SCUBA DIVING MOVIES: 23 OF THE BEST UNDERWATER FLICKS

We list the best scuba diving movies of all time, from thrilling underwater epics to Hollywood blockbusters featuring incredible subaquatic scenes

With the dark depths of the ocean as a backdrop, the threat of a turbulent sea and an ever-dwindling air supply, scuba diving should be ripe for spectacularly tense movie plots.

Sadly, the underwater realm has struggled to get a foothold in the glitz, glamour and special effects of the modern Hollywood blockbuster. Whether it’s the latest superhero reboot, science fiction thriller or historical epic drama, the effects-driven juggernaut that powers the modern film industry seems to continually overlook subaquatic cinema. This may be because scuba diving movies are more costly to film and tend to be more sink than swim. Far too many have been box office bellyflops, receiving a rotten green splat as opposed to a fresh red rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, this hasn’t put us off. Below, we explore the best scuba diving movies of all time (even though they may not always measure up to non-diving alternatives). The list is an eclectic mix of movies from the archives of Hollywood that feature, in one way or another, the underwater world.