Underwater Filming Services

Underwater cinema in Japan spans sites most shoot guides never list. These include Okinawa's coral reefs and the kelp forests and volcanic seascapes of the Izu Peninsula and Ogasawara. They also include the clear cold water of the Sea of Japan off Hokkaido.

The same crew also works the Setouchi Sea's tidal channels and the set tanks at Toho Studios in Tokyo. Our operators hold PADI Divemaster, CMAS three-star, or HSE-equal commercial sign-offs. They pair that with cinema-housing skill for ARRI Alexa Mini LF, RED Komodo, Sony VENICE 2 Rialto, and Blackmagic URSA.

We brief each dive DP on the set permit and safety map for your shoot site. That may mean working with Okinawan reef authorities or Setouchi Sea harbour masters. It can also mean following studio-tank rules at Toho.

Each booking comes with a safety diver, surface-communication rules, backup air, and logged dive plans. We match the lighting and housing stock to the depth and the water sight. We also match it to the look the director wants — narrative, doc, sports, or commercial.

We source and vet every dive operator before we put a name forward. We check dive sign-offs, marine credits, and cinema-housing track records across the fleet. We also confirm bilingual English-Japanese coordination on the surface and at the dive brief. A global director can call shots in English while the team works in Japanese. That keeps a dive plan clear for everyone. We confirm local permit and harbour clearances apply before any in-water day too.

We quote underwater operators in JPY, with the 10% consumption tax shown plainly. Day rates follow the Japanese Labor Standards Act on working hours and rest. Housing rental, safety-diver cover, and surface-support terms are agreed before the first call. We plan early around Golden Week and Obon, when both crew and dive sites book out quickly. Booking ahead protects your rate and your preferred operator. We confirm picks once your dates, sites, and depths are set.