Diving into the Darkness.

Diving Into The Darkness is a jaw-dropping yet initimate portrait of cave diving icon Jill Heinerth, and the nail-biting challenges and risks she’s faced to go where no man or woman has gone before. 

The new documentary is directed by Nays Baghai – an independent filmmaker and underwater cameraman from Sydney. A graduate of Australia’s national film school, AFTRS, his feature film debut, Descent, won the Oscar-qualifying Sydney Film Festival, and has been distributed by Amazon Prime ANZ. In addition to his long-form work, Nays has won 30 awards for his short films, and has worked as a videographer for premier corporations (Deloitte, Telstra, CBA). His past underwater cinematography and photography clients include Rolex, Sony, SBS, Scuba Diver Magazine, and Tourism Australia, and one of the world’s few film directors certified to dive on a rebreather for shoots involving cave and technical diving. 

Here, Nays writes about the making of Diving Into The Darkness which will screen at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival on Saturday, 27 July and Tuesday, 30 July 2024. Details here.

Nays Baghai

Article by Nays Baghai
Diving into the Darkness director, editor, writer, cinematographer and co-producer

This project seamlessly merges my twin passions and core strengths: underwater filmmaking and character-driven storytelling. In a strange way, both of these have a complementary relationship with each other because of how revealing they are about the layers of human psychology. I discovered this revelation while pushing the boundaries of filming in some of the world’s most challenging underwater environments. From the haunting depths of shipwrecks to great white shark habitats and bone-chilling 2°C fissures, I’ve navigated some of the planest waters as a storyteller. Many of my non-diving acquaintances questioned my sanity, inquiring, “Why do you do it?” Little did they realize that their question would resonate within me for years. 

The quest to explore this question began to bloom when I attended OzTek, Australia’s largest dive trade show. It was there that I had the privilege of meeting Jill Heinerth, an iconic explorer whose awe-inspiring adventures were complemented by her exceptional kindness and encouragement. Our initial meeting left an indelible mark on me, and over the years, we evolved from acquaintances to close friends. Simultaneously, I began crafting a series that explores the psychology of extreme divers, akin to Jill herself. 

As our friendship deepened, I discovered that Jill’s story was profoundly deep, both literally and figuratively, and how the personal side of her story was immensely captivating. Yet, this remarkable story had largely remained confined to short video formats. Given my unique position at the intersection of the filmmaking and diving realms, I found the call to tell her story irresistible. What followed was a year of intense collaboration, a creative partnership that would prove invaluable as we tackled the herculean challenges of principal photography. 

Diving into the Darkness.

I had no intention of being a passive observer while my colleagues risked their lives to capture the story on film, especially when it came to the underwater sequences. So I undertook the gruelling journey of becoming a certified cave diver on a rebreather, something which had never been done before amongst film directors. I descended alongside the cast and crew into the depths of the caves, well beyond the reach of recreational divers. It was an arduous yet exhilarating experience to dive, work, and learn alongside some of the world’s most renowned cave divers. Despite the monumental difficulties and inherent risks in directing a crew of cave divers, I would embark on this adventure again without hesitation. 

The post-production phase proved even more daunting than the filming process itself. Meticulously molding 60 terabytes of footage and weaving a complex storyline into a coherent 95-minute narrative pushed me beyond my limits. Although the editing process came at a great physical and psychological cost, it ultimately fostered growth as a filmmaker who revels in pushing boundaries. 

What sets this film apart is its commitment to authentic, intimate storytelling. It transcends the typical adrenaline-fueled narratives of previous diving films and documentaries. Jill’s story is a genuinely inspirational exploration of the human condition, a one-of-a-kind odyssey that challenges the conventions of the genre. To audiences, this fim presents an immersive and transformative experience that will resonate deeply with viewers, captivating their hearts and minds. 

Diving into the Darkness will screen at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival on Saturday, 27 July and Tuesday, 30 July 2024. Details here. 

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