The Seaview is on a joint mission with Russian scientists to salvage the remains of a Soviet undersea lab. While a scientist is being lowered in the diving bell, a giant whale arrives and rams the bell. The glass is shattered, killing him.
Nelson and the remaining Russian scientist, Katya Markova, go on a second dive. The whale reappears, this time swallowing the diving bell whole! Now it's a race against thime as Captain Crane and the crew of the Seaview find the diving bell and get it out before Nelson and Markova run out of oxygen!