Stan Waterman

Full name: Stanton Arthur Waterman
Born: April 5, 1923, Palm Beach, Florida
Died: August 10, 2023 (age 100)
Role: Legendary underwater filmmaker, cinematographer, pioneer of underwater cinema
Education: Dartmouth College (B.A. in English, 1946; studied under Robert Frost)
Military service: U.S. Navy, World War II
Affiliation: Independent filmmaker; LAUPS (early member); Beneath the Sea (award namesake); Turquoise Bay International Underwater Film Festival (legacy award namesake)

Biography

Stanton Arthur Waterman was an American cinematographer and underwater film producer, a five-time Emmy Award winner, and one of the most celebrated figures in the history of underwater filmmaking. His career spanned more than seven decades, from his first underwater experience with a hand-made Japanese diving mask as a boy in 1936 off Palm Beach, Florida, to his final dive in the Cayman Islands at the age of 90 in 2013 ([1]).

After returning from service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Waterman became the first resident of Maine to purchase an aqualung designed by Jacques Cousteau ([2]). He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1946 with a degree in English, where he studied with the poet Robert Frost. He began his professional diving career in the Bahamas, where he owned and operated a diving charter business from 1954 to 1958.

His big break came in 1965 when he filmed a year-long family trip to Tahiti. National Geographic purchased the rights and broadcast the footage on television. This launched a career that would span decades of film and television work, earning him five Emmy Awards, two Gold Medals from the U.K. Underwater Film Festival, and four Golden Eagles, among numerous other honors ([3]).

Waterman was a founding-era member of the Los Angeles Underwater Photographic Society (LAUPS), one of the oldest underwater photography clubs in the world, established in 1957 alongside Zale Parry, Mel Fisher, Ron Church, and others ([4]).

Film and Television Career

Blue Water, White Death (1971)

Waterman’s most iconic work was as producer and photographer on the landmark 1971 documentary Blue Water, White Death, the first cinematic filming of the great white shark. Directed by Peter Gimbel, the film followed a six-month expedition around the Indian Ocean aboard a chartered whale catcher, traveling from Durban, South Africa to Mozambique, the Comoros, Sri Lanka, and eventually South Australia. The production team — Waterman, Gimbel, Ron and Valerie Taylor, James Lipscomb (director of photography), and Tom Chapin (second cameraman and expedition folksinger) — captured the now-legendary footage of oceanic whitetip sharks feeding on sperm whale carcasses, swimming outside the safety of anti-shark cages at night. The film broke all box office records for a documentary and was the second-grossing film of its year after Love Story ([5]).

Eric Cheng referenced the film in a 2008 trip report on oceanic whitetip sharks: “In a classic scene in the movie, Blue Water, White Death, Peter Gimbel, Stan Waterman, and Ron and Valerie Taylor swim in open water with hundreds of oceanic white-tip sharks, who are all feeding on a whale carcass” ([6]). The film also inspired Steven Spielberg to make Jaws ([7]). A print of the film was re-mastered and re-released on DVD in 2007 after the original was rediscovered following Gimbel’s death ([8]).

Other Major Credits

Television credits included The American Sportsman (1965), The Explorers (1973), and The Bermuda Depths (1978). Film credits included The Deep (1977) and Jaws of Death (1977). Working with his son, he won the first father-and-son Emmy for the National Geographic Explorer production Dancing With Stingrays. He was also the subject of a Discovery Channel biographical special titled The Man Who Loves Sharks ([9]).

In his later career, Waterman shot with Sony HDV cameras in Gates housings, with Nancy McGee serving as his assistant ([10]). He also narrated Rick Morris’s documentary Saving the Dragon, about the Nature Conservancy’s efforts to establish a sustainable marine park in the Komodo Island region of Indonesia ([11]). He narrated Leandro Blanco’s award-winning short film One For All, which received the prestigious F.F.C.V. Prize at the World Festival of Underwater Images in Antibes ([12]). A film titled Stan Waterman Visits the Solomon Islands was shown at the 2011 Long Beach Scuba Show film festival ([13]).

Sensational Seas DVD Productions

Waterman hosted and narrated the original Sensational Seas DVD (2004) alongside marine journalist Cat Holloway. Produced by New World Publications, the 90-minute anthology featured previously unseen footage from over 20 contributors including Howard and Michele Hall, Frazier Nivens, and Waterman himself, with all proceeds benefiting REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation). The DVD premiered at DEMA in Houston in October 2004 ([14]).

