Ray: A Life Underwater

A rogue with an eye for salvage - and the ladies - Ray: A Life Underwater is an affectionate portrait of one man's deep sea diving career, told through his extraordinary collection of marine artefacts.
Like a modern-day pirate, 75--year-old Ray Ives has been scouring the seabed for treasure his whole life.
The former commercial diver has plundered the deep for over fifty years, bringing to the surface anything that glittered -- even gold.
In a shipping container near the water, Ray tends his museum of cannon, bottles, bells, swords, portholes and diving gear.
He still takes to the water in a 1900s diving suit.
Produced and Directed by Amanda Bluglass www.amandabluglass.co.uk
Editor and Director of Photography: Danny Cooke www.dannycooke.co.uk
Dive photography: Neil Hope www.divingimages.co.uk
Sound track: Tony Higgins www.tonyhiggins.org

[@Pilgrimgooner]

. “As his daughter, I can tell you that what my dad doesn't know about diving and the water, is not worth knowing. Diving has and still is his major passion and long may it continue. Despite his age, he can still recall where every relic was found and where it originated. You'll never hear a story told better, than told by Ray.”

[@yorkshireadventurer715]

I saw your profile on tick tok and came over to KZbin to watch. Sutch a intelligent interesting man. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a brilliant new year filled with love laughter and good luck. ❤

[@davidharris4062]

At 66 just watching your dad has given the the impetus to get back diving, I don’t half miss it. They don’t make them like your dad and mine come to that, he was a Devonport rating, your dad is an underwater Fred Dibnah, bet he could tell a yarn 👍

[@12alocin]

I first came across Ray, on the Arctic Seal in, or round about 1980, I was a sat diver, he was diving supervisor. He is a legend, I've done many a bell run, with him on the surface with his headphones on, he would be watching what you were busy with on the screen and would know what you were going to ask for, before you even asked. If ever there was a legend in the oil field diving game, he would certainly be one. Mick Mulvaney.

[@johnmartin2079]

Right on brother, when you're the best you're the best what a cool guy 😎

[@artist1066]

I met Ray last week whilst doing a commercial SCUBA course. As a diver I loved his stories, as a woman I loved the spark in his eyes and as a human I feel so very lucky to have met him atall... what a beautiful man, what a beautiful film, thank you.

[@pjmvdbroek]

Still using his Kirby-Morgan bandmask for a casual stroll among the plumeroses. What a way to grow old :). What a nice documentary about this Pioneer!

[@jeffking981]

RIP Ray. Such a great man. An Ambassador to professional Diving.

[@petecooper8010]

Nice one Ray, Nice to see your still upsetting Neptune & throwing yourself in the ogin!! Have great memories of Bovisand & Bergen in the last century! Keep on paddling, there seems to be a few of us still around - remember, he who dies with the most toys wins - you must be in the lead with that lot!!

[@sigitas.a]

Looks like onother ordinary man who infact had much more in his life than most riches people will ever have. Very well done and beautiful movie.

[@GRZZLYMUFFN]

Had the pleasure of having Ray as one of my instructors. Such a character, so many stories, and always a laugh when you see him. A true legend, cheeky bugger, and a terrible influence ;)

[@lesleyaustin9623]

A fabulous film. Met Ray while on a cruise this Christmas. Spent every evening dinner at the same table. He was great company with so many stories. A lovely person x

[@TrueIndie88]

What an incredible story. Men like him made the Brent fields possible.

[@jamespool9908]

Rest now Ray, thou up there I doubt you will keep still, you will have everyone laughing and joking, and be the one everyone looks forward to being around. I hope to see you one day and have a catch up, till then, enjoy my friend and thank you for the pleasure of time I had spent with you. A true gent

[@jamesppeto]

Ray has got to be the most unselfish helpful person I will ever meet. Looking around his treasure museum with him is such a magical experience.

[@happyheron]

What a character! You can hear the salt in his voice-box! Beautiful, well-crafted film.

[@PublicDetective]

RIP Ray it was a pleasure to meet you and laugh with you.

[@jujutsuguru33]

Ray was one of my instructors at Bovi when I did my Bad Lads course in the eighties - he had a red setter dog who used to sit in the decompression chamber. When our course finished and we had our party, Ray gave a speech wearing pink bunny ears - still got a photo of it. Learnt a lot from this man....Legend.

[@michaelarnold1301]

You will be pleased to know Ray is still diving.I had the pleasure of diving with him in 2016 and hopefully for many more years to come.

[@themrjono69]

I am a young commercial diver from halifax nova scotia, i love this video and do i dare say a new personal hero, respect to you ray, we may never meet so i wish you the best!

[@billmcnally5587]

Sailed with Ray and my brother Fred McNally on the Arctic Seal 1978 and looking at Ray A Life Underwater brought a lump to my throat as Ray was a real genuine person as my brother Fred was.I also tendered divers using the Standard Gear in Liverpool and Birkenhead Docks 1962 moving all their equipment on a handcart and off a small dive boat and when they searched for lost cargo or lock gate chains in black water you could be on that hand pump for a long time as you were the only tender / boatman come dogsbody for every one involved. brings back fond memories hope you are still diving into your eighties Ray and thanks Amanda for this film also Bob Kirkham for informing me of it

[@schmedlywhiplash6267]

Bill McNally As with you a very special thanks also!😀

[@steveboughen]

Today we lost a true diving legend. RIP Ray.

[@12alocin]

So, Ray Ives is gone, I'm really sad about that, hell of a character .

[@jameslast9882]

I had the pleasure of be trained by Ray in 97 went to his museum had a few pints at the bovi bar....great times great bloke

[@cheimy150]

Ray ives was one off my dive instructors 18 years ago at fort bovisand what a great diver learnt a lot from him and its thrue always great stories he had to tell regards from clocky thats how he called me because i am dutch

[@DogDamour]

I didn't find what i was looking for in my youtube search, but i found this. And i am soooo glad that i did. Straight to my favourites. Beautiful

[@Dickh1927]

Thanks for your video, It's nice to learn of others of age that dive. I took it up nine years ago at age 75, so my experiences are nothing compared to yours. It's a great sport.

[@malloryhaas5002]

I completely enjoyed this documentary, even more so now that I have had the pleasure of meeting Ray and spending time with him at his museum.

[@m4rtv]

It's good old Ray Ives from bad old Bovisand. Glad to see you still at it Ray. "You learned me good...!" Lol!

[@BoathouseShark]

It had its moments, and a rather catchy theme-tune. I'll say that much for it!

[@jeffking981]

A true Diving legend.

[@iKickChickenzz]

Your videos take me back to my Senior year of high school, where I first discovered your work. I developed a great appreciation for art and, in general, a greater peace of mind. Cheers.

[@KevinsDiving]

Best made video on youtube by a street, great story...

[@modelleg]

I was in Plymouth a couple of weeks ago. I had some obscure idea that I could see Ray Ives. Instead I visited a local dive shop and bought a book. Amazingly he was a major character in the book. His name is Uncle Orange!

[@f1mikeyboy]

He is quite an inspiration. I loved this short film

[@Essa695]

Ray was my Diving instructor At Bovisands He taught me A lot and was Such A lovely Man He showed us Around his Museum and the Story’s he Told were unforgettable. It was an Honour to have known you Ray

[@haydendunstan]

What an awesome short film. Love the Siebe Gorman.

[@MegaMario1949]

Parabens RAY -fantastica sua linda vida Underwater

[@shawnstam]

Ray your a Badass Hope I live to be as old as you and still go for a dive.

[@davidcrockett7912]

mine sweeping our way through Bergens' hostelries, hah! good days indeed, nice one mister Ives

[@kwforbes]

This man is my new hero!

[@modelleg]

Absolutely Brilliant!

[@wellphoto3d]

Danny! Artist captures stories, and gives us Souls

[@mtz5428]

Amazing video

[@norton750cc]

It takes a brave man to use hand pumped air through a single hose to breathe/ inflate the suit. No bail out facility. With all the dead weight required to sink the diver if the pump fails, hose ruptures, or suit seal fails, you are dead....... I am priveledged to have used standard gear, it is surprisingly comfortable when at depth, but you have to constantly adjust your buoyancy, or you start to float up or get squeezed..equally bad...if you start to ascend out of control, the suit will burst and send you south.Every stroke of the pump can be heard via the air hose or bag as a hiss. the strokes get faster as you descend as the tender has to maintain over pressure to keep you alive. The early saturation divers were in a very dangerous environment. They never had the safeguards that we have in place nowadays.. My hat is off to Ray and his collegues of the day...Slack the diver!!

[@haydenwhiteford4058]

What a fantastic video, and what an inspirational man,

[@realbudgiesmugglertwohatsb2611]

God bless you ol mate..

[@UWfalcin]

You know someone is hardcore when they go scuba diving with a f**king Kirby Morgan helmet! 😂🔥

[@modelleg]

Fantastic! Please make this a full-length feature film.

[@divekyra]

What a wonderful story. Love the music and the images. I wish I could visit his treasure collection and get to meet this man of the sea in person.

[@lifter225]

This is great! I remember seeing a series on Discovery about a commercial diving school in Plymouth, where Ray was an instructor. I immediately recognized him as I saw this. Good job!

[@mert017cop]

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO.

[@SMPLtd1]

Simply amazing video

[@RichRobinson]

Bravo. I’ve watched and shared this video many times. It’s so good!

