Netflix’s documentary The Deepest Breath isn't your typical sports flick. It’s heavy. It’s beautiful. It’s honestly kind of terrifying if you have even a mild phobia of deep water. While most documentaries rely on a massive list of talking heads, the cast of The Deepest Breath is actually quite small because the story is so intensely focused on two specific souls: Alessia Zecchini and Stephen Keenan.
You aren't watching actors here. This isn't a dramatization with a Hollywood script. Every person you see on screen is real, and the footage is often captured in the moment, sometimes inches away from disaster. The film weaves together a narrative that feels like a thriller, but the stakes are life and death in the "Blue Hole" of Dahab.
The Heart of the Film: Alessia Zecchini
Alessia is the protagonist. There’s no other way to put it. Born in Rome, she was a prodigy who obsessed over freediving from the time she was a kid. You see the old home videos of her as a teenager, and it's clear she wasn't like other kids. She wanted to be the best in the world. Period.
In the film, Alessia represents the pure, unadulterated drive of an elite athlete. She’s chasing world records, specifically those set by Natalia Molchanova. But freediving is a mental game as much as a physical one. When you’re 100 meters down, your lungs are the size of lemons. Your heart rate drops. If you panic, you die. Alessia’s journey in the movie shows the transition from a solitary, almost stubborn competitor to someone who finds a deep, spiritual connection with her safety diver.
Stephen Keenan: The Guardian of the Deep
If Alessia is the heart, Stephen Keenan is the soul. Honestly, Stephen’s backstory is what makes the documentary hit so hard. He wasn't always a diver. He was a wanderer. He traveled through Africa, seeking a purpose he couldn't find in his home country of Ireland. He eventually landed in Dahab, Egypt, a mecca for divers.
Stephen eventually became one of the most respected safety divers in the world. In the cast of The Deepest Breath, he’s the anchor. He founded Dahab Freedivers, a school that became a hub for the community. The film does an incredible job of showing how safety divers are the unsung heroes of the sport. They don't get the records. They don't get the medals. Their entire job is to watch the eyes of the person coming up from the dark and make sure they keep breathing.
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The Supporting Voices: Family and Friends
To build the emotional weight of the story, director Laura McGann brought in the people who knew Stephen and Alessia best. These aren't just random experts; they are the people who lived through the events of 2017.
Enzo Zecchini, Alessia’s father, provides some of the most moving moments. He clearly adores his daughter but lives in a constant state of low-grade terror because of her career choice. It's a relatable parental struggle. He wants her to be happy, but her happiness is found in a place where humans aren't meant to survive.
Then you have Peter Keenan, Stephen’s father. His interviews are quiet and reflective. He talks about Stephen’s restless spirit. You get the sense that Stephen was someone who couldn't be contained by a 9-to-5 job, and his father accepted that, even if it meant his son was constantly in danger.
Kristine Lunde and other fellow divers also appear. They provide the technical context. They explain what a "blackout" is—that scary moment when the brain shuts down due to lack of oxygen. They talk about the "Arch" at the Blue Hole, a legendary and lethal tunnel that sits at a depth of 56 meters.
Why the "Cast" Matters More Than the Credits
What’s interesting about the cast of The Deepest Breath is how much of it is comprised of people who are no longer with us or who are grieving. The film uses a lot of archival footage. This gives it a "found footage" feel that is incredibly intimate. You aren't just hearing about Stephen and Alessia; you are watching them fall in love. You are watching them train.
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The chemistry between them is palpable even through low-res GoPro clips. They were a team. Stephen was the only one who could truly calm Alessia down before a big dive. He understood her obsession because he shared it.
The Silent Character: The Ocean
It sounds like a cliché, but the ocean is a member of the cast. The cinematography by Tim Cragg treats the water as a living thing. Sometimes it’s a vibrant, welcoming blue. Other times, it’s a crushing, dark void.
The film doesn't shy away from the "blackouts." Seeing the cast of The Deepest Breath—specifically the divers—limp and unresponsive as they reach the surface is jarring. It’s a stark reminder that this isn't a game. The "Arch" in Dahab has claimed many lives, and the documentary treats that location with a sort of grim reverence.
Realism Over Drama
A lot of people ask if the scenes were staged. The answer is mostly no. While there are some recreations used to bridge the narrative gaps, the bulk of what you see is the real deal. The production team spent years gathering footage from the freediving community.
This community is tight-knit. They are protective of their own. The fact that so many people agreed to be interviewed shows a high level of trust in the filmmakers. They wanted Stephen’s story told correctly. They didn't want a sensationalized version of freediving; they wanted the truth, even the painful parts.
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Common Misconceptions About the Story
Some viewers go into this thinking it’s a romantic drama. It’s not. While there is a romantic element between Alessia and Stephen, the film is primarily about the limits of human endurance and the bonds formed in extreme environments.
Another misconception is that freediving is just "holding your breath." The film explains the "mammalian dive reflex," a biological shift that happens when we submerge. It’s fascinating stuff. Your body literally tries to protect your organs by shunting blood away from your limbs. The cast of The Deepest Breath are essentially biological anomalies who have trained their bodies to bypass the natural instinct to gasp for air.
The Legacy of the 2017 Dahab Dive
The climax of the film centers on Alessia’s attempt to swim through the Arch, with Stephen acting as her safety. It’s a dive that haunted the community. Without giving away every beat for those who haven't seen it, the event changed how many people view safety protocols in the sport.
Alessia Zecchini is still diving today. She continues to break records. But she does so with a different perspective. The film ends on a note that isn't exactly "happy," but it feels complete. It’s a meditation on what it means to be truly alive, even if that life is shorter than we’d like.
Actionable Insights for Viewers
If you’ve watched the film and found yourself fascinated by the world of the cast of The Deepest Breath, there are a few things you can do to understand the sport better:
- Look up AIDA International: This is the primary Federation for freediving. They have strict safety standards that the film touches on.
- Research the "Mammalian Dive Reflex": It's a real thing we all have. Understanding the science makes the film's "blackout" scenes much more understandable.
- Follow Alessia Zecchini: She is active on social media and continues to be a dominant force in the sport, often posting about conservation and diving safety.
- Check out Dahab Freedivers: The school Stephen helped build still exists. It’s a testament to his impact on the diving community in Egypt.
- Understand the Risks: If you’re inspired to try freediving, never, ever do it alone. The film’s primary message is that even the best in the world need a safety diver.
The cast of The Deepest Breath teaches us that the deep sea is a place of incredible peace, but it demands total respect. Stephen Keenan gave his life for that respect, and Alessia Zecchini continues to carry that torch every time she disappears beneath the surface.