The most comprehensive list of films about freediving and freedivers. The selection is divided into documentaries about freediving and feature films. Purely freediver-focused films are rare and usually consist of documentary materials, which is where we will start.
“Waving at My Ancestors” 2011
waving-at-my-ancestors
In 3000 BC, the Sumerians were diving for pearls in the Arabian Gulf. They were the first freedivers known to historians. In 480 BC, Greek freediver Scyllis of Scione played a key role in the Battle of Salamis. In 2005, Patrick Musimu became the first person to extend the limits of breath-hold diving to 200 meters.
patrick-musimu
In 2009, this outstanding athlete began searching for the “apnea ancestors” who practiced breath-hold diving since ancient times. Their experience and development allowed freediving to flourish as a sport in present-day society. The results of Patrick’s search and research in Athens, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Brussels are highlighted in the documentary about freediving Waving at My Ancestors.
“On A Long Breath” 2015
on-a-long-breath-film-freediving
A documentary featuring world freediving champion Pierre Frolla, this film immerses viewers into the harmonious world of the ocean. It allows them to swim with sperm whales, observe giant eels, and glide through the water alongside sharks.
Over the course of fifty-one days, the athlete explores the Indian, Pacific, Atlantic Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea, offering viewers a chance to witness the hidden underwater world. Pierre visits traditional tribes living in harmony with the sea and explores shipwreck sites. This highly educational and visually captivating film won an award at the International 3D Film Festival in Korea.
“No Limit Triple Quest” 2010
Patrick musimi no limit triplequest
The story of three world records set by freediver Patrick Musimu in the No Limit Tandem, No Limit Traditional, and No Limit (Absolute) disciplines. This film is not just about victory but also about a lifelong adventure, self-reflection, and drawing conclusions. By exploring new depths, Patrick Musimu embarks on a journey of self-discovery, interacting with people from different cultures. It’s a film about a man who became the first in the world to reach 200 meters on a single breath.
“Beyond Limits” Herbert Nitsch 2009
Beyond the limits
One of the greatest freedivers, Herbert Nitsch, reached a depth of 214 meters on breath-hold in 2007. In 2012, he miraculously survived a 253-meter dive. However, his goal was 300 meters! Is it possible? The 3D documentary Beyond Limits chronicles Herbert’s odyssey from Dean’s Blue Hole in the Bahamas to alpine icy lakes. You’ll see how and where the freediver trains, the equipment he works with, and will undoubtedly gain inspiration.
Beyond the limits the film
“Aspiring Depths” 2010
A chronicle of freediving competitions at Vertical Blue in the Bahamas. The film follows freedivers Herbert Nitsch, William Trubridge, and Sara Campbell, showcasing their personal records, challenges, limits, and life-threatening dives beyond human capabilities.
The film about freediving, Aspiring Depths, received the Grand Prize at the 6th East Mediterranean International Underwater Film and Photography Festival.
“Ocean Men: Extreme Dive” 2001
ocean men extreme dive
A dive into the world of two outstanding freediving competitors, Pipin Ferreras and Umberto Pelizzari. The film’s goal is not to document their rivalry. Director Bob Talbot masterfully captures the deep emotional connection these athletes feel, drawing them to the dark depths despite the life-threatening risks. The film highlights the different approaches the athletes take towards freediving, as well as the dramatic moments in their careers. Talbot, one of the world’s best underwater photographers, worked on Life of Pi, Free Willy, and Flipper. Much of the material for the film was provided by Pelizzari and Ferreras. The documentary Ocean Men: Extreme Dive was released in IMAX theaters in 2001.
“No Limits. The Audrey Mestre” 2013
Emotional Documentary about Freediving Champion Audrey Mestre
An emotional documentary about freediving champion Audrey Mestre, who tragically passed away on October 12, 2002, during an attempt to set a world record in the No Limits category. Although the film recounts the events of that fateful day, it overall presents freediving in a positive light. Since 2002, this sport has become safer than ever before. One of the film’s goals is to help draw lessons from tragic events and to showcase freediving as a remarkable recreational sport.
no limits oudrey mestre
“Dying to Dive” 2016
A journey into the abyss holding only one breath, relying solely on one’s strength and courage. This is the world of freediving, a sport that once helped our ancestors survive. Men and women from different corners of the planet challenge the elements and push the boundaries of human capabilities to set new records.
dying to dive film
This documentary, directed by talented journalist Pavel Baidikov, is dedicated to Alexey and Natalia Molchanov, mother and son, who simultaneously broke records at a world championship. It also features invaluable interview footage of the late, revered athlete. The film includes clips from the short film “Narcose” featuring freediver Guillaume Néry.
