SCENE 01 / UNDERWATER FILMING
Underwater Filming
Professional marine cinematography with certified dive teams across New York.
Underwater filming captures imagery beneath the water's surface using specialized waterproof camera housings, lighting systems, and safety protocols. New York offers Atlantic locations along Long Island, the Hamptons, and Fire Island, NYC's harbour and the Hudson River, plus the Catskills and Adirondacks for inland water work — ideal for documentaries, features, commercials, and series.
We coordinate underwater operations with certified New York dive teams, source cinema-grade waterproof equipment, and manage permits through the U.S. Coast Guard, NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, and the National Park Service for waters around the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Our team handles logistics for harbour shoots, Long Island ocean work, and tank filming at the major Brooklyn and Queens studio facilities.
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
Coast Guard NY District teams across Atlantic, harbour and Brooklyn tank work
Here is how the work lines up. Underwater filming around New York covers a layered set of settings: the Atlantic off the Hamptons, Montauk and Fire Island for clean ocean clarity, Long Island Sound for protected near-shore work, the Hudson and East Rivers and the wider NY Harbor where water-quality windows govern shoot dates, and the Gateway National Recreation Area around Jamaica Bay for marsh and bay material under NPS regions.
Brooklyn Navy Yard tank stages at Steiner Studios handle controlled settings — including the multi-aim tanks that have served HBO, Netflix and feature work for years — alongside pool and tank options at Silvercup, Kaufman Astoria and Broadway Stages. Our cinematographers hold PADI, SSI and NAUI commercial certifications and operate Gates, Hydroflex and Aquatica housings for ARRI, RED and Sony bodies.
Marine permits route through the U.S. Coast Guard NY District for harbor and river work, with the NYPD Harbor Unit briefed for craft choreography around Manhattan and Brooklyn waterfronts, and NPS authorisation handled separately for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island perimeters. The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment lines up the master permit. Our line producers document every spend item against the New York State Film Tax Credit at thirty per cent with the ten-per-cent NYC uplift where qualifying. IATSE Local 600 underwater cinematographers and Local 52 technicians anchor the dive bench, with safety supervisors, medical standby and through-water comms on every roster so the schedule holds whether the day is harbour, ocean or tank.
FAQ
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 specific film production experience in New York waters. Teams include underwater cinematographers, focus pullers, safety divers, and dive supervisors as required, familiar with both Atlantic ocean and cold-water harbour conditions.
Can you film in pools and tanks?
Yes — New York is one of the best places in the US for studio tank work. Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Silvercup, Kaufman Astoria, and Broadway Stages collectively offer the largest US studio capacity outside Hollywood, with multiple tank and pool options. These controlled environments 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.
Where can you film in New York?
We film throughout the New York region—Long Island, the Hamptons, and Fire Island offer Atlantic ocean environments, the Hudson River and NYC harbour deliver iconic urban water shots, the waters around the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island require National Park Service permits, and the major Brooklyn and Queens studio complexes handle tank work. Marine permits run through Coast Guard Homeport and MOME.
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.
Related Services
Productions in New York 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.