Breathing Underwater

Breathing Underwater is a television series that, to date, has released seven episodes online. These seven episodes can be watched on Gabriella White’s YouTube channel. The series is produced by The Culture Cave Productions, with Gabriella White serving as the director, producer, and narrator.

What immediately captures attention while watching this series is the way its creators utilize their resources. From the very first episode, titled Triple Octopus, we see how the director has skillfully used editing as one of her key tools. The editing in this series maintains a reasonable rhythm while avoiding the pitfalls often seen in sports films. Many works that focus on underwater themes, sea creatures, and diving sometimes inevitably fall into the trap of adopting the form of sports films. Sports films typically have a fast pace, with rapid cuts between shots, constant background music, and a tendency to stray from narrative and storytelling. However, what we see from the first episode of this series is Gabriella White’s passion for storytelling and narrative. This is why the series has a narrator, and the narrator’s voice is none other than Gabriella White herself.

The series begins with scenes of preparing for a dive in the ocean. Through the narrator’s explanations, we understand the kind of work we’re dealing with. We are about to embark on a journey into the unknown, to the depths of the waters, to a mysterious and wondrous world. We are going to a realm where Gabriella White swims freely in the depths of Okinawa’s waters, engaging in discovery and exploration. Thus, from the very beginning, we know we’re dealing with a work where the act of experiencing, discovering, and exploring will be one of its central themes. All the tools at the creators’ disposal are meant to guide us along this path—a path of giving meaning to the act of exploration through a visual work. The constant motion, discovery, and witnessing of the unknown are meant to transform into a piece that, through the power of visuals and the art of capturing moments, instills in us a sense of exploration. This exploration might involve searching for an octopus, as seen in the first episode, or seeking the wonders of the underwater world. What matters is that the director knows how to capture our attention while also preserving the documentary aspects of the work.

Breathing Underwater is a documentary, so what likely matters most to its creators is its realistic elements. The narrator of the series provides scientific, precise, and useful information to the audience whenever necessary but is careful not to overwhelm the viewer with excessive details, which could lead to boredom. Therefore, the series uses an engaging combination of visuals, music, silence, and narration to keep moving forward and avoid stagnation. Stagnation in documentary filmmaking occurs when a director, without varying their techniques and relying solely on one idea, moves forward—for example, dedicating an overly long period to presenting scientific information, or having the audience merely watch visuals and music for an extended time. In some documentaries that include interviews as part of their structure, the director must be mindful that overly long interviews can create a sense of indifference in the viewer. But Breathing Underwater is not like that. Breathing Underwater is a documentary full of life and movement, precisely because it doesn’t overindulge in any of its techniques.

The online release of the series has given Gabriella White the freedom to adjust the timing of each episode according to its content. Because the format allows for more flexibility, the director isn’t forced to conclude every episode within a specific duration. As a result, some episodes are 34 minutes long, while, for example, the second episode, due to its captivating subject matter, runs for 51 minutes.

One of the strengths of Breathing Underwater is that its director knows how to focus on the specific topic of each episode. She is a disciplined documentarian who doesn’t give in to the temptation of veering off into another topic mid-episode—for instance, while focusing on octopuses, she doesn’t suddenly shift to mentioning other creatures or issues. The director skillfully maintains control over her subjects and can stay focused on the chosen topic from the beginning to the end of each episode. In this regard, take a look at the second episode, The Blue Cave. The poetic quality of this episode lies in the director’s understanding of when to rely solely on the beauty and magic of the visuals and when to accompany us with her beautiful music.

On the other hand, we must recognize that we are dealing with an independent series. When evaluating artistic works, the context of their production should always be considered. A film produced with a large team and a multi-million-dollar budget comes with high expectations, and if such a film fails to execute its ideas, it has no excuses. Breathing Underwater was made with a budget of $5,000, which clearly demonstrates that such a brilliant achievement is a success for Gabriella White. Only those who have mastery over their craft and pay great attention to detail can achieve such a result with this budget. The documentary Breathing Underwater is so captivating that the viewer doesn’t notice the passage of time. Each episode of this series feels like following a journey—a journey in which we become increasingly familiar with the boundless beauty of the underwater world, step by step. We are invited to peek into parts of the world we know nothing about, and along this path, a creative and passionate director accompanies us.

While all seven episodes of this series are captivating and engaging, the sixth episode, Stars of the Ocean, is one of the best. In terms of timing and the creative use of framing to bring us closer to the stunning beauty of the subject, this episode showcases the director’s skill.

Breathing Underwater is one of those fascinating cases that demonstrates how, with mastery over the subject and meticulous attention to detail, one can create a captivating work that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. As we become more familiar with the unknown and learn about the underwater world, we also take pleasure in its visual beauty. We must look forward to the next work from this director.