Sharkwater (DVD)

Felt bad for the sharks and then for Rob Stewart. This film was hard to watch.

At the end there is a written explanation. He died from acute hypoxia, which was due to his rebreather malfunctioning. But they wrote it in a way as if there is a gas mixture that was done wrong and didnt have enough oxygen. Then they stated the mixture was advocated by his instructor. Unless any other information and facts are being presented, the statement is not understood and misleading for majority of people who watch this and have little to no clue about diving.1st = there were using a new technology to eliminate carbon dioxide without creating bubbles. Dealing with any new technology is more likely to be dangerous 2nd= Nobody dies from "acute" hypoxia unless the "gas mixture" which was "acute" was not working perfect for the whole time until it didnt. Acute = suddenly, instantly, within a short time period etc...3rd= even the most standard rebreather masks come with the same risk. If it malfunctions, which happens all the time = the highest risk is the mask no longer being able to provide the right amount of oxygen since the exhaled carbon dioxide is not being excreted and if you inhale too much of carbon dioxide you pass out. Unless it was a proven to be malicious, or due to a human mistake of any kind...Mentioning the instructor while giving an explanation of gas mixture being advocated by him, is wrong. They use words like "acute, advocated, gas mixture" and not explaining that everything worked great for hours and then things went wrong. He had a camera attached with him which they found. If there was anything done wrong or malicious, they would have arrested the instructor...But they present it in a way to create this conspiracy on how he gave his life because of the risks he took. Im sure he was ready to give his life for his cause. But he died because of a rebreather that stopped working and in deep waters, without a backup rebreather it is the worst thing that can happen and people dont survive. EVEN THE SITUATION WHERE THEY WERE 'SUPPOSEDLY' SHOT AT , IN THE US WHERE YOU HAVE THE COST GUARD AND CAN CALL 911, WAS STAGED. YOU NEVER HEAR THEM CALL FOR HELP AS SOMEONE IS SHOOTING AT THEM...WHO IS THAT STUPID? In his original documentary he took a lot of risk and they were shot at which is shown. Here they tried to recreate some of that for the entertaining factor which is ok. I dont mind that since people seam to need that suspense factor to really pay attention. But it was clearly staged as it happened right of the cost of his home town and within minutes the cost guard would have arrested anyone that shot at them.

I was hoping for more sharks starring in this film. Sadly there were about 5% sharks and 95% people and places. It was well filmed though.

(Before the doc review, just need to add a rebuttal to some of the criticism I’ve seen. Complaints usually are mild, but read something like: “Rob depicts sharks as cute/cuddly but they’re dangerous animals, shouldn’t set the ‘petting’ example for kids.” I’d argue — we all KNOW they’re dangerous. The ferocious, cold, unfeeling beast depiction is in large part to blame for sharks’ current plight and lack of outrage about what’s happening to them. So I, for one, am glad Rob chose this road. As he said “If people learn to love them, relate to them a little, maybe they’ll save them.” Hope so Rob. Hope so.)This is a beautifully done documentary. The cinematography alone makes it worth the watch. I initially found it after reading an article about the filmmaker’s death. The world lost a true hero in Rob— I can only imagine the work he would’ve gone on to do.We’re not going to have Shark Week or sharks anymore if this doesn’t stop. Finning is only one threat these animals face. Rob did a brilliant job showing where and how this practice happens, but also the legal loopholes people use to get around it in countries where finning is banned.While there are many devoted groups out there fighting — it won’t be enough until public outcry gets so loud it cannot be ignored.And damnit humans ... CUT THE SHIT! If there were no longer a demand ... there’d no longer be a supply. Rob makes a good point in this film about eating sharks: due to pollution, they’re highly toxic. Mercury, lead, neurotoxins even. You really want to ingest this? Stop, please. Before it’s to late to save these animals.**Also, in the film Rob tests several pet foods and cosmetics. A big percentage of big name items had shark in them. Endangered and threatened species. Just wanted to put that out there, since I wasn’t aware sharks were being rebranded and sold to us labeled as other fish (I.e. “rock salmon”). How incredibly infuriating.

