Why Humans Dive.

Why Humans Dive is a captivating underwater exploration that unfolds through the perspective of scuba divers, immersing viewers in the irresistible call that draws adventurers into the big blue. Here, filmmaker Harry Cassio writes about the making of the film.

“I made the conscious decision to immerse the viewer into the scuba divers environment and to get a sense of breathing underwater, the feeling of weightlessness, the sea conditions divers encounter, the interactions with animals and the types of disciplines divers undertake.”

Written by Harry Cassio

It has always been my hope to make a film that inspires people to take up scuba diving, by sharing my twenty-five year love affair with this unique activity, which has given me a monumental number of thrills and changed me as a person.

While the availability of documentary films relating to dive locations or about sea creatures and their habitats, is endless, the current marketplace is short of a definitive film about the world of recreational scuba diving.

Very little is ever documented on those whose lives revolve around the weekend pursuits of pier or boat diving, those who are often part of a community actively engaged in maintaining the health of our seaways, those who are contributing to the ongoing scientific research of our oceans, and those whose dreams of the next big dive trip are all-consuming. These are the people who spend their hard-earned wages on dive equipment and its maintenance, often traveling to remote and distant locations – just to spend a small part of their lives with some fish. 

This film demonstrates why people go to these lengths, and with twenty years of footage of the underwater world to select from, I felt well-equipped to convey the comprehensive story of the world of recreational scuba diving from the divers perspective.

I made the conscious decision to immerse the viewer into the scuba divers environment and to get a sense of breathing underwater, the feeling of weightlessness, the sea conditions divers encounter, the interactions with animals and the types of disciplines divers undertake.

Why Humans Dive.

The film then takes the viewer on an informative and quirky look at the wildlife. Most divers will be familiar with most of the animals described here, but this section also includes some rarely seen animals displaying some rarely seen behaviour.

The film, although shot in many global locations, is primarily devoid of names of dive sites or information about the dives. This decision was taken to maintain the seamless transition between diving sites and to avoid the film being seen as a travelogue. 

The narration is a character in itself. Actor and voice over artist, David Legge brought his unique talents and gave the script the heart and soul it warranted.

The music was carefully selected to take the viewer on an emotional ride, sometimes calming, sometimes energetic or jovial, at times foreboding and intense but always with a view to playing an integral role in determining the pace of each scene.

One of the things I felt strongly about in the making of Why Humans Dive, was the need to share the fascination of the world I’d known for many years. This film allows an audience to feel what I felt when I first jumped into the water with mask and fins, and, I believe, serves its function of impassioning people into doing the same.

You can catch Why Humans Dive at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival on Wednesday, 24 July. Details here. 

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