SCENE 01 / UNDERWATER FILMING
Underwater Filming
Professional marine cinematography with certified dive teams across Brazil.
Here is how this works in practice. Underwater filming captures visuals beneath the water's surface using specialized waterproof housings, lighting systems, and safety protocols. Brazil gives top range. Fernando de Noronha is a UNESCO Biosphere archipelago with spinner dolphins and reef sharks, Arraial do Cabo is nicknamed the 'Brazilian Caribbean' for visibility, and the Bonito freshwater rivers give crystalline float dives.
Here is the short of it. We set up underwater operations with certified dive teams and cinema-grade gear across Brazil. Productions shoot at Fernando de Noronha, Arraial do Cabo, Ilhabela, Bonito's freshwater rivers, and Amazon river systems. Our team handles IBAMA/ICMBio site-level clearances, ANCINE production sign-ups, and Capitania dos Portos vessel planning from Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Recife — delivering striking footage while respecting Brazil's strict marine protection rules.
Capabilities
Complete Underwater Services
From controlled pool environments to open ocean cinematography, we provide professional underwater filming with safety and quality as priorities.
01
Dive Cinematography
- Open water filming
- Reef & marine life
- Shipwreck exploration
- Deep water operations
- Night diving
Ocean Depths
02
Pool & Tank
- Controlled environments
- Actor water work
- Product photography
- Split-level shots
- Underwater sets
Controlled Shoots
03
Equipment
- Cinema camera housings
- Underwater lighting
- Communication systems
- Monitors & playback
- Specialty rigs
Pro Gear
04
Safety & Coordination
- Certified dive teams
- Safety divers
- Medical standby
- Actor training
- Risk assessment
Safety First
On Location
Nauticam, Gates, and SPL housings on RED Komodo-X / Sony Venice 2 Rialto / ARRI Alexa Mini LF for Fernando de Noronha UNESCO 2001, Bonito river-snorkel, and Amazon Rio Negro work
Here is how this works in practice. Brazilian underwater filming spans four signature ecosystems with separate operator-permit structures. Fernando de Noronha (UNESCO 2001 archipelago) delivers 20–30 m Atlantic visibility, spinner-dolphin pods at Baía dos Golfinhos year-round, and a hard ICMBio diver-cap-per-dive-site filed 60–90 days ahead. Abrolhos Marine National Park off Bahia carries humpback-whale Jul–Nov migration and shallow Brazilian endemic coral. Atol das Rocas Biological Reserve is closed to public dive ops but ready to ICMBio-signed off broadcast / science crews.
Here is what we have to work with. On the ground, Bonito Mato Grosso do Sul carries Rio Sucuri + Rio da Prata + Rio Olho d'Água crystal-clear river-snorkel work with visibility that reads more like aquarium glass than river. Salvador coast + Recife coast deliver shallow-reef diving. The Amazon Encontro das Águas at Manaus carries Rio Negro + Solimões boto + tucuxi river-dolphin work in 1–3 m tannin-rich visibility.
Here is the short of it. Gear runs Nauticam + Gates + SPL housings on RED Komodo-X, Sony Venice 2 Rialto, ARRI Alexa Mini LF, and Sony A1 II. Lighting is Keldan 8X CRI / 4X CRI, Light & Motion Sola, OrcaTorch D900V. PADI Divemaster + Rescue minimums, DAN annual coverage, surface-supply backup, and oxygen-on-boat standard. Saltwater-rinse and dry-down protocols are required before any housing returns to shop — humidity (80–95% Rio / Salvador / Recife year-round) plus saltwater corrosion will destroy unmaintained gear inside 90 days. Cross-border Sigma Cine LA housing redundancy direct GRU / GIG inside 12 hours.
Here is the layout. On the ground, ICMBio + IBAMA conservation-unit clearance required. Yellow-fever vaccination required for global crews on Amazon legs. FUNAI permits required before any Terras Indígenas waterway crossing (Yanomami + Kayapó + Xingu). Anaconda (1997 Amazon), Twilight Breaking Dawn Rio honeymoon, Quantum of Solace partial, and many BBC Natural History Unit + National Geographic + Disney Nature shoots ran this exact stack. ANCINE / CLT / FGTS 8% / 13º salário budgeted.
FAQ
Underwater Expertise
What cameras can you use underwater?
We operate pro 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 needs.
Do you provide certified dive teams?
Yes, all our underwater crews are certified commercial divers with specific film production experience. Teams have dive shooters, focus pullers, safety divers, and dive supervisors as needed.
Can you film in pools and tanks?
Here is the breakdown. Yes, we often work in studio water facilities at Estúdios Globo's Projac complex in Rio de Janeiro and purpose-built tanks at Estúdios Quanta in São Paulo. These controlled settings are ideal for actor work, product shots, and sequences needing precise visibility.
What about actor safety underwater?
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Actor safety is paramount. We give safety divers, breathing apparatus for extended takes, pre-shoot training, and clear comms kit. For remote shoots at Fernando de Noronha or Abrolhos we set up with ICMBio rangers and keep emergency medical standby.
Where can you film in Brazil?
Here is how the picture comes together. Fernando de Noronha and Arraial do Cabo give top-tier Atlantic reef cinematography (permits via IBAMA/ICMBio), Ilhabela and the Rio-Santos coast give dramatic wrecks and coves, Bonito's freshwater rivers give drift dives in crystalline water, and the Amazon system hosts pink river dolphins. Rio's Estúdios Globo gives tank facilities. We'll recommend locations based on your creative needs.
How do you handle underwater communication?
We use pro underwater comms kit including in-water comms for diver planning and surface-to-diver links. Directors can communicate with underwater crews and monitor shots in real-time.
Related Services
Productions in Brazil that need this often pair it with Underwater Lighting, Multi-Camera Setups, and Marine & Wildlife Filming for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Underwater Camera Operators and Camera & Cinematography.
On Set
Need Underwater Filming?
Tell us about your underwater requirements and we'll provide experienced dive teams.