The drama is based on the historical, unsolved hate murders of possibly 30 to 80 gay men in Sydney's eastern suburbs and beaches in the 1980s and '90s.
The referenced 'Grim Reaper commercial' occurred in real life. It is a controversial 1987 Australian television public service announcement aimed at raising public awareness on the dangers of AIDS.
SBS broadcast a documentary of these events, Deep Water: The Real Story (2016), in conjunction with the miniseries.
The two actresses playing police officers have acting experience on the other side of the law, playing prisoners in two popular prison dramas/comedies. Yael Stone appears Orange Is the New Black (2013), while Danielle Cormack stars in Wentworth (2013).
Deep Water is an Australian crime drama series screened on SBS from 5 October 2016.