25 Best Scuba Diving Movies

I live in Buffalo, NY and the winters can be long. unless I’m traveling, I’m usually not diving between the months of November and April. This leaves plenty of time to watch scuba diving movies and dreaming of scuba diving while waiting to get back in the water.

So the following is Scuba Jay’s recommendations of the best scuba diving movies ever made to keep divers entertained in between bottom times.

Scuba Jay’s Top 10 Scuba Diving Movies

Growing up the son of a diver, I was introduced to scuba diving movies at a young age.

In addition to the movies, my dad, Gary, and I would watch tv shows about diving. From the educational, like The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, to Sci-Fi, like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

The shows were great, but the company was even better.

As wisely stated by Cousteau himself, “The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” This has been true for me while diving and through the memories of sitting next to my dad and being transported to another world.

Anyway, here are 10 of my personal favorite scuba diving movies ever made….

1. Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954)

The Creature From The Black Lagoon is one of my all-time favorite scuba diving movies.

As a kid, I’d eagerly wait for the movie to cycle through programming and air on Saturday morning tv. Beautiful black and white underwater scenes are only outmatched by the beauty of Julia Adams.

The Creature looks amazing – even by today’s standards – and one can’t help but feel a little bad for him for defending his territory from outsiders looking to capture him.

If you’re looking for a little behind-the-scenes reading, check out The Lady from the Black Lagoon about the woman, Milicent Patrick, who created the Creature’s design…..thank you Milicent for capturing a young boy’s imagination.

Also, for what it’s worth, I just recently had the opportunity to see it on the big screen for the first time. It was excellent!

2. Jaws (1975)

From the pages of Peter Benchley’s best selling novel Jaws, comes the terrifying giant great white shark looking for victims off of the fictional Amity Island shores.

The movie that ruined swimming in the open water for many a folk, Jaws is not just a great scuba diving movie, but it’s considered by many to be one of the greatest movies of all time. It’s also billed as the first movie ever to be a “blockbuster.”

Jaws is filled with great underwater scenes, and one of our heroes even dons scuba diving gear to battle the shark.

Does he succeed or is he made an appetizer? Watch and see….then read the book and see if it turns out the same.

3. The Deep (1977)

After the success of Jaws, it did not take long to turn another one of Peter Benchley’s best selling Novels into a movie.

Based on the 1976 book, The Deep follows a couple on vacation in Bermuda who stumble across some old Spanish treasure, sunken morphine vials, and a whole lot of trouble and adventure.

Any scuba diver will enjoy the many underwater scenes as a young Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset are pursued by bad guy Louis Gossett Jr. The movie also stars Robert Shaw of Jaws fame.

While The Deep takes place in Bermuda, many of the underwater shipwreck scenes were filmed on the RMS Rhone,  in the British Virgin Islands. For another interesting read on the Rhone try The Law of Storms.

4. Thunderball (1965)

Starring the original James Bond, Sean Connery, Ian Fleming’s Thunderball is brought to the big screen in all its action packed glory.

In this outing, Bond is on the heels of Specter agent Largo, who has stolen nuclear missiles off of a downed English Vulcan bomber. This movie has excellent underwater action scenes that still hold up today. It’s my all time favorite James Bond movie!

As with the other 007 movies below, many of the underwater scenes were filmed in the Bahamas off of New Providence Island. Divers of today can still go see the metal frame remnants of the Vulcan bomber prop used in movie and left behind long ago.

5. Fool’s Gold (2008)

Not just any romcom, but a romcom where the underwater world of treasure hunting takes center stage.

Follow Fin, Matthew McConaughey, and his estranged wife Tess, Kate Hudson, as they race to find a lost Spanish galleon with the Queen’s Dowry before rapper-gangster Bigg Bunny, Kevin Hart, gets his hands on it. Along for the ride are Donald Sutherland and Ray Winston.

While the onscreen action takes place in the Caribbean, some of the underwater scenes were actually filmed in Australia. This is a light hearted action comedy and a fun diving movie.

6. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954)

Who has not heard of Captain Nemo and his Nautilus? Based on the classic 1870 novel by Jules Verne, 20,000 leagues Under the Sea is a classic Disney movie.

Starring actors such as Kirk Douglas, James Mason and Pete Lorre, you will have to keep reminding yourself that this beautifully filmed movie was made in the 1950s. An epic adventure film for the whole family.

Divers will enjoy Captain Nemo and his crew walking through underwater gardens with their “advanced” diving gear…..but watch out for the giant Squid!!

7. Revenge Of The Creature (1955)

Our old friend the Creature is back! But this time he has been captured and made a marine exhibit where he draws more attention then the killer whales. However, unlike the whales, the Gillman is going to do something about his captivity and the divers that go visit him in his watery cage better beware!!

From the capture of the creature in the lagoon to the Florida marine exhibit, there are some really nice underwater scenes shot beautifully in black and white to satisfy divers. Also, don’t blink or you’ll miss a very young Client Eastwood.

