Alive - A message from Behind the Mask

🌊 Behind the Mask Presents: ALIVE – A Journey to Rediscover Yourself

When was the last time you truly felt alive? When you were simply in the moment, free of expectations, free of fear? Alive is an invitation to reconnect with nature, yourself, and the thrill of simply being.
Alive takes you on a breathtaking underwater journey that explores life’s raw beauty, its challenges, and its fleeting moments. It’s a reminder that behind all the masks we wear, there’s someone yearning to embrace the world without fear.

🧭 What You Will Experience in This Film:
• A cinematic exploration of emotional ocean encounters that inspire awe and curiosity.
• A story about overcoming doubt, embracing failure, and appreciating life’s impermanence.
• A call to reconnect with nature and rediscover what it means to truly be alive.

------- Chapters ------
00:00 - Discover
00:37 - Challenges
01:26 - Dance of life
03:22 - Alive again
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🎁 3 GIVEAWAYS TO 3 WINNERS – WIN ONE OF THREE INCREDIBLE DIVE TRIPS! 🎁
To celebrate the release of Alive, we’re giving YOU the chance to win an unforgettable dive adventure!

🏆 What’s Up for Grabs?

1. Liveaboard trip with Nautilus Liveaboards to Socorro Islands, Mexico – Swim with giant manta rays, dolphins, Sharks and more in the Pacific Ocean.

• Start in Cabo St. Lucas
• 8 nights liveaboard
• 5 dive days
• accommodation & food
• dive insurance (1-year Dive&Travel Plus by Dive Assure)
• flights, park fees, crew gratitudes, alcoholic drinks not included

2. The Sardine Run, South Africa – Witness nature’s greatest spectacle as predators chase massive bait balls.

• Port Saint John, South Africa
• 10 days (weather dependent)
• accommodation & food
• dive insurance (1-year Dive&Travel Plus by Dive Assure)
• flights, transfers, rental gear and drinks not included

3. Maldives with Scubaspa – Enjoy a luxurious liveaboard trip combining diving and wellness.

• Start in Male
• 1 week dive safari
• accommodation & food
• 10 dives and 4 spa treatemnts
• dive insurance (1-year Dive&Travel Plus by Dive Assure)
• flights, rental gear and alcoholic drinks not included
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🎟️ HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
1. Watch this video and let it inspire you.
2. Comment on the video using the hashtag #BehindTheMaskAlive. Let us know: What scene made you feel most alive?
3. Follow these Instagram accounts:
• @BehindTheMaskTravel
• @DiveAssure

📅 Deadline: January 25th 2025
🎉 Winners announced in February, 2025 on all our social channels.

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Supported by:
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🔗 More From Behind the Mask
YouTube: Subscribe to Behind the Mask for more inspiring underwater stories.
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Music: MB01MQ7QGBHZMY5
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Narration written by Florian Fischer

When you first discovered the world around you, you had no expectations. You were not afraid of outcome or consequences. You were not aware of what it is, where it comes from and where it would lead. You were just in the moment. Do you Remember that?

The expectations come once you grow up. When you start to shape your inner world as an image of the outside world. Who you are, what you want to be. What you should be. You learn the rules. And you begin to see the world through different eyes.

Am I good enough? Am I right? Who do I wanna be? You glorify the past and you are afraid of an abstract future. But who are you really? Who’s behind the mask?

Soon enough nature will burry your soul. And dissolve you into fading memories. So why don’t you dance into your own insignificance.

You will fail so many times. Maybe you take a wrong step. Or you find yourself in a bad place, just at the wrong time. Maybe you will get stranded on a lonely island. Maybe you will break a leg. Or you will dare too much - and the force of nature will hit you right in your face.

No matter how challenged you might feel, Those moments make you feel alive again. And you start to really appreciate to be part of this world. Aren’t you curious?

In the end it’s only on you if you dare to look behind your mask. But dont be afraid - you are in good company.

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Video Credits

Idea: Florian Fischer
Camera: Florian Fischer, Peter Löseke, Dada Li, Tony Meyer, Thummayut Wattanawongwan,
Edit: Florian Fischer

[elmarlaubender]

Many scenes are impressive and intense, but the scene with humpback whales impressed me the most, the whole video impresses me and reminds me how I always look behind my mask and always go on new adventures ❤

[SelcukBenekay]

#behindthemaskalive and I quote: 'soon enough nature will bury your soul and dissolve you into fading memories. So why DON'T YOU DANCE INTO YOUR OWN INSIGNIFICANCE' . 1.35 min into the clip is to me what says it all. It is absolutely high time to dance into our own insignificances and feel alive. I feel alive underwater. Every single time without exceptions. Been doing this since 1989. So yes the years have gone by and we talk about last 15 summers among dive buddies. And yes regardless I will join you guys in one of my bucket list dreams as I see the passion in you. After all diving is life, diving is passion, diving is being alive and what more can one ask for than to share this passion with people alike. Good work y'all. Continue like this

[emilinesmith]

Diving - and the ocean more generally - is all about connection, which this short movie shows so beautifully. My favourite scene was the diver swimming away from his wheelchair, as it symbolizes for me the personal and natural boundaries you need to push to dive. You're a guest in an environment that can see/sense/feel you instantly for who you really are, there is no hiding. Plus I also LOVED all the mobula shots because rays are my absolute fave 😍 Have shared this with loved ones, it's a fantastic video that shows the beauty of diving and the dive community, congrats!

