Water rig
Purpose-built underwater shooting tank — the rig under Avatar: The Way of Water and Wakanda Forever's underwater work.
Mechanism
An underwater performance tank is a heated freshwater pool engineered for camera and performer access at multiple depths, typically 15–40 feet. The tank includes underwater camera mounts on tracks, performer-rated breath training and rebreather support, and a multi-station safety-diver crew positioned at every working depth. Performers train for breath-hold (typically progressing to 3–5 minute working capacity) before production; for sequences that require longer continuous shots, performers use compact open-circuit regulators hidden in costume seams or, for bigger productions, full-face rebreathers integrated into character makeup. Lighting is via underwater HMI fixtures rated for full submersion plus surface-mounted bounce arrays directing light through the surface.
Safety
Every underwater performance crew includes safety divers at a 1:1 ratio with performers, plus a topside dive-master and a hyperbaric-trained medic on standby. Performers are checked for ear-pressure equalisation between every take; consecutive takes are gated by surface-interval rules borrowed from recreational dive tables. Rebreather rigs are bench-tested daily with a calibrated CO₂ monitor; the failure mode of an undetected CO₂ build-up is loss of consciousness without warning.
Variants
Performance moves to the open ocean — adds current, wildlife, and visibility variability; usually paired with a tank for primary coverage and ocean for inserts.
Tank with a paddle-wave generator simulating sea-state — used for surface-fight and capsizing sequences.
On screen
Sequences in the archive whose discipline tags overlap this technique's category. Click through for the full rigging breakdown of each set-piece.
References
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