The Aquanauts

Not quite a ripoff of the old Sea Hunt series, but the plot line was pretty similar: each week, a given crime could only be solved/prevented by scuba diving detectives. Keith Larsen and Jeremy Slate were younger, hipper versions of Lloyd Bridges. The show was neither great nor bad, just kind of fun. As a twelve year old at the time, I seem to remember the bikini-clad women more than anything else.

When I was just a little kid this series was a fave of my family. There was one plot revolving around an electrified cave protecting a smuggler's stash.

Anytime someone tried to enter the cave, electric bolts zapped them. At one point a spear was tossed through the entrance, activating the electrical charge. It just scared me to death, and I thought it might be from the old Lloyd Bridges "Sea Hunt" series, but it may instead have been this one.

Does this plot sound at all familiar to any old fans of "The Aquanauts"? Between "Sea Hunt", "The Aquanauts", and "Flipper", and all the TV scenes filmed at or just outside Marineland of the Pacific (now the uber-upscale Terranea luxury living) and my love of the sea, is it any wonder why my lifelong goal was to finally flee Missouri (Baja Iowa)?

"The Aquanauts" (the preferable title) was a refreshing underwater TV by Ivan Tors ('God' of underwater filming productions) from the early 60's starring Keith Larsen and Jeremy Slate (Ron Ely - TV's 1960's Tarzan was Larsen's replacement in the later season) as a buddy diver/salvage team. I do not know why the series changed names in mid-stream (pun intended), but I do prefer the original title - I suppose that Malibu was used (being a more 'cool' and familiar name to attract the boating/surfing viewing audience). IMDb lists the series as filmed in Black & White, however I could almost swear that I remember this program being broadcast in Color. Can anyone out there supply any further information? Not much data is available on this series, but the "TV-TOME" website offers an interesting list of 'Guest Stars' in their episode guide pages (check it out). I was always a big Jeremy Slate fan and it was nice to see him playing the 'good guy' for a change. There were very few 'underwater' series (most of the best (enjoyable) TV series ever produced were from the 60's and into the early 70's. If you love 'tropical' and/or 'underwater/sea' themes I would highly recommend the following TV series (if any of them can ever be found anywhere):Sea Hunt, The Aquanauts, Adventures In Paradise, Wackiest Ship in the Army, Hawaii Five-O, Hawaiian Eye, Surfside Six...just to name but a select few. There were some other unusually themed series which were quite unique and fun as well: Whirlybirds, Route 66, Ripcord, The Everglades, Riverboat...and more. Have fun viewing and write your video companies to let them know what you would like to see on DVD! Sit back, dunk a great 'fun-derwater' adventure program (or series) into your DVD player, spit into your dive mask, slap a board to your wetsuit, gas-up your woody (no, not the 'woody' in your trousers...it's a beach cruiser!) and head on down the PCH! Aloha, Dudes!

I know this is a very late response but I was watching KEITH LARSEN in a movie recently and I wondered what happened to him. I remember occasionally watching the ACQUANAUTS but I was a big fan of HONG KONG.

I would love to get that on DVD-R sometime. Just wanted you to know I thought you post was excellent, informative and entertaining. RE: HONG KONG "Hong Kong" was a great TV series as I recall. I suppose I should go to the "Hong Kong" site for a comment. However, I remember watching that quite vividly. "Acquanauts" changed titles mid-season. So did "Storefront Lawyers" to "Men at Law"

Thanks

The Auanauts was a great introduction to scuba Diving and adventure. The action, the Music, the logo in the title. I was caught the excitement in the underwater world. As a kid I grow in the world of television Heros, The Aquanauts was that TV show that really excited me. First came Sea Hunt, then came the Aquanauts. Two scuba divers, Drake Andrews and Larry Lahr, each week Diving in the underwater world of adventure. Keith Larson lift the show due to health reason, introducing Ron Ely as Mike Madison. The location of the Aquanaunt shop was, Malibu, Ca. I was lucky enough to pick up the comic book, and the pocket book. I spotted the game board of the series. Years later, I pick up the game board based on the TV Series. This all came out to be my introduction to the world of POP COLLECTABLES. To all baby Boomers, let's hope they bring out the series on DVD. Let me here your comments about the great TV show from the 1960s.