Watch Dive Detectives

2011
1 Season

Dive Detectives is a captivating television series from Smithsonian Channel that takes the audience deep underwater to unlock the mysteries of the depths. It is an enthralling blend of history, science, and mystery that investigates maritime catastrophes, using state-of-the-art technology and expert analysis to understand what really happened in some of the most controversial marine disasters across the globe.

The show is hosted by charming and knowledgeable maritime archaeologist, Dr. James Delgado, who has over forty years of experience in underwater exploration and maritime history. He leads a team of experts, including engineers, scientists, divers, and forensic experts, as they dive into the underwater world to uncover the secrets of the deep ocean.

Each episode of Dive Detectives is focused on a single incident or maritime disaster, taking the viewers on a journey through the history and context of the event. They explore the events that led up to the disaster, the people involved, and the consequences of the catastrophe, all while investigating the various theories surrounding the cause of the incident.

The show expertly combines archival footage, underwater exploration, and interviews with witnesses and experts to build an encompassing narrative around each maritime disaster. From the shores of Florida to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, the show takes the viewers on a thrilling adventure to reach the truth behind the mystery.

The investigation techniques employed by the Dive Detectives team are extensive and include cutting-edge technology such as underwater robots, sonar scanning, and 3D imaging, which allows them to explore the dark and unforgiving depths of the ocean. Other methods such as laser scanning and forensic analysis reveal every detail of the incident, drawing a clear picture of what happened and how things went wrong.

The team is not fixated only on big or famous maritime disasters, but they also take a look at lesser-known incidents that are equally fascinating. They investigate the loss of the German U-boat U-166, which sank in the Gulf of Mexico during the Second World War, claiming the lives of 52 sailors. The team also delves into the harrowing story of the USS Indianapolis, which was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the final days of World War II, plunging over 300 sailors into the shark-infested waters of the Pacific Ocean.

In addition to its scientific and historical draw, Dive Detectives is a visually stunning show that transports its viewers to the dark and mysterious world of the deep ocean. The scenes captured by the underwater cameras are extraordinary, and the animation and 3D graphics used to recreate the events leading to each disaster is remarkable.

Overall, Dive Detectives is a thrilling and fascinating show that combines the worlds of history, science, and mystery to explore some of the most significant maritime disasters in history. It investigates every angle of each case, drawing on the advanced technology and expertise of the Dive Detectives team to bring these stories to life. The show is a must-watch for anyone with an interest in history or ocean exploration and will captivate audiences with its thrilling and informative storytelling.

Dive Detectives is a series that ran for 1 seasons (6 episodes) between April 3, 2011 and on Smithsonian Channel

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Seasons

6. Warships Down

May 8, 2011

At the bottom of Lake Ontario lie two icy gravesites known as The Hamilton and The Scourge. These wooden schooners served in the War of 1812, but were victims of a violent storm that claimed the lives of 80 sailors. Two centuries later, the Dive Detectives embark on the first scientific mission to enter the wrecks in hopes of revealing why the ships sank and why so many men perished. One giant obstacle stands in their way. The site is off limits to divers. Penetrating the vessels will require a remotely operated $350,000 camera...and one very steady hand.

5. Rogue Wave / Edmund Fitzgerald

May 1, 2011

In the summer of 1944, two submarines, the USS Flier and the Robalo, vanished under a treacherous stretch of water in the Philippines. Neither sub has been found, nor a cause for why they sank. The Dive Detectives join forces with the son of The Flier's sole survivor to locate the lost submarine. And the deathbed revelation of a retired Naval officer helps launch the search for the Robalo. The clues are in place but with rough seas, killer sharks, and local pirates in their path, the two lost subs may be the least of their concerns.

4. Lost A-Bombs

April 24, 2011

It was called Project Alberta, a top-secret World War II mission that converted the South Pacific island of Tinian into an A-bomb factory. It was the launch point for the planes that dropped "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" on Japan, but few know that there were many more atomic bombs assembled on this island. When peace arrived, those bombs, and their myriad components vanished, allegedly dumped into the surrounding ocean. The Dive Detectives embark on a land and sea mission, braving excessive heat, deep waters, even live bombs, to put the pieces together.

3. River Buddha

April 24, 2011

Suit up with father-and-son divers Mike and Warren Fletcher as they take on one of the most challenging quests of their career: recover an ancient Laotion treasure, lost when the boat carrying it fell victim to the Mekong River. Many believe the treasure to be cursed and the Dive Detectives can understand why as their search is plagued by violent currents, zero visibility, quicksand, blade-sharp rocks, and faulty equipment. All the resources and experience they have may not be enough to wrest this treasure from the mighty Mekong's grip.

2. Ghost Ship

April 10, 2011

There was no mayday call. No sailors reported missing. No record of it missing. So what is the story behind the modern cargo ship, over 300 feet in length, lying at the bottom of the raging Caribbean Sea? To unlock the secrets of this ghost ship, father-and-son professional divers and explorers Mike and Warren Fletcher brave the wild waters of Saba Bank, notorious for violent currents, man-eating sharks, and drug smuggling. They'll conduct a challenging dive into the heart of the vessel in search of answers that went down with the ship.

1. Edmund Fitzgerald

April 3, 2011

In the fall of 1975, the Great Lakes freighter S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald sailed into a terrifying winter storm, split in two, and vanished. There were no witnesses, no survivors and, decades later, still no answers. Father-and-son diver explorers Mike and Warren Fletcher investigate the lost ship made famous by Gordon Lightfoot's ballad, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Working with naval engineers, meteorologists, and wave experts, the Fletchers uncover clues suggesting that the ships' sinking was not the fault of the crew, but potentially a rogue wave.

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Where to Watch Dive Detectives

Dive Detectives is available for streaming on the Smithsonian Channel website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Dive Detectives on demand at Amazon and Tubi TV.