8. The Spy who loved me (1977)

Other than sharing the same name – The Spy who loved me – the movie really has nothing more in common with the book.

The first James Bond movie that I saw in the theater definitely left an impression. From the car that turns into a mini-submarine to the Larger than life villain “Jaws” who’s preferred method of killing is biting people’s necks with his scary silver dental work, this movie had everything to fill a young boy’s imagination.

The underwater fight between Bond in his transforming Lotus Esprit and the scuba diving henchmen of Karl Stromberg is one of my favorites. The final all out battle inside a supertanker is equally as impressive.

9. The Deep House (2021)

The Deep House is basically a haunted house movie underwater. Starring Mick Jagger’s son, James Jagger, There is plenty of creepiness here to make this not only a good scuba diving movie, but a good Halloween movie as well.

The premise is a couple travel to a manmade lake where lies at the bottom an old house with a sinister past. The divers plan to film their dive for their social media platform, but soon realize they may be in too deep (pun intended).

I found this to be an original movie that gave me chills. Being a diver,you could put yourself in their fins and that added to the enjoyment and terror.

10. For your Eyes only (1981)

By now you probably realize I’m a big James Bond fan. In For Your Eyes Only, another Ian Fleming story, James Bond must retrieve a secret communication device off of an English spy Naval vessel that accidently sunk.

While not many underwater sequences, there are some good ones, including one great scene where Bond has to battle a bad guy wearing an intimidating deep sea diving outfit with pinching claws. Little movie trivia: this movie was supposed to follow after The Spy who Loved me, but was bumped for Moonraker because of the success of Star Wars.

Bonus – Splash (1983)

A bonus personal favorite of mine is Splash….and what diver does not enjoy a tale about a mermaid?

This is one of the many movies with underwater scenes filmed in New Providence Island in the Bahamas. A hilarious romantic comedy about a boy and a fish, Splash has some nice underwater sequences. Really, I just enjoy this movie for the performances by all those involved. Mostly I love Eugene Levy who plays a jerk scientist that is trying to prove the mermaid is real. Levy’s mistreatment of his idiot boat crew “the moron twins” is worth watching this movie for alone.

And remember, if you find yourself drunk laying on top of a bar “it’s not that you had too much to drink. You’re just too skinny.” RIP John Candy.

15 Other Scuba Diving Movies To Enjoy

There really is no shortage of scuba diving movies. From documentaries to suspenseful adventure thrillers, the below list has a little something for everyone…divers and non-divers alike.

1. Men Of Honor (2000)

Men of Honor is the true story of Carl Brashear, Cuba Gooding Jr., who is determined to be the first African American master diver. Both Gooding and Robert De Niro turn in solid performances in telling the story of a man overcoming bigotry to become the best in his chosen profession.

Divers will enjoy the “hard hat” diving scenes and the movie is sure to inspire.

“A Chief Petty Officer shall not drink. However, if he should drink he shall not get drunk. If he should get drunk, he shall not stagger. And if he should stagger, he shall not fall. And if he should fall, he will fall in such a manner as to cover up his rank so that passerby will think he is an officer.” True words whether in the Navy or not.

2. Chasing Coral (2017)

Chasing Coral was filmed between 2014 and 2017 to document the sever bleaching taking place on many coral reefs due to climate change. This is a beautifully filmed documentary that will give divers and non-divers pause as they witness the filmed changes in the underwater world.

As divers we are trained to take nothing and leave only bubbles. However, as this cautionary tale lays out, more will need to be done to save our coral reefs.

3. The Abyss (1989)

James Cameron directed this underwater odyssey that is often included in many a list of best scuba diving movies.

The Abyss follows Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and their crew of civilian divers who are tasked with searching for a lost nuclear submarine. The Navy Seals with them, lead by Michael Biehn of Terminator fame, may not be giving them the full story though….and there just may be something else in the murky depths.

A deep sea adventure on the bottom of the ocean floor with, at the time, groundbreaking special effects. This is another James Cameron epic bound to entertain.

4. The Frogmen (1951)

Stakes don’t get much higher than they did in World war II. This is the first movie to cover the adventures of the Navy underwater demolition team, better known as “Frogmen.”

In the Frogmen the team is tasked with clearing obstacles for a beach landing while they get used to their new commanding officer.

Divers will enjoy the vintage diving equipment used in the movie and take wonder at the underwater scenes filmed so well in the early 1950s.

5. 47 Meters Down (2017)

47 Meters Down is a suspenseful adventure thriller that entertains while offering up claustrophobic terror.

Two sisters go on a dive boat for some cage diving in shark infested waters. They end up trapped in the cage at the bottom of the ocean with great whites about.

Watch and find out if the sharks get them, or if they last for an extraordinary amount of time to make it back to the surface. There is a sequel, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, that finds a group of divers trapped in a sunken Mayan city that is also entertaining.

