But the biggest problem with Besson the writer in this case, is that he just didn't write the kind of project that Besson the director is good at. Besson is so effective with tension. He shows how the characters feel fear. How the conflicting forces are coming together for the showdown. And, let me hasten to add, this is not a great spectator sport.
Guys dive down to see how low they can go.
They come back up. Now this even mimimizes the value of Besson's underwater photography because even beautiful photographic technique needs something to photograph. Underwater shots can be splendid if there is a coral reef, or caves to explore, shipwrecks, or lots of colorful fish or dangerous predators. None of that is present here. A guy goes down really deep next to a rope that marks the depth.