[Anna-elf]

#behindthemaskalive to choose just one scene is really hard. This whole video gave me the goosebumps. It started with the opening sound of waves. I close my eyes and feel alive. Especially the scene of the guy dancing with the big Manta. That hits the spot. That’s why we are here! To share this incredible world we get to experience and to rise awareness to protect it with every fin stroke we take.

[erik]

I’ve watched this so many times cant wait to dive this weekend! 🤟🏼

[andyallen-sjwp]

It's the first shot that I feel the most.
On your first step onto diving you truly don't know where it will lead you or what you will experience.

[phelipecarmo]

this is probably number 500 - I've watched this video so many times, love it

[PopularCinemamx]

Wooow! Beautiful shots! But the freediving at the pool with the back light! Spectacular! #behindthemaskAlive

[chriswongdo]

"Soon enough nature will bury your soul and dissolve you into fading memories, so why don't you dance to your own insignificance."

Too many amazing shots, but my favorite was seeing Jo "walk" underwater. A reminder that anything is possible underwater! #BehindTheMaskAlive

[MelanieKartnig]

I don’t want to single out just one scene because the entire work captivated me so deeply. ♥️ The film is a poetic homage to the world beneath the surface, to the silence and beauty that lie hidden. It captures the magical yet merciless nature of life in a way that only the sea itself can.

The symbolism of diving—venturing into unknown depths, wearing masks to survive, and yet feeling a sense of freedom—reflects the very essence of human existence in a remarkable way. It is about finding the courage to take a deep breath and face the dark, uncharted waters within ourselves.

Visually and emotionally, this film is a masterpiece. Every shot of the sea tells its own story, whether it’s the glittering surface, the endless shades of blue and green, or the mysterious shadows in the depths. The connection between humans and water is portrayed in a way that not only evokes love and respect for the underwater world but also reveals our fragility and our strength.

“Alive” is more than just a film—it is a journey, a reminder of how alive we can feel when we confront our fears and discover the beauty in the depths. It moved me deeply, leaving me with a sense of awe and gratitude for the oceans and for life itself. Not many people have the chance to experience the world through the perspective of diving, and every time I do, I feel more alive and incredibly grateful for this world and for life. Great work #BehindTheMaskAlive Greetings from Austria 🇦🇹🌊💐♥️

[felizenfamilia]

#behindthemaskalive the whole vídeo is absolutely stunning and wonderfuly done and its absolutely difficult to choose just one scene which makes you feel alive. So many of them make me relate to my own memories and give me goose bumps. For example the scene with the kid underwater picking a shell makes me think of my daughter and how she was brave enough to come with me to explore some wild spot in Formentera, where you get directly to the open water, the waves and the sharp rocks to watch the abundant marine fauna there. Or when you see those manta rays swimming in group from above, it related me to one moment of our honeymoon where we where on a ferry to Moorea and loads of flying fish jumped on the right side of the ship, rewarding us with an unique memory that I will treasure for good. Last but no least, the image of that amazing guy in his wheelchair, sourrounded by that huge shark… it makes me just think how, when you truly desire it, it is possible to achieve nearly everything, no matter how crazy it is. What an inspiration! I will definitely keep that image in my mind for the days when I feel low, insecure or think I can’t handle things. Everything is possible with the right mindset. Thank you for your passion, commitment and for those beautiful images! ❤❤❤❤❤

[thomasmollerbernd]

There are so many intense moments in this incredible video.
The apnoe diver “dancing” in the bubbles, the diver first sitting in his wheelchair on the ground and then swimming away, or all the beautiful animals. Simply an amazing video. Thank you for sharing.

[henriktiede]

#BehindTheMaskAlive the scene(s) which made me feel alive the most was the encounter between the diver in the wheelchair and the tiger shark (4:00) and then a few seconds later, when the diver swam out of the wheelchair and was diving in the blue with silvertip sharks and Mantas (4:24). Awesome!

[AGarkisch]

Thank you very much for this great video. I hope it helps to introduce even more people to diving and this fantastic world under the surface of the sea and to find even more people who want to protect the underwater world. In fact, I have been lucky enough to explore the Maldives with ScubaSpa and the Socorro Islands with Nautilus and have had so many great flashbacks through your video. Thank you!

[carlascott]

What an inspirational video. Amazing work

[adivephotographer]

Dancing in the rain!!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰 happiness

#behindthemaskalive to choose just one scene seems impossible. It started with the opening sound of waves. I close my eyes and feel alive. The scene of the guy dancing with the big Manta.

[YiannisKnodarites]

Amazing video guys. Thank you very much for expressing our feelings as lovers of the underwater world. It’s really inspiring, emotional and very close to our hearts. Please keep making these amazing videos.

[CarosEditoriall]

You guys always manage to awake such strong emotions with your videos 😭 I love Behind the Mask so much! 🫶

[yamuelzer]

#BehindTheMaskAlive I absolutely love two scenes, 1. where the snake is curiously examining the dome port of the camera and 2. where the man gets up from his wheelchair.

[zanddriftecolodgelifestyle]

The diver dancing on the boat in the rain is pure joy - alive!!