"You hold your breath, it's absolutely perfect."

September 23, 2011 11:05 AM

Like a "modern-day pirate," 75-year-old Ray Ives has been diving for sunken treasure for decades. Wearing an ancient, bronze-helmeted diving suit, he searches the ocean floor and keeps a huge collection of marine salvage (including antique cannon balls, 'bottles, bells, swords, portholes and diving gear') in a shipping container "museum" at a British marina.

Ray: A Life Underwater: Vimeo / YouTube. (A short film documentary.)

This short film documentary was produced / directed by Amanda Bluglass. Interview with her in the Atlantic: Diving for Gold and Mermaids

Stills from the documentary from Directory of Photography Danny Lee Cooke.

posted by zarq (5 comments total)

"Everybody wants gold and a mermaid."
Spoken like a true pirate; I salute you good sir.
posted by Felex at 11:15 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Yes but how does he feel about The Life Aquatic?
posted by spicynuts at 11:25 AM on September 23, 2011

Couldn't help but noticing in the fourth still, that Ray looks a lot like the cutout of the captain in the background.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 12:37 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

I really enjoyed that. It's raining here.
posted by bonobothegreat at 1:26 PM on September 23, 2011

Very cool, although "Like a modern-day guy who salvages stuff" would be a heck of a lot more accurate.
posted by drjimmy11 at 1:29 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]