In 2009, New World Publications issued a call for submissions for a sequel, Sensational Seas Two, with Waterman returning as narrator ([15]). The sequel was released in 2010, co-narrated by Waterman and Annie Crawley. Production costs were funded by a Carrow Foundation grant, and all footage was donated by the filmmakers. Contributors included Howard Hall, Nancy McGee, Ernie Brooks II, Leandro Blanco, and many others. Proceeds benefited REEF, the Ocean Pal’s Foundation, and ocean conservation organizations. The DVD premiered highlights at the Beneath the Sea International Film Festival in March 2010 ([16], [17]). At Beneath the Sea 2010, a group photo captured the DVD contributors including Ned and Anna DeLoach, Kris Wilk, Mary Lynn Price, Rick Morris, Mike Elliot, Annie Crawley, Waterman, and Leandro Blanco ([18]).

Published Work

Sea Salt — Memories and Essays (2005)

Waterman published his autobiography, Sea Salt — Memories & Essays, in 2005 through New World Publications (288 pages, 71 photographs, with forewords by Peter Benchley and Howard Hall). Described as “the handiwork of a born storyteller with a flair for language as stoked with imagery and insight as his films” and “liberally sprinkled with humor, verve and singular turns of phrase,” the book went through three printings before going out of press in 2010 ([19]). It was released as an iBooks digital download in December 2010 for $19.99 ([20]). Adam Hanlon called it “a must read” that he had read twice. He did day-long book signings at shows, including at the Beneath the Sea 2007 exhibition floor ([21]) and at the New World Publications booth at DEMA 2008, where Eric Cheng had his copy signed ([22]).

He also wrote essays for Ocean Realm magazine and contributed tutorials to Jack and Sue Drafahl’s online underwater photography tutorial site alongside Ernie Brooks, Carl Roessler, and Geri Murphy ([23]).

Diving Pioneers and Innovators

Waterman was one of 19 diving pioneers profiled in Bret Gilliam’s 2007 book Diving Pioneers and Innovators, a 489-page work described as “a significant contribution to preserving the history of our activity.” The book noted that Waterman’s career spanned “nearly the entire history of scuba diving,” alongside Bev Morgan, Ron and Valerie Taylor, and Chuck Nicklin. Waterman was also consulted as an expert for Chris Santella’s Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die (2008) ([24], [25]).

Expeditions and Appearances

Liveaboard Expeditions

Waterman was a frequent guest aboard the celebrated liveaboard NAI’A in Fiji, Tonga, and the South Pacific. NAI’A owner Rob Barrel described him as “a frequent visitor” and “simply a great storyteller, a charmer, and one of life’s rare treats” ([26]). In July 2005, Waterman led a humpback whale expedition to Tonga aboard NAI’A, with the entire expedition captured in high-definition video courtesy of Gates Underwater Products. At 83, he was described as “ever the consummate gentleman, foremost storyteller, and eager explorer” ([27]). He also made trips aboard the Sea Hunter to the Cocos Islands and aboard the Aggressor to Truk ([28]).

Forum member oneyellowtang recalled spending approximately 10 days on a Cocos trip with Waterman aboard the Sea Hunter: “The stories he told each evening were amazing, including one time getting paid for working as a videographer documenting a treasure hunting expedition in the Dominican Republic with a chest completely encrusted with coral. It was only after the chest was cleaned up did he realize all the metal work was silver and gold” ([29]).

Beneath the Sea

Waterman had a deep and long-standing connection with Beneath the Sea. His first Wetpixel-documented appearance was at BTS 2004, at the SRI (Shark Research Institute) booth alongside Alex Antoniou ([30]).

The highlight of his BTS involvement came at the 2007 show, where Waterman was “recognized, feted and celebrated as a Legend of the Sea.” The event featured an unprecedented reunion of the surviving cast and crew of Blue Water, White Death: Waterman, Ron and Valerie Taylor, Rodney Fox, James Lipscomb, and Tom Chapin. At a private Friday night reception, the group was joined by Wyland, Ernie Brooks, Bob and Ronda Hollis, Wendy Benchley (widow of Peter Benchley), Bret Gilliam, and BTS organizers. At the Saturday evening banquet, Waterman was surprised with an 1,800-pound granite sculpture of himself by the artist Viktor — “a very emotional moment” in which “Stan was taken completely by surprise by his friends and loved ones.” Douglas David Seifert reported that Waterman began his underwater career in 1936, making it 71 years at the time of the tribute. On Sunday, Waterman and Ron and Valerie Taylor provided live commentary during two screenings of Blue Water, White Death, which was being digitally re-mastered from the original print with new commentary recorded at the show ([31]).

