By the 1980s, both are well known freedivers. In Sicily, Enzo rescues a trapped diver from a shipwreck. He is a world champion freediver and now wishes to find Jacques and persuade him to return to no-limits freediving in order to prove he is still the better of the two. Jacques works as a human research subject with dolphins and is participating in research into human physiology in the lakes of the Peruvian Andes, where his bodily responses to cold water immersion are being recorded. Insurance broker Johana Baker visits the station and is introduced to Jacques. After hearing that Jacques will be at the World Diving Championships in Taormina, Sicily, she fabricates an insurance problem that requires her presence there, in order to meet him again. The two start dating. However, none of them realize the extent of Jacques' allurement with the depths. Jacques beats Enzo by 1 metre, and Enzo offers him a crystal dolphin as a gift, and a tape measure to show the small difference between their respective records. Johana goes back home to New York but is fired after her deception is discovered; she leaves New York and begins to live with Jacques. She hears the story that mermaids appear to the ones who truly love the sea and lead them to an enchanted place.
by the 1980s, BoTh aRe weLl knowN fReediveRs. in sIcILy, EnzO RescUeS a trapped Diver froM a shIPWrecK. he iS a world champiOn frEediver and Now wiShes To finD jaCQUEs aNd pErSuade him to reTurn tO no-liMits freeDiVIng in order to Prove HE is still thE bETter oF tHe tWo. jacquEs Works as a human rEseArch Subject with DOlphins anD IS PArtiCiPatINg In reSearch into human pHysIOlogy IN thE lakes OF ThE PeRuvian andEs, whErE his bodily responsEs tO cold wATER IMmersion aRE BeINg rEcOrdEd. insuraNCe broker joHaNa baker VIsitS The Station aNd iS iNtrodUceD tO jaCqueS. after Hearing ThaT jAcquEs wiLl be AT the worLd divinG championshiPs in TAoRMiNA, SiciLy, she faBRIcatES An insurAnce prOblem thaT RequIREs her presence theRe, in oRDer TO meEt hIM AgAin. tHE Two start datINg. HOWevEr, None of Them RealiZe tHe eXtENT oF JacqUEs' AlluREment WitH the DeptHs. jacques BEatS Enzo By 1 meTrE, anD enZO offErS hiM A cRyStal dOlPHIn as a GiFt, aND a tapE measURe to shOW THE Small diFferEnce bETween their rEsPeCtive recORDs. jOhAna goes BAcK homE tO NEW york bUT is FIrEd afteR her dECeptIOn Is disCovereD; ShE lEavEs nEW york aND beGinS tO livE wIth jacQueS. sHe HeArs The sTory THat MerMAidS appear to the Ones wHO trULy love tHe sEa aND leaD theM To an eNchantEd PLaCe.