The two were free-divers, with Mestre breaking several world records before dying in 2002 during a diving competition. The article doesn't mention this, but I'm guessing the movie will based, at least in part, on Ferreras' book, The Dive: A Story of Love and Obsession.

For Cameron, the ocean doesn't seem to be his only obsession; like his Avatar (due out next year) and a Terminator-based attraction at the Universal Theme Park, this next film will be shot in 3-D. Cameron says the underwater photography will look "gorgeous" in 3-D. Cameron also acknowledges that "action and computer animation" are currently driving the technology in this market, and that using 3-D for drama (as opposed to horror movies or sci-fi), is a "big overlooked area" for economic reasons. I guess people are happy enough to watch a monster jumping out at them in three dimensions, but not quite as thrilled when someone's tears of anguish start flinging toward them.

Nonetheless, Cameron is determined to create a love story that's "a lot smaller" than Avatar in scale, while utilizing the same stereoscopic 3-D effects. Good luck, but pack a life raft, just in case.