Boston Sea Rovers

Waterman was a regular presenter at the Boston Sea Rovers clinic. At the 51st Clinic in 2005, he showed footage from Guadalupe great white shark encounters ([32]). At the 52nd Clinic in 2006, he presented old footage from Blue Water, White Death (and more) as part of an evening film festival alongside Wes Skiles, Emory Kristof, Howard & Michele Hall, and Bret Gilliam ([33]). He gave daytime seminars at the 53rd Clinic in 2007 ([34]).

DEMA Shows

At DEMA 2007, Gates Housings hosted a private gathering featuring Waterman’s HDV career retrospective. John Ellerbrock, Karen Ellerbrock, and Pamela Mazey Metz of Gates hosted the event, at which Waterman presented video shot by himself and Nancy McGee using Sony HDV cameras in Gates housings. Eric Cheng described the presentation and commentary as “excellent” with “quite a few humorous moments.” Attendees included Berkley White, Jim Decker, Bret and Gretchen Gilliam, and others. Waterman referred to the gathering as being “first-class” ([35]). Waterman’s daughter Susy was also in attendance ([36]).

At DEMA 2008, Waterman was stationed at the New World Publications booth autographing copies of Sea Salt alongside Ned and Anna DeLoach ([37]).

Other Appearances

Awards and Legacy

Namesake Awards

The Stan Waterman Award for Excellence in Underwater Videography is one of three major best-in-show awards at the Beneath the Sea International Imaging Competition, alongside the David Doubilet Award (photography) and the Jim Church Award (creative imaging). Winners include Steve Douglas (2005, for Nocturnal Nebula), Erick Higuera (2013, for Baja), Timothy Blanton (2014, for Our Fragile Seas), and Nicholas Dean (2016, for What Would Wallace Think) ([43], [44], [45], [46]).

The Stan Waterman Legacy Award was established as the Best in Show prize at the Turquoise Bay International Underwater Film Festival, inaugurated in 2016 at Turquoise Bay, Roatan. Waterman himself served as a member of the panel of judges for the inaugural edition ([47]).

Product Endorsements

Waterman endorsed UR Pro color correction filters for shallow water shooting ([48]).

Family

Waterman’s children included daughter Susy Waterman, son Gordy Waterman, and son Gar Waterman. Susy and Gordy were described as “accomplished children” at the BTS 2007 tribute dinner ([49]). Susy attended the Gates event at DEMA 2007 ([50]). Gar Waterman is a sculptor who creates nudibranch sculptures from Italian stone, interviewed by Wetpixel in April 2012 ([51]).

Death and Tributes

Stan Waterman died on August 10, 2023, at the age of 100. His passing was noted on the Wetpixel forums, where community members shared tributes. Forum member Eyematey wrote: “We all owe a huge gratitude to Stan Waterman, true pioneer and ‘waterman’.” Ian Marsh wrote: “My absolute hero… I saw Blue Water, White Death in 1971, and asked my parents for diving lessons that Christmas. Stan has had a huge influence on the rest of my life.” Tobyone called him “one of the greats” and “a big influence on my film making” ([52]).