“Momentum The Film”
momentum
A documentary about freediving featuring sixteen of the most renowned contemporary athletes: Pelizzari, the Molchanovs, Molinari, Mallorca, Zuccari, Carrera, Néry, Streeter, Fukuda, and others share their experiences of diving into the oceanic abyss. The film allows viewers to glimpse places accessible only to submarines, whales, and the elite of freediving. In one breath, you’ll be transported into this mesmerizing atmosphere to try and understand the happiness, freedom, and danger of freediving.
“The Passage” or “La Traversée des Mondes” (Crossing Worlds) 2010
The Passage film freediving
This documentary featuring Guillaume Néry was filmed on Mexico’s remote Yucatan Peninsula. The champion freediver explores cenotes (collapsed limestone caves). The visuals are incredibly colorful and almost mystical.
In the final scene of the film, Guillaume utters words that perfectly reflect his attitude towards freediving: “You have to let yourself dive into the deepest mysteries to reawaken in rays of light.”
In 2015, Julie Gautier filmed a stunning short movie with Guillaume Néry at Dean’s Blue Hole titled “Free Fall.” The visuals are utterly captivating, holding your gaze for the full five minutes, and the soundtrack is perfectly matched. I highly recommend watching it if you haven’t already.
The Passage La Traversée des Mondes
“Facets of Freediving”
An educational and methodological film by Natalia Molchanova, a 22-time world champion and holder of 40 world records in freediving. This film is part of a series of instructional films directed by Molchanova.
“Water Born”
water born serial
A series of short films about freediving created by young American divers in the format of a web series . Freedivers explore unique dive sites, find inspiration, and aim to inspire others. The project’s goal is to showcase the beauty of the underwater world to people of all ages worldwide and spark interest in freediving.
“The Greater Meaning of Water” 2010
Based on real events, this film follows freediver Max Avery as he strives for a world record. He harbors a secret that complicates his pursuit of victory. The film emphasizes the raw, natural side of the sport through the protagonist’s eyes—showing how a life-threatening discipline can also be life-saving. The director delves into the so-called “flow state,” wherein a professional freediver loses self-awareness, and their perception of time and space radically shifts. Underwater scenes were filmed in the Cayman Islands.
“The Big Blue” (Le Grand Bleu) 1988
grand bleu 1988
A cult film and one of the greatest French movies of the 1980s. The plot is based on the complex relationship between legendary freedivers Jacques Mayol and Enzo Maiorca. The athletes are presented as antagonists, opposites who nonetheless share one obsession. The underwater cinematography is incredibly striking, with excellent sound design. It feels like a journey into an otherworldly realm that is very real but accessible only to the truly daring and dedicated. The lead roles are played by Jean Reno, Jean-Marc Barr, and Rosanna Arquette, directed by Luc Besson. As we all know, when Reno and Besson collaborate, the result is cinematic greatness. This film remains worth watching even nearly 20 years after its release.
“Into the Depths” (Girl and Dolphins) “Azzurro Profondo” 1993
Девочка и дельфины 1993
An Italian film about a female freediver with extraordinary breath-holding abilities who becomes a member of an environmental organization protecting dolphins. During one of the group’s volunteer rescue operations, her friend is killed. This tragedy leads to the heroine’s panic-stricken fear of diving, and she must make every effort to achieve her previously set goal—to break the diving record.
“The Freediver” 2004
A story about tragic love, freediving, and strength of spirit. A young, talented athlete arrives on the Greek island of Spetses at a research center to train with an experienced diver. Her goal is to become the world champion in freediving. To pursue her dream, she must renounce her loved one.
The movie is British, and the cast includes familiar faces, but the film itself holds little artistic value.
“Into the Blue” 2005
A decent and dynamic film about freedivers-turned-treasure hunters starring Jessica Alba and Paul Walker. The main character, Jared, a diving instructor in the Bahamas, is in search of a long-sunken Spanish ship and instead discovers a crashed smuggler’s plane filled with millions of dollars’ worth of cargo.
Together with his girlfriend and two friends, Jared gets entangled in some real trouble. The movie is vibrant, featuring numerous beautiful underwater scenes. The characters are not one-dimensional, the dialogues are fairly decent, and the actors perform admirably. The plot development can be described as lightning-fast—you won’t be bored.
“Dark Tide” 2012
The plot revolves around a freediving woman (played by Halle Berry) who works with a documentary filmmaker, capturing the lives of sharks. She possesses an incredible talent for communicating with dangerous great white sharks. After the death of her partner, the main character decides to change her field of work and becomes a marine guide. She gets the opportunity to revisit diving and confront her phobia. The film can be classified as both a drama and a thriller. Overall, the movie was poorly received by critics, but the stunning natural visuals help smooth out some of the plot’s rough edges.
Dark Tide Halle Berry
Under-Ice Freediving
As a small bonus, I want to share a truly extraordinary film featuring Finnish freediving champion Johanna Nordblad. She specializes in under-ice freediving. Be sure to check it out!