,,, with a deeper understanding of how things work than the creators of this film and here it is: to stop something, the incentive must be removed. All the damage can be shown, politicians can be convinced, an indignant crowd can be massed, national sentiment can be moved. But if the demand for whatever commodity is not eliminated, some one will provide a supply.Expose the offense, make more laws, prosecute the offenders, confiscate the equipment. It will only streamline the harvest, drive it deeper into the shadows, create new loop holes and ways around the obstacles, and drive the prices up, which will cause more to take the chance and thereby greater damage. The consumption must be eliminated, then the supply will have no market, the profit incentive is lost for all the supply chain and the resource will stabilize if a breeding group remains.What a privilege it would be live in a world of Rob Stewarts and his companions. Where all humans consider other creatures. Where all humans consider the land and the water. Where all humans consider other humans. But we don't.Had Rob lived long enough, he would have come to understand that passion and fearlessness is not enough, that the demand must be stopped. That hard fought meetings, voting blocks and public sentiment sway legislation, squeeze the capos and leave the harvesters empty handed. Then again, it may be that he knew that all along and was headed that way with his film as proof and evidence and all he needed was a little more time and experience in dealing with humans that have no god but money.Rest in peace, young man. Your film was beautiful, for all its egregiousness, and everyone should hope to accomplish just a portion in a long life, of what you did, in a life cut so short.

One of the most heartbreaking documentaries I have ever seen - and even more so now that writer and producer Rob Stewart (1979 -2017) has died so tragically. I first saw this documentary in 2009, and gave copies to all and sundry. If you care about sharks, you should watch it - if you don't care about sharks, then you Must watch it. Please. If you're not convinced - buy it second-hand: 27p? What's to lose? But if we lose the top ocean predators, the whole house of cards starts tumbling down. Shocking and essential.

I found this dvd shocking as I did not know that sharks were under such extreme threat from us. The shark fin industry is a multi-billion dollar business, most of it being fuelled by Asia. I simply did not know how much chaos this industry has created for sharks, and the only 2 save havens left for sharks in the world are not even safe. I was impressed by the guy on this dvd who fights to save the sharks from all the over-fishing and was amazed by the lengths he was willing to go to to try and protect the sharks, often in vain unfortunately. He gets arrested and well as gets on the wrong side of different mafias who are often involved with the illegal fishing in Galapagos and Costa Rica. It seems like he is often fighting a losing battle but never gives up and risks his life and freedom to try and save the sharks from the mass slaughter. It is disturbing to watch some of the scenes as they show fisherman cutting the fins and tails off of sharks then throwing them overboard to sink to the bottom and drown. It makes humans look like savages with no feeling or emapthy for other living beings. It really is horrendous! I would recommend this to anyone who likes to know the issues of the animal world and seeks the truth instead of hiding from it. A really well made documentary.

Wow, this DVD was so insightful into the world of sharks and the lad that made it is so young but knows so much and is so passionate about what he does that it almost goes beyond belief. I had no idea about how severe the shark fin industry was until I saw this film or about how dire the situation was with shark populations and illegal fishing, including all other species of aquatic life that are affect by illegal fishing and the brutallity they are dealt when they are caught and unlucky enough to still be alive.Overall this is an incredible DVD filled with passion, information and real, important problems that are happening all over the world right now. I would definately recommend anyone to buy this DVD, not even just for sharks, but if you care greatly about marine life in general, but if hurt/injured animals does upset you, just be warned.5 stars!! Go get it!!!!!

As an oilfield diver I have travelled the world,doing my part to destroy it.I have seen the destruction that man is perpetrating on land and the sea.There are BP/Texas Gulf type misshaps many,many times every year that you never hear about. The sea is too big ! The jungles too vast ! But the world is much smaller than most believe . The North Sea is like the surface of the moon,'Hey I saw A Cod ! ' There are still noble souls about trying to get us to listen. This film is one effort. You could show it to your grandchildren, real footage of sharks swimming ! Befor they were extinct..

A little dissapionting in that it is too much like Sharkwater original film. This is really a tribute to Rob, which in itself is worthy! Still ,a must watch for anyone interested in the Ocean!