How It Started: Serenity (2016)
In 2016, Identical Media was service producing Serenity, the Hollywood feature starring Matthew McConaughey. The shoot included three weeks of over-water and underwater filming off the coast of Mauritius. During that production, our marine team spent extended time in the waters where Mauritius’s resident sperm whale pods live. That was the beginning, the first sustained contact between our crew and the whales, and the start of the operational knowledge we have built over the years since.
Freediver, Paramount Pictures and Greenway Pictures
The first dedicated sperm whale commission came from Paramount Pictures and Greenway Pictures with Freediver, a documentary about the world’s greatest freedivers directed by Michael John Warren. Identical Media provided full service production in Mauritius: marine coordination, safety logistics, underwater and topside equipment (supplied through MediaVision Ltd, ARRI Certified and Sony Pro Partner), crew, and location management across the island’s coastlines, lagoons, and open ocean.
The success of Freediver opened the door to everything that followed. It proved that Mauritius could deliver broadcast-quality sperm whale content, and that Identical Media had the marine infrastructure and whale knowledge to make it happen repeatedly.
Broadcast Credits
Since Freediver, sperm whale commissions have come in steadily. Our production credits now include:
- Paramount Pictures / Greenway Pictures, Freediver. Our first major sperm whale production. Full service production in Mauritius.
- Disney+, currently in production. The repeat commissioning reflects the reliability of our whale access and marine operations.
- BBC, natural history content filmed in Mauritius with our marine team and underwater operators.
- National Geographic, wildlife content produced through our marine department.
- Underdog Films, owned by James Reed, the Oscar-winning director of My Octopus Teacher.
Each production has added to what we know, about the whales, the conditions, the safety requirements, and how to deliver footage that meets broadcast and theatrical standards.
What We Know About These Whales
Resident pods of sperm whales live off the west coast of Mauritius year-round. While they can dive to great depths to feed, they spend much of their time resting and socialising at the surface, which is where the filming happens. The Mauritius pods are known for being unusually curious and comfortable around people in the water. They regularly stay at the surface in close proximity to divers rather than diving away, giving camera teams extended filming time that is difficult to find in other sperm whale locations.
Over the past decade, our team has logged hundreds of hours in the water with them. What that means in practice:
- Surface behaviour, we know when and where the whales surface, how long they rest between dives, and how to position for the best filming conditions.
- Seasonal patterns, calf sightings, pod movements, and how behaviour changes through the year.
- Approach protocols, how to position divers and cameras without disrupting the animals, which matters for both the footage and for repeat access.
- Weather and current, which swell directions and wind patterns affect visibility and safety at the key sites.
- Safety, protocols for putting camera teams in the water alongside sperm whales. Safety divers, emergency procedures, and vessel positioning are standard on every shoot.
Filming Whales Is Regulated: We Handle the Permits
Swimming, diving and snorkelling with whales is prohibited in Mauritius under the Tourism Authority (Dolphin and Whale Watching) Regulations 2012, unless authorised in writing by the Tourism Authority for scientific and educational purposes. Sperm whale filming therefore needs more than a standard film permit: it draws clearances from several departments plus a named-personnel authorisation. We manage that whole process. See our underwater and marine filming permits page for how it works.
Certified Crew for Deep-Water Wildlife
Our sperm whale shoots are crewed by specialists:
- Underwater cinematographers with broadcast credits (Paramount, Disney+, BBC, National Geographic).
- Safety divers and underwater safety supervisors.
- Marine coordinators experienced in deep-water wildlife operations.
- Experienced skippers who know how to approach whales safely, managing engine shutdowns, silent drift positioning, and boat handling when whales are nearby.
- Whale spotter and acoustician, using a hydrophone to listen for sperm whale clicks underwater and visual spotting on the surface to locate the pods quickly each shooting day.
- DOP-level camera operators for topside