6. Open Water (2003)

Based on a frightening true story of two divers left behind in shark infested waters when their tour boat accidentally leaves without them, Open Water is enough to give any diver the chills.

The real life couple, Tom and Eileen Lonergan, who the movie is based on were never found following their dive outing in 1998. Will our onscreen couple face the same fate? watch and find out….if you dare.

7. Becoming Cousteau (2021)

If anyone’s name is synonymous with scuba diving and scuba diving movies it is Jacque Cousteau.

This is an interesting and honest look at a true diving pioneer. Many a diver point to Cousteau and his movies and tv show as being their motivation for becoming a diver. My father was a big fan. This sparked the Botticelli diving legacy and directly has lead to yours truly, scuba Jay.

If you have any interest in where our diving equipment comes from and how recreational diving began, this is one of the scuba diving movies you should not miss.

8. Hitler’s Lost Sub (2004)

A NOVA documentary on the true story set forth in the popular book Shadow Divers.

Follow a team of divers trying to identify a German U-boat found off the coast of New Jersey in 230ft of water that the experts say should not be there. An underwater mystery that those involved could not let go of and from which some did not return.

This documentary is a great visual companion to the book and does a great job putting faces with names of those involved.

9. Black Sea (2014)

In this submarine disaster thriller, Jude Law and his misfit crew set off to recover rumored gold off of an old world war II sub.

Will the crew work together and achieve a common objective, or does greed and paranoia take control to divide their ranks? Winner is going to take all or nothing!

Black Sea includes some thrilling scenes where divers attempt to cautiously travel over the ocean’s floor to the forgotten relic to recover the treasure and much needed parts for their own damaged vessel.

10. Deep Blue sea (1999)

What could possibly go wrong with genetically altering Mako sharks? Well as it turns out, quit a lot!

CGI heavy, Deep Blue Sea is still a good underwater thriller and diving movie. Plus you have Samuel L. Jackson and LL Cool J, but do they both make it out alive…..spoiler alert, no!

11. Playing with sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story (2021)

This is a wonderful documentary about a most amazing woman, Valerie Taylor, that is sure to capture ever diver looking to be entertained and informed.

The movie follows Valerie as she goes from a champion spear-fisher – in a then male dominated sport – to a passionate protector of the ocean’s apex predators.

Valerie and her husband Ron were the go-to videographers for many underwater movies, including several on this list. These movies include Jaws and Blue Water, White death. Watch as she still dons her scuba gear, albeit with some help, to go diving well into her 80s. Inspirational indeed! And if you want to find out more about Valerie, check out An Adventurous Life.

12. Sphere (1998)

Who would have guessed Samuel L. Jackson would be in two of the best scuba diving movies on this list? Based on the Michael Crichton novel, Sphere is psychological underwater sci-fi thriller.

A team is brought together to explore a UFO deep in the Pacific Ocean, but not all may make it back. Along with Samuel is Sharon Stone, Dustin Hoffman and Liev Schreiber.

Is the UFO alien in nature, or something else all together? Tune in and find out.

13. Amsterdammed (1988)

A little known slasher film where a serial killer diver uses the Amsterdam canal system to stalk his prey.

Follow the hero detective as he tries to use the few clues left by the aquatic killer to stop him before there are more gruesome murders.

As the poster says “The danger lies just below the surface.” However, the Oscar lies much further away for this film.

This certainly is not a great movie with exotic locations, but Amsterdamned is a good scuba diving movie to watch before Halloween.

14. Pressure (2015)

If four deep sea divers trapped at the bottom of the Indian Ocean in a diving bell is not enough to make you claustrophobic, nothing will.

In Pressure the clock is ticking and the air is running thin as the group must find their way back to the surface, over 600ft above them.

Not a star-studded movie by a long shot, but another movie for those looking for entertaining diving movies.

15. Blue Water, White Death (1971)

Several years before Jaws, there was this documentary that was a first of its kind.

In Blue Water, White Death underwater photojournalist Peter Gimbel assisted with directing this classic. Gimbel adds this film to his impressive resume of being the first to dive and photograph the Andrea Doria.

If cage diving with great white sharks is on your to do list, watch where they first ventured to capture that on film.

Wrapping Things Up

This list really just scratches the surface of scuba diving movies. There are many more out there to be found, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (see what I did there?). So deflate your BC, kick back and let scuba Jay know which ones are your favorite. As I said, winters are long in Buffalo and I’m always looking for a new diving movie to keep me dreaming of hitting the water on a cold winter’s evening.

See you at the movies…..or in the water!

More Of Jay’s Faves

Check out the below, if interested in more of Jay’s Faves.

• The Drive-In
• Stahlsac Curacao Clipper Dive Gear Travel Bag
• Cressi Eyes Evolution Scuba Mask
• Henderson Talon Wetsuit

“How boring would the world be if everywhere and everyone were the same. Safe travels and good adventures.” Scuba Jay