Freediving is a testament to the resilience of the human body. Liberated from the weight of an oxygen tank and the constraints of diving equipment, it's all about being fully immersed underwater. From the freezing waters of Hold Your Breath: The Ice Dive to the extreme depths of The Deepest Breath, plenty of incredible films showcase this discipline. They also depict how freediving is more than just a competitive sport - it's a livelihood for some and a profound connection to nature for others. Keen to learn more? Read on for our roundup of the best freediving films that will have you holding your breath as you watch...
The Last of the Sea Women (2024)
South Korea
The Last of the Sea Women kicks off our roundup of the best freediving films. Framed by South Korea's scenic Jeju Island, the documentary follows a community of women who support themselves by free diving to collect seafood, many of whom are in their 60s, 70s and 80s. The Haenyeo (women of the sea) have been diving for centuries without oxygen masks, collecting abalone, sea urchins, seaweed and shellfish. Training from as young as ten, they dive to depths of up to 20m, holding their breath for as long as two minutes.
Directed by Korean-American filmmaker Sue Kim and produced by human rights activist Malala Yousafzai, The Last of the Sea Women sheds light on this fading tradition and the younger generation's attempt to keep it alive through social media. With a front-row seat to the ocean's environmental damage, the Haenyeo divers even take up activism during the film. Their strong community truly lies at the heart of the documentary.
Hold Your Breath: The Ice Dive (2022)
Finland
Set in Finland, Hold Your Breath: The Ice Dive spotlights freediver Johanna Nordblad as she attempts to break the world record for the longest distance travelled freediving under ice. Previously a scuba diver, Nordblad joined Finland's first freediving training club before heading to the World Championship. However, it was an unexpected bike accident that led her to (very) cold waters to alleviate the pain of her broken leg.
The documentary explores the incredible strength of the human body, a journey also captured through the lens of Nordblad's photographer sister, Elina, who documents every moment. Filmed in 2020, when the unassisted ice diving record stood at 50m, the stakes were high. But Nordblad pushes herself even further, aiming to break the unofficial ice dive record of 102m.
The Deepest Breath (2023)
Egypt
The 2023 documentary The Deepest Breath is next on our list of the best freediving films. Mostly set in Dahab, Egypt, it tells the story of Italian freediving champion Alessia Zecchini and her safety diver, Stephen Keenan. Directed and written by Laura McGann, the documentary explores the risks of competitive freediving.
Zecchini's ambitions were inspired by the success of Russian freediving champion Natalia Molchanova, who tragically disappeared after a recreational freedive in 2015. The documentary highlights the dangers involved in the sport, particularly the risk of shallow-water blackouts, which occur just before resurfacing. Using both real and reconstructed footage, the documentary portrays the bond between Zecchini and Keenan and the importance of safety divers for athletes in intense freediving competitions.
Jago: A Life Underwater (2017)
Indonesia
Jago: A Life Underwater is set against the backdrop of Indonesia's Togian Islands and dives into the life of 80-year-old spear fisherman Rohani. Told entirely from his perspective, the documentary combines interviews and cinematic reenactments to reveal Rohani's ability to dive to the ocean's depths on a single breath. A member of the Bajau people, renowned for their freediving skills, Rohani has spent his life navigating the waters of the Coral Triangle. The award-winning film depicts how he honed his craft and the twists and turns of his remarkable life
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
South Africa
Aptly titled My Octopus Teacher, this 2020 freediving film documents the extraordinary friendship formed between filmmaker Craig Foster and - you guessed it - an octopus. To tackle his feelings of purposelessness, Foster began a daily diving routine in the freezing waters off South Africa's coast. It was during one of these freediving sessions in the kelp forests that he first encountered the curious octopus. After a year observing and filming the slinky cephalopod, the pair formed an unlikely bond. Directed by marine conservation journalist Pippa Ehrlich and filmmaker James Reed, the heartwarming documentary portrays the transformative power of nature.
