SCENE 01 / UNDERWATER LIGHTING
Underwater Lighting
Submersible lighting for your New Zealand underwater production.
Here is how this works in practice. Underwater lighting needs specialized waterproof fixtures to illuminate subjects beneath the surface. New Zealand's Pacific and Tasman coastlines give top variety—the kelp forests and Hector's dolphin grounds of the South Island, the Poor Knights marine reserve, the Marlborough Sounds, and the dramatic fjords of Fiordland—each demanding fixtures matched to depth, today's, and visibility.
Here is the short of it. We supply pro submersible lighting systems and qualified dive crews across Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown, Christchurch, and Northland. Our team sets up dive-rated LED and HMI fixtures, battery systems, and skilled underwater gaffers, with DOC marine reserve planning where needed.
Capabilities
Underwater Lighting Services
Professional submersible lights and underwater cinematography support.
01
Lighting Equipment
- LED submersibles
- HMI underwater
- Video lights
- Strobes
- Color-correct units
Dive-Rated Lights
02
Dive Support
- Lighting technicians
- Safety divers
- Equipment handling
- Surface support
- Communication systems
Expert Teams
03
Applications
- Feature films
- Documentaries
- Commercials
- Music videos
- Underwater fashion
Any Production
04
Locations
- Marlborough Sounds
- Poor Knights reserve
- Fiordland
- Pacific & Tasman
- Pools & tanks
New Zealand Waters
Light the Depths
Capabilities
Our Process
Production Planning
Knowing your underwater lighting needs, depth needs, and creative goals.
Equipment Selection
Choosing appropriate submersible lights and support gear for your shoot.
Production
Executing underwater lighting with skilled dive teams and safety protocols.
Support
Non-stop support across your underwater production with tech expertise.
On Location
Underwater Lighting Engineered for NZ Marine and Tank Work
Here is how this works in practice. Our underwater lighting inventory in New Zealand combines Hydro Flex submersible LED packages, K5600 Joker 800 / 1600 underwater housings, Sola 18,000 dive cinema lights, Light & Motion Stella Pro 9000 / 7000, and Keldan Video 24X / 18X / 8X for prosumer documentary and natural-history work. The Manukau capture stage at Stone Street Wellington — purpose-built by James Cameron for Avatar Way of Water (2022) and continuing through Avatar 3 / 4 / 5 — is the largest underwater performance capture tank in the Southern Hemisphere and is rigged with custom Hydro Flex and bespoke 100W-1.5kW submersible LED instruments. For field work, our crews light Fiordland's UNESCO marine reserves (where 7-metre annual rainfall creates dramatic freshwater-on-saltwater dark layering above the saline depths and giant kelp forests), the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve (Northland. Cousteau-ranked top dive site worldwide), Goat Island Marine Reserve, Stewart Island/Rakiura, and Kaikoura sperm whale and dusky dolphin grounds.
Here is the short of it. Underwater lighting compliance in New Zealand needs WorkSafe NZ commercial-diving certification, Maritime NZ vessel and dive-craft compliance, Department of Conservation permits for any marine reserve filming, electrical certification under the Electricity Act for submersible kit, and iwi/hapū consultation under Te Tiriti o Waitangi for coastal takiwā work (Ngāi Tahu for South Island marine grounds).
Here is how this works in practice. The country's underwater lighting heritage runs through James Cameron's Avatar Way of Water at Manukau Wellington (Best Visual Effects Oscar 2023), Niki Caro's Whale Rider, the ongoing Avatar pickup pipeline, and BBC Earth / David Attenborough natural-history work. We bundle dive insurance, ACC universal accident cover, surface-support vessel sourcing through Kaikoura, Fiordland, and Stewart Island operators, and NZSPG 20% + 5% productivity uplift records processed by the The country Film Commission. Cross-border joint work with Sydney underwater lighting houses runs under the 3-hour Sydney-Auckland flight window and MEAA-Equity NZ reciprocal credentialing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What underwater lighting options do you offer?
We give LED and HMI submersible lights rated for many depths, suited to the kelp forests, Marlborough Sounds, and dramatic Fiordland conditions. LED units run cool. HMI delivers powerful daylight-balanced output for larger scenes.
How deep can you light underwater?
Our gear is rated for many depths—many units to 100m or more. Depth needs depend on the specific production needs, and we select appropriate gear to match.
Do you provide dive-qualified lighting technicians?
Yes, our underwater lighting technicians are qualified divers skilled in New Zealand's different conditions. They can operate lights underwater while keeping proper dive protocols.
What about color temperature underwater?
Water absorbs red light fast with depth. We use daylight-balanced lights and can add filters to compensate. Color fix is easier with proper lighting than trying to fix in post.
Can you light large underwater areas?
Yes, we can deploy many units for large-scale underwater lighting setups. This needs careful planning for power, positioning, and safety but enables dramatic underwater scenes.
What New Zealand waters do you work in?
Here is the breakdown. We work both islands' Pacific and Tasman coasts—the Poor Knights marine reserve, Marlborough Sounds, Fiordland, the Bay of Islands, and beyond. We also operate in pool stages and water tanks at Auckland and Wellington studios for controlled scenes.
Related Services
Productions in New Zealand that need this often pair it with Underwater Filming, Volumetric Capture, and High Speed Filming for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Camera & Cinematography and Underwater Camera Operators.
On Set
Need Underwater Lighting?
Tell us about your underwater production and we'll illuminate the depths.