兰德尔（凯文•科斯特纳 Kevin Costner 饰）本事美国海岸警卫队的一名出色队员，然而，老猫烧须，一次他执行拯救任务时不仅任务完全失败，还搭进去了五名队友的性命。兰德尔从此一蹶不振。 　　上司为了帮兰德尔重拾信心，将他派到了培训基地当任教官。在那里，兰德尔遇到了自信狂妄的学员游泳冠军费殊（艾什顿•库彻 Ashton Kutcher 饰）。费殊的自信活力给了兰德尔重新投入工作的信心。 　　一次，费殊问兰德尔一共救过多少人，兰德尔告诉他22人；费殊一阵失落，随后问，“不是200个吗？”兰德尔斩钉截铁地回答，“我只记得我失去多人！”费殊彻底被兰德尔的勇气与坚毅所折服。两师徒惺惺相惜。 　　之后，两人一起投入到了一次生死攸关的抢险中……Ben Randall is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. When his crew is killed in an accident and his marriage ends, his commander tells him he wants Randall to go to the US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer "A" School to train other rescue swimmers. He encounters a guy named Jake who's a little cocky because he was once a swim champion. So Ben puts him through the wringer to see if he can handle it.