Underwater Filming
Professional marine cinematography with certified dive teams across New Zealand.
Underwater filming captures imagery beneath the water's surface using specialized waterproof camera housings, lighting systems, and safety protocols. New Zealand offers extraordinary diversity — the warm sub-tropical Bay of Islands and Poor Knights, the dramatic fiords of Fiordland with deep emerald water, the sheltered Marlborough Sounds, and the wildlife-rich coast of Kaikoura — ideal for documentaries, features, and natural history projects.
We coordinate underwater operations with certified New Zealand dive teams, source cinema-grade waterproof equipment, and manage permits through Maritime New Zealand and the Department of Conservation for marine reserves. Our team handles logistics for remote shoots, dolphin and whale work in Kaikoura, and controlled tank work at Wellington's Stone Street Studios — where Avatar and The Lord of the Rings were filmed.
Complete Underwater Services
From controlled pool environments to open ocean cinematography, we provide professional underwater filming with safety and quality as priorities.
Dive Cinematography
- • Open water filming
- • Reef & marine life
- • Shipwreck exploration
- • Deep water operations
- • Night diving
Pool & Tank
- • Controlled environments
- • Actor water work
- • Product photography
- • Split-level shots
- • Underwater sets
Equipment
- • Cinema camera housings
- • Underwater lighting
- • Communication systems
- • Monitors & playback
- • Specialty rigs
Safety & Coordination
- • Certified dive teams
- • Safety divers
- • Medical standby
- • Actor training
- • Risk assessment
Underwater Expertise
What cameras can you use underwater?
We operate professional underwater housings for cinema cameras including RED, ARRI, and Sony systems. We match camera and housing combinations to your resolution, frame rate, and image quality requirements.
Do you provide certified dive teams?
Yes, all our underwater crews are certified commercial divers with extensive film production experience in New Zealand waters, including some of the world's most experienced water unit crews from Avatar and Pacific Rim. Teams include underwater cinematographers, focus pullers, safety divers, and dive supervisors as required.
Can you film in pools and tanks?
Yes — Wellington's Stone Street Studios is one of the best-equipped tank facilities in the world, used for Avatar and The Lord of the Rings. We also work in studio pools and other water facilities across Auckland and Wellington. These controlled settings are ideal for actor work, product shots, and sequences requiring precise control.
What about actor safety underwater?
Actor safety is paramount. We provide safety divers, breathing apparatus for extended takes, pre-shoot training, and clear communication systems. Non-diving actors can achieve impressive underwater shots with proper support — New Zealand crews regularly train Hollywood casts for water work.
Where can you film in New Zealand?
We film throughout NZ—Poor Knights Islands and the Bay of Islands offer warm-water sub-tropical reefs, Fiordland's Milford and Doubtful Sounds deliver dramatic deep-water environments, Marlborough Sounds provide sheltered conditions, Kaikoura is a global hotspot for whale and dolphin encounters, and Wellington's Stone Street Studios handles tank work. Marine reserves require DOC permits.
How do you handle underwater communication?
We use professional underwater communication systems including through-water comms for diver coordination and surface-to-diver links. Directors can communicate with underwater crews and monitor shots in real-time.
Need Underwater Filming?
Tell us about your underwater requirements and we'll provide experienced dive teams.