intense diving film released in 2020, directed by Joachim Hedén. The film tells the captivating story of two half-sisters, Ida and Tuva, who set off on a winter dive in Norway. Their excursion takes a dramatic turn when Tuva finds herself trapped underwater by a rockslide. Ida, faced with increasingly dangerous conditions and limited resources, must use her ingenuity and courage to try and save her sister before time runs out. The film is acclaimed for its thrilling underwater scenes and its ability to maintain high tension throughout. The shots immerse the viewer in the hostile, icy environment, while the emotional dynamic between the two sisters adds poignant depth to this survival adventure.

The Deep (1977)

Based on the 1976 novel by Peter Benchley (the author of Jaws) which the film takes its title from, this gripping 70’s adventure film and successor to Jaws, may not live up to its predecessor in notoriety or cult status but is still highly enjoyable. Starring Jacqueline Bisset and Nick Nolte, this diving adventure film focuses on their characters, a loved-up couple, holidaying in Bermuda. The couple comes across a number of unusual artifacts when scuba diving around the area’s shipwrecks, and after investigating their findings further, they end up attracting unwanted attention and searching for some long-lost treasure.

Expect some fantastic wreck diving scenes, a lot of suspense and more action than you would ever expect from a couple’s holiday… from a car (and bicycle) chase, to being chased by the creatures of the deep, this diving movie that seemed like the average ‘romantic vacation goes wrong’ type film, keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Sphere (1998)

Okay, so not your standard diving film… this big-budget sci-fi thriller stars the likes of Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson and Sharon Stone and centres around the discovery of an alien spacecraft, at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. An already interesting premise with a team of Hollywood A-listers at the helm, this film dreams big and though it remains well-liked by audiences, it didn’t fare well with critics.

Head down to the floor of the Pacific with this well-picked team of Hollywood’s finest to discover alien intelligence in a 300 year old alien wreck… and expect some suspenseful diving investigation work and fantastic one-liners from all the cast, along the way. From Academy Award winning director, Barry Levinson, best known for Rain Man (also starring Hoffman) this film has the potential (on paper) to be a great film, and is for the most part, greatly entertaining.

Sanctum (2011)

A gripping survival thriller combining caving and cave diving, Sanctum is loosely based on a real-life near-fatal cave diving expedition, that the film’s co-writer and cave diving lover, Andrew Wight led, in Australia in 1988. With Academy Award winning director James Cameron (best known for Titanic and Avatar) as this film’s executive producer, it’s no wonder that this film – also released in cinemas in 3D, has stunning underwater visuals.

Set in the as-yet partially unexplored cave system of Esa’ala, in Papua New Guinea, this cave diving adventure movie follows a small group of cave divers, including 17 year old Josh and his father Frank, who is leading the expedition. We watch as they prepare to head deeper into the cave, to an as yet unexplored part of this real-life cave system’s unknown depths, and watch as the team has to survive against all odds, as everything that could go wrong, does. Expect incredible visuals and tense and often shocking action.

47 Metres Down: Uncaged (2019)

This popular survival thriller diving film sees two sisters, played by Mandy Moore and Claire Holt, take to the waters off the coast of Mexico on a seemingly questionable cage-diving trip… and when Moore’s character, Lisa, lies about her diving proficiency, we know things are bound to go south. Things go bad pretty quickly for these two divers, as the unchecked (and already fraying) cable attaching the diving cage to the boat finally snaps, the women are dragged… 47 metres down. This horrifying thriller features a great performance from Moore, as she gets herself into and out of a number of nightmarish situations involving sharks, decompression sickness and running out of oxygen. If you want to watch your worst diving fears played out in front of your eyes then 47 Metres Down is the scuba survival flick you’ve been waiting for!

47 Metres Down: Uncaged, sees this group of girls spontaneously decide to explore the submerged Mayan city which Mia’s father is working on unearthing. Featuring everything you could possibly hope would not happen on a cave dive, including crumbling ruins, near empty oxygen tanks and cave-evolved sharks, this movie is gripping from start to finish.

Open Water (2003)

“Open Water” may not be a great film, but it's undoubtedly one of the most successful diving movies of the last 20 years. Shot by a 3-person team on a budget of just $120,000, it grossed $55 million at the box office. This movie is based on a true story of a australian couple of divers that were left in the open sea by a dive boat in Australia! In the film, the scenario is identical : it shows an American couple that go diving during their vacation. Their dive lasts a little longer than expected. Unfortunately, due to a counting error, the boat that was supposed to take them ashore sets off, leaving them alone in the open sea. So begins a long wait in the hope that the dive boat will come back for them. Most of the film takes place on the surface, with the two divers adrift, and an essentially empty setting: the surface of the ocean. The film's ending is somewhat predictable from the outset. The minimalist photography makes this diving story particularly plausible, and has an almost physical effect on the viewer...

Abyss (1989)

"The Abyss," directed by James Cameron and released in 1989, is often considered as one of the best scuba diving movies for its groundbreaking underwater cinematography, gripping narrative, and technical achievements. The film revolves around a civilian diving team enlisted to search for a lost nuclear submarine in the Caribbean Sea, only to encounter an otherworldly species living in the deep ocean. One of the key reasons for its acclaim is the authenticity and realism of its underwater scenes. Cameron's meticulous attention to detail involved filming in a massive underwater set constructed in an abandoned nuclear reactor containment vessel, creating a unique and immersive experience. The narrative depth, exploring themes of human resilience, alien contact, and the mystery of the ocean, resonated with audiences, making "The Abyss" not just a technical marvel but also a profound cinematic experience. Its influence is evident in subsequent underwater films, cementing its status as a classic that expertly blends science fiction with the awe-inspiring and perilous nature of deep-sea diving.

Feel like exploring the seabed?

After watching some (or all) of these films, you probably want to jump into the water and do scuba diving or free diving. We can make your wishes come true, in the 4 corners of the world!

If the first film made you want to go scuba diving in Malta, book your next aquatic adventure now! And if you're more into snowy Scandinavian landscapes like in “Breaking Surface” vibe, you can try your hand at ice diving... You don't know anything about this sport? Read our complete guide to ice diving!