Last month, we discussed some of the best books out there to make you want to get your captain’s license and become a charter boat captain. They were tales of wild sea adventures, fishing, and naval battles that highlighted the human spirit and man’s connection with the water. Plus, they were very entertaining.  This month, we are going to discuss some of the best movies out there if you want to experience life in the water.

Captains Courageous (1937)

Based on the Kipling novel, this movie is one of Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney’s best. It is the story of Harvey Cheyne and his struggle to figure out how to best live life. Harvey is an arrogant, rich kid with not too many friends. His mostly absentee father brings him along on a trans-Atlantic steam trip to cheer him up, but Harvey falls over. He is picked up by a fishing schooner but is unable to convince the captain that he is wealthy. Instead, he is offered an entry level job on the crew and a new chance to look at life. He finds a father figure in Tracy and a friend in Rooney and learns about the virtues of life at sea. It is an emotional ride with a climatic ending.

The Guardian (2006)

If you ever wondered about the dangers and situations our brave men and women from the Coast Guard face, this is a must-watch. The story follows members of the USCG’s Aviation Survival Technician program, an elite group of rescue swimmers who face dangerous challenges to save those at sea. It chronicles the relationship between a record holder rescue swimmer in Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) and the new hot shot (Ashton Kutcher). The movie is incredibly exciting and packs some nerve-wrecking scenes. It will give you an appreciation of what USCG rescue swimmers do and the bravery they exemplify as they go into the water.

Jaws (1975)

Okay, you may not want to go out into the water or get your captain’s license directly after watching this but it is a fantastic movie and it is Halloween. We all know the story. Roy Scheider as Brody is called to investigate shark attacks in the normally quiet Amity Island beach. With the help of Hooper and Quint (Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw), they go on the hunt for the shark. From the eerie John Williams theme to Quint’s USS Indianapolis monologue, this is one of the best thrillers out there and must be experienced. Although try to do it from the safety of your home.