Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy (Mimi De Gruy, 2017): USA

Reviewed by Helios Miller. Viewed at the 2019 Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Diving Deep follows the life and mission of Mike deGruy who moved with passion as a documentary filmmaker specializing in Ocean Cinematography. The stunning camera work, larger than life story, and deGruy’s endlessly charming attitude makes this film worth the time.

At the SBIFF premiere, the director Mimi Armstrong deGruy, his wife, came on stage with a warm smile and purpose in her step to introduce her film. Along with her she brought Sylvia Earle an american marine biologist who was close with Mike. Together they discussed the value of exploring our ocean and preserving it’s ecosystems, the core message of Diving Deep.

Our film progresses from Mike deGruy’s early life where he first fell in love with the water to his most recent project. Peering into his life we see him diving into water as fiery volcanic rock steams and bubbles noxious fumes only a few feet from where he films. We catch his deadly encounter with a shark leaving him hospitalized for weeks only to jump back into the water to prove that he provoked the attack. His life seeps bravery, compassion, and persistence that the film captures perfectly.

What I appreciated about the film was to define Mike deGruy’s focus not as an activist for the ocean, but as someone who thinks everyone should see it and that it’s preservation is necessary to reach that goal. It’s cinematography, editing, and pacing makes you feel the same way deGruy felt about the ocean.

If you want to see some of the true beauty of the Ocean and walk with a man who is endlessly driven to allow everyone to see that beauty, come see Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy.