SCENE 01 / UNDERWATER FILMING
Underwater Filming in Saudi Arabia
Professional marine cinematography with certified dive teams across Saudi Arabia.
Underwater filming captures shots below the water's surface. We use sealed waterproof housings, lighting rigs, and safety steps. Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast is one of the world's last untouched reef systems. It offers clear water, bright coral, and rich marine life. The reefs run from Jeddah Corniche north to the NEOM coastline and the Farasan Islands. This makes the coast ideal for documentaries, features, commercials, and nature films.
We set up underwater shoots with certified dive teams. We source cinema-grade waterproof gear. We manage permits through the Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA), Saudi Coast Guard, and Film AlUla / GCAM. Our team handles the hard logistics for remote NEOM and Farasan shoots. We also run controlled tank work at Jax Film Studios in Riyadh and the NEOM Studios complex.
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
Red Sea cinema-spec dive ops — Farasan, NEOM Sharma, KAUST research access
The Saudi Red Sea coast runs 1,800km. It stretches from the Jordanian border at Magna down past Tabuk, Sharma, Yanbu, and Jeddah, then into the Farasan archipelago. It is one of the world's last great rarely-filmed dive regions. The reefs are pristine and the industrial runoff is near zero (Saudi enforces strict site-level protection on the Red Sea coast). Visibility runs 30-40m from October to April. This makes the coast a draw for nature work (BBC Studios, National Geographic, Apple TV+ doc slates). It also suits underwater film scenes and luxury travel video. That video serves the Saudi Tourism Authority Visit Saudi platform and the NEOM Sindalah resort (opened October 2024). Whale sharks migrate through the Farasan Islands from December to April. Dugongs live off Farasan in one of the world's last viable dugong meadows. There are coral spawning events. Turtles nest on Saudi-covered beaches. The KAUST Red Sea Research Center (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) opens research dive vessels to documentary crews. This access covers coral bleaching, reef health, and dugong population work.
Our gear is cinema-grade. We run Nauticam underwater housings on the ARRI Alexa Mini LF and Alexa 35, the RED V-Raptor and Komodo, and the Sony Venice 2. We use SeaCAM housings plus Pace Tech for SI-2K archive equivalents. We fit Gates housings on the Sony FX9 for documentary day-rate. Subsea Imaging builds custom rigs for ROV and pole-cam work in deeper water. In-water comms run via OceanReef and Aquacom Surface Air Decompression sets. NEOM Bajdah Studios and Jax Film Studios run tank work for controlled-set scenes. These cover actor handling, product, and story beats that need directed action. Permitting takes a few steps. The Saudi Coast Guard covers offshore work in the Farasan archipelago. The NEOM authority covers the Sharma coast (the NEOM special economic zone enforces stricter site-level checks than mainland Saudi). SRSA (Saudi Red Sea Authority) handles planning under the 2026 framework. KAUST handles research-vessel planning for science docs. The Saudi Wildlife Authority covers marine-mammal proximity (dugongs and whale sharks have keep-clear distances). Cultural Development Fund rebates at 35% plus a 5% Saudization uplift cover dive crew, camera, and housing rental.
FAQ
Underwater Expertise
What cameras can you use underwater?
We run pro underwater housings for cinema cameras. These include RED, ARRI, and Sony systems. We match the camera and housing to your resolution, frame rate, and image quality needs.
Do you provide certified dive teams?
Yes. All our underwater crews are certified commercial divers. They have film experience in the Red Sea. Teams include dive shooters, focus pullers, safety divers, and dive supervisors as needed. They know Saudi maritime rules and the new 2026 SRSA framework.
Can you film in pools and tanks?
Yes. We work in controlled tanks at Jax Film Studios (7,000 m² with Sony virtual production) in Riyadh. We also use the NEOM Studios complex. These settings are ideal for actor work, product shots, and scenes that need tight control.
What about actor safety underwater?
Actor safety comes first. We give safety divers and breathing gear for long takes. We add pre-shoot training and clear comms kit. With the right support, non-diving actors can still nail strong underwater shots.
Where can you film in Saudi Arabia?
We film all along the Red Sea coast. NEOM offers untouched reef systems and bold open-water sites. The Farasan Islands marine reserve has top marine life. Jeddah's Red Sea waters give dive sites that are easy to reach. Jax and NEOM Studios cover the tank work. Sea filming needs SRSA planning, Saudi Coast Guard approval, and Film AlUla/GCAM sign-off.
How do you handle underwater communication?
We use pro underwater comms kit. This includes in-water comms for diver planning and surface-to-diver links. Directors can talk to the underwater crews. They can also watch the shots in real time.
Related Services
Productions in Saudi Arabia 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.