 The lyrical and dramatic underwater sequences also likely contributed to the beginning of an era of ocean conservation as well as incidentally promoting sport diving.Memorable sequences involve men cavorting with fishes, an underwater chess game, and the diving saucer reaching depths of 300 meters, encountering new and unique forms of life.Reviews of the film were overwhelmingly positive, although the film did come under some criticism around accusations of "faking" footage, most notably by "New York Times" reviewer Bosley Crowther who questioned the authenticity of two of the film's more dramatic scenes.