[@swiftdealmaker]

Ray Ives brilliant bloke met him in 1995 at Fort Bovisand

[@WildDigger]

Great video!!! Thank you for posting this up.

[@RemZone79]

Love this video....hope to find just a fraction of what Rays found. excellent

[@wevikings1790]

Awesome video.

[@richski662]

i want to be like him when i grow up :) x he is so cool!

[@NOODLES38]

@Pilgrimgooner Since showing my old man this he's told me of a few good tales with him and your dad in mexico ,norway etc Regards to him and a great little video !

[@ThePrettyMachineVids]

I just read about this in the metro, lovely stuff.

[@stepkycopky9354]

Bloody legend

[@mbaocin]

this is real good!!!

[@gillhayfield87]

Would love to meet this man ,extraordinary person xx

[@billyjoechurchwell9988]

Nice to see an oil field dive with a collection of helmets for a change.

[@michaelosman8878]

dived with ray for risdon beasley 70 72 with pete lydon and stu whatley all the best ray-mike osman

[@submarinec56]

Legend of ocean

[@Pilgrimgooner]

Nice to see the "old man" on film!!

[@davidharris4062]

7:52 Fort Bovisand, spent some good times diving out of there back in the 80’s

[@UnderMediterranean]

bellissimo video

[@aribuzo]

I just can say ... Amazing ...

[@Bylopss]

Inspirational to all.

[@weeman1357]

RIP Ray

[@12gauge1oz]

Very interesting.

[@eli.76]

Good man. They don’t make em like they used to.

[@juancamaney3562]

Muchas Gracias Señor .

[@captainpineapplehead]

Great movie, really enjoyed it. Beautifully shot and the music is excellent. Who did the music? Where might find it?

[@bluglass2006]

Hi all - thanks for liking the film. The music is by Tony Higgins at freemusicarchive.org/music/junior85/

[@FunkinSteen]

Did you make "Lives of the Artists" for Relentless? This has got a similar feel to it. Really good work though man, this is inspiring!

[@jean-paulclopin2638]

Wouaouuuu ....

[@roymottershead5240]

Trained at Bovi 1976:1977, absolute legend, does anybody know what happened to all the bad boy plaques.

[@IgnorantNortherntwat]

Try looking up George Gradon, think he's still in the game, he would know

[@jonathonbakker3967]

Holy Clint Eastwood look-alike, Batman!

[@NOODLES38]

@Pilgrimgooner Hi It's Fred McNally we was looking through some old pics the other day of them in Stavanger i think it was .

[@lifter225]

Yep, that´s it. Probably produced to bits with little left of reality, still a good series.

[@LucaGarofalo]

can you upload english subtitles, please??? thanks!!!

[@LucaGarofalo]

@dannycookeUK thank you!!!

[@stuartsmith9552]

RIP Ray Sandy bottoms

[@Crazy--Clown]

*RIP*

[@modelleg]

@Pilgrimgooner Your Dad says " I would be a very good pirate in a ... " What's the next word he uses? You should be proud of him. Terrific story. Thanks.

[@Pilgrimgooner]

Scrannier. We think he means scavenger.

[@ClankyRochet]

There's another documentary about this man 'Ray Ive' /watch?v=HyhktKmXVUA and the scene where he open the garage door are exactly the same or similar to this one but other scenes are different.

[@BoathouseShark]

The infamous 'Diving School' by Prospero Productions, by any chance?

[@veslaskigirl]

What kind of diving "which is done in a pub"?

[@modelleg]

Can not find a definition for "scrannyer" please help.

[@Bawsack121]

Oil back to Scotland*

[@Pilgrimgooner]

@NOODLES38 who is your father so we can pass on your comments?

[@d_o_u_g_h_n_u_t8063]

I'm right in seeing he's scuba diving with a band mask?

[@amc4099]

Right!

[@allanmorris1438]

Yep nothing wrong with that, I know Health and Safety Exec and Association of Diving Contractors, IMCA don’t approve of SCUBA for most commercial diving ops as it consumes more air/gas, but it is no different than diving an AGA or other full face mask, like the police divers use on SCUBA under HSE Pt 3 and 4, I know commercially it is frowned upon as there has to be multiple gas sources, ie main gas/air from umbilical, via topside compressor and HP backup through dive panel to diver and then diver worn Bailout/scuba attached on EGS side of helmet/mask manifold it is designed for it, part of the reason for the dial a breath to adjust pressure changes when switched from main gas to bailout, bailout is slightly higher pressure to shut one way valve on helmet/mask to stop emergency gas supply and eventually divers internals going back up the umbilical.

[@Rikknollau]

for me? football sucks! sick of having football rammed down my neck

[@KirbyPwnz13]

Football does suck! Good head on your shoulders my good sir. ;)

[@LucaGarofalo]

@dannycookeUK thank you!!!