Timeline

References

Sources

  1. forum source (forum) ↩
  2. forum source (forum) ↩
  3. Wetpixel article, Nov 20, 2004: Humpbacks In Tonga Wstan Waterman ↩
  4. Wetpixel article, Aug 7, 2007: Laups 2007 International Competition 50th Anniversary Party ↩
  5. Wetpixel article, Sep 9, 2012: A Tribute To Ron Taylor 1934 20120 ↩
  6. Wetpixel article, May 27, 2008: Oceanic White Tip Shark Expedition Trip Report ↩
  7. forum source (forum) ↩
  8. Wetpixel article, Sep 9, 2012: A Tribute To Ron Taylor 1934 20120 ↩
  9. forum source (forum) ↩
  10. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2007: Dema 2007 Gates Event With Stan Waterman ↩
  11. Wetpixel article, Aug 8, 2007: Nyups Hosts Saving The Dragon Planning Shot ↩
  12. Wetpixel article, Nov 17, 2007: New Divefilm And Divefilmhd Podcast Videos Episodes 48 And 10 ↩
  13. Wetpixel article, May 23, 2011: Scuba Show Announces Film Festival Line Up ↩
  14. Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2004: Sensational Seas Dvd Production ↩
  15. Wetpixel article, Mar 18, 2009: Sensational Seas Two Issues Call For Submissions ↩
  16. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2010: Dvd Review Sensational Seas 2 ↩
  17. Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2010: Sensational Seas Two Dvd Trailer Now Available Via Divefilm ↩
  18. Wetpixel article, Mar 28, 2010: Beneath The Sea 2010 Day 2 Coverage ↩
  19. Wetpixel article, Dec 28, 2010: Sea Salt By Stan Waterman Available On Itunes ↩
  20. Wetpixel article, Dec 28, 2010: Sea Salt By Stan Waterman Available On Itunes ↩
  21. Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2007: Beneath The Sea 2007 Dive Show Report ↩
  22. Wetpixel article, Oct 30, 2008: Dema 2008 New World Publications ↩
  23. Wetpixel article, Jun 9, 2010: New Online Underwater Photography Tutorials ↩
  24. Wetpixel article, Dec 29, 2007: Review Of Bret Gilliams Diving Pioneers And Innovators ↩
  25. Wetpixel article, Oct 16, 2008: Review Of Chris Santellas Fifty Place To Dive Before You Die ↩
  26. Wetpixel article, Nov 20, 2004: Humpbacks In Tonga Wstan Waterman ↩
  27. Wetpixel article, Nov 20, 2004: Humpbacks In Tonga Wstan Waterman ↩
  28. Wetpixel article, Nov 20, 2004: Humpbacks In Tonga Wstan Waterman ↩
  29. forum source (forum) ↩
  30. Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2004: Beneath The Sea 2004 Expo Report ↩
  31. Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2007: Beneath The Sea 2007 Dive Show Report ↩
  32. Wetpixel article, Mar 17, 2005: Boston Sea Rovers 51st Clinic 2005 ↩
  33. Wetpixel article, Mar 11, 2006: Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic Report 2006 ↩
  34. Wetpixel article, Mar 1, 2007: Boston Sea Rovers 53rd Annual Clinic ↩
  35. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2007: Dema 2007 Gates Event With Stan Waterman ↩
  36. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2007: Dema 2007 Gates Event With Stan Waterman ↩
  37. Wetpixel article, Oct 30, 2008: Dema 2008 New World Publications ↩
  38. Wetpixel article, Jun 12, 2013: Santa Barbara Film Festival Hosts A Tribute To Ernie Brooks ↩
  39. forum source (forum) ↩
  40. Wetpixel article, Nov 3, 2009: A Conversation With Martin Edge ↩
  41. Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2015: Turquoise Bay Announces Film Festival ↩
  42. Wetpixel article, Mar 21, 2007: Larry Smith ↩
  43. Wetpixel article, Feb 11, 2005: Beneath The Sea 2005 Winners Posted ↩
  44. Wetpixel article, Feb 12, 2013: Beneath The Sea 2013 Results Announced ↩
  45. Wetpixel article, Feb 5, 2014: Beneath The Sea 2014 Winners Announced ↩
  46. Wetpixel article, Feb 16, 2016: Results Beneath The Sea ↩
  47. Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2015: Turquoise Bay Announces Film Festival ↩
  48. Wetpixel article, May 28, 2005: Ur Pro Shallow Water Filter Review ↩
  49. Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2007: Beneath The Sea 2007 Dive Show Report ↩
  50. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2007: Dema 2007 Gates Event With Stan Waterman ↩
  51. Wetpixel article, Apr 26, 2012: Wetpixel Interviews Sculptor Gar Waterman ↩
  52. forum source (forum) ↩
  53. Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2007: Beneath The Sea 2007 Dive Show Report ↩
  54. Wetpixel article, Aug 7, 2007: Laups 2007 International Competition 50th Anniversary Party ↩
  55. Wetpixel article, Sep 9, 2012: A Tribute To Ron Taylor 1934 20120 ↩
  56. Wetpixel article, Nov 3, 2009: A Conversation With Martin Edge ↩
  57. Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2004: Beneath The Sea 2004 Expo Report ↩
  58. Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2004: Sensational Seas Dvd Production ↩
  59. Wetpixel article, Oct 26, 2004: Beneath The Sea 2005 Photovideo Competition ↩
  60. Wetpixel article, Nov 20, 2004: Humpbacks In Tonga Wstan Waterman ↩
  61. Wetpixel article, Dec 28, 2010: Sea Salt By Stan Waterman Available On Itunes ↩
  62. Wetpixel article, Feb 11, 2005: Beneath The Sea 2005 Winners Posted ↩
  63. Wetpixel article, Mar 17, 2005: Boston Sea Rovers 51st Clinic 2005 ↩
  64. Wetpixel article, May 28, 2005: Ur Pro Shallow Water Filter Review ↩
  65. Wetpixel article, Mar 11, 2006: Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic Report 2006 ↩
  66. Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2007: Beneath The Sea 2007 Dive Show Report ↩
  67. Wetpixel article, Mar 1, 2007: Boston Sea Rovers 53rd Annual Clinic ↩
  68. Wetpixel article, Aug 8, 2007: Nyups Hosts Saving The Dragon Planning Shot ↩
  69. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2007: Dema 2007 Gates Event With Stan Waterman ↩
  70. Wetpixel article, Nov 17, 2007: New Divefilm And Divefilmhd Podcast Videos Episodes 48 And 10 ↩
  71. Wetpixel article, Dec 29, 2007: Review Of Bret Gilliams Diving Pioneers And Innovators ↩
  72. Wetpixel article, Oct 30, 2008: Dema 2008 New World Publications ↩
  73. Wetpixel article, Mar 18, 2009: Sensational Seas Two Issues Call For Submissions ↩
  74. Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2010: Sensational Seas Two Dvd Trailer Now Available Via Divefilm ↩
  75. Wetpixel article, Mar 28, 2010: Beneath The Sea 2010 Day 2 Coverage ↩
  76. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2010: Dvd Review Sensational Seas 2 ↩
  77. Wetpixel article, Dec 28, 2010: Sea Salt By Stan Waterman Available On Itunes ↩
  78. Wetpixel article, May 23, 2011: Scuba Show Announces Film Festival Line Up ↩
  79. Wetpixel article, Apr 26, 2012: Wetpixel Interviews Sculptor Gar Waterman ↩
  80. Wetpixel article, Feb 12, 2013: Beneath The Sea 2013 Results Announced ↩
  81. forum source (forum) ↩
  82. Wetpixel article, Jun 12, 2013: Santa Barbara Film Festival Hosts A Tribute To Ernie Brooks ↩
  83. Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2015: Turquoise Bay Announces Film Festival ↩
  84. forum source (forum) ↩
  85. Beneath the Sea 2004 Expo Report (article) ↩
  86. Sensational Seas DVD Production (article) ↩
  87. Beneath the Sea 2005 Photo/Video Competition (article) ↩
  88. Humpbacks in Tonga w/Stan Waterman (article) ↩
  89. Beneath the Sea 2005 Winners Posted (article) ↩
  90. Boston Sea Rovers 51st Clinic 2005 (article) ↩
  91. UR Pro Shallow Water Filter Review (article) ↩
  92. Beneath the Sea 2006 Photo Video Competition (article) ↩
  93. Boston Sea Rovers 52nd Clinic Report, 2006 (article) ↩
  94. Boston Sea Rovers 53rd Annual Clinic (article) ↩
  95. Larry Smith passes away in Indonesia (article) ↩
  96. Beneath the Sea 2007 Dive Show Report (article) ↩
  97. LAUPS 2007 International Competition, 50th Anniversary Party (article) ↩
  98. NYUPS hosts “Saving the Dragon” and “Planning Your Shot” (article) ↩
  99. DEMA 2007: Gates Event with Stan Waterman (article) ↩
  100. New DiveFilm and DiveFilmHD Podcast Videos (article) ↩
  101. Review of Bret Gilliam’s “Diving Pioneers and Innovators” (article) ↩
  102. Oceanic White-Tip Shark Expedition Trip Report (article) ↩
  103. Review of Chris Santella’s “Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die” (article) ↩
  104. DEMA 2008: New World Publications (article) ↩
  105. Sensational Seas Two Issues Call for Submissions (article) ↩
  106. A Conversation With Martin Edge (article) ↩
  107. Sensational Seas Two DVD Trailer Now Available via DiveFilm (article) ↩
  108. Beneath the Sea 2010, Day 2 Coverage (article) ↩
  109. DVD Review: Sensational Seas 2 (article) ↩
  110. New Online Underwater Photography Tutorials (article) ↩
  111. Sea Salt by Stan Waterman Available on iTunes (article) ↩
  112. Scuba Show Announces Film Festival Line-Up (article) ↩
  113. A Tribute to Ron Taylor (1934-2012) (article) ↩
  114. Wetpixel Interviews Sculptor Gar Waterman (article) ↩
  115. Beneath the Sea 2013 Results Announced (article) ↩
  116. Santa Barbara Film Festival Hosts a Tribute to Ernie Brooks (article) ↩
  117. Beneath the Sea 2014 Winners Announced (article) ↩
  118. Turquoise Bay Announces Film Festival (article) ↩
  119. Results: Beneath the Sea 2016 (article) ↩
  120. RIP Stan Waterman (forum thread) (forum) ↩