60-year-old diving inspector Paul Hinrichs is jobless and tries desperately to find an employment. Because he has to take care for his teenage daughter Lena and his preteen son Timm and fears about social security, he applies as a diver to a Hamburg salvage company. After he fakes the date of birth in his certificate he gets the job. Soon turns out that he isn’t up to the strains of the difficult occupation anymore. To all abundance Lena falls in love with weak Manfred Thelen who threatens to descend into criminal activity. Only when Manfred proves himself during a dramatic life rescue operation and Hinrichs gains respect of his colleagues and superiors after a brave achievement, finally things have been straightened out. Boss Iversen even passes over the document forgery, shows understanding for Hinrich’s difficult situation and gives him a second chance as a salvage inspector. (by Gerhard)