The Third Dive: An Investigation Into the Death of Rob Stewart

Investigative account examines the 2017 diving death of filmmaker and conservationist Rob Stewart in the Florida Keys and the questions raised afterward.

The Third Dive is based on the documentary of the same name and reconstructs the circumstances surrounding Stewart’s death during a technical dive. Stewart, known for the films Sharkwater and Sharkwater: Extinction, was an experienced diver and prominent marine-conservation advocate, making the accident especially shocking to his family, colleagues and environmental audiences.

Through interviews and reporting, the book examines the sequence of events, diving practices, supervision and conflicting accounts that became central to subsequent scrutiny and civil proceedings. It does not need to rely on sensational allegations to make the story compelling. The central question is how an experienced team undertaking a demanding dive reached a fatal outcome.

The book is suited to investigative nonfiction, diving, marine conservation, documentary film and outdoor-safety collections. It combines a human story with a close examination of decision-making, procedure and accountability in a high-risk environment.

Robert Osborne is the senior producer of Dam Builder Productions and boasts over 30 years of experience in long-format television. During much of his career, he served as an investigative journalist for the CTV show W5. Additionally, he has contributed to Marketplace and Pacific Report. Robert specializes in directing underwater-based documentaries and holds nearly a dozen certifications, including one in cave diving. He has garnered numerous accolades, including more than half a dozen awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association of Canada, an award from the Canadian Association of Journalists, an Order of Merit from the Governor General of Canada, and a Canadian Screen Award for best writing in a documentary. He has also received multiple Gemini Award nominations. Robert’s notable films include Malcom is Missing (CBC, 2023), Havana Syndrome (CBC, 2020), The Third Dive (CBC, 2018), Unstoppable (CBC, 2016), Mine Quest (Discovery, 2016), Unlocking Alex (CTV, 2012), Haiti’s Armageddon (CTV, 2010), Beyond Justice (CTV, 2009), Murders in Mexico (CTV, 2007), Heart of Darkness (CTV, 2005), and Silent Alarms (CTV, 2000). Together with his wife, Jari Osborne, Robert’s production company, Dam Builder Productions, has created documentaries for CBC's The Nature of Things and the Discovery Channel. He resides in Toronto, Ontario.