Hans Hass, a 1940s pioneer in underwater photography, revolutionized marine research and introduced coral reefs to the world.
Hans Hass was one of the inventors of underwater photography in the 1940s. A trip to the French Riviera sparked Hass' enthusiasm for the underwater world. He built an underwater camera and, as a free-swimming diver, observed sea animals in their natural environment, a revolutionary approach in marine research. His colour photos of coral reefs and sharks introduced the underwater world to a wide audience for the first time. In his 1949 film “Humans and Sharks”, he portrayed sharks as harmless sea creatures. The documentary sheds light on his career as a diver, filmmaker and zoologist as well as the role of his wife Lotte. With over 70 films and numerous inventions, Hass paved the way for future underwater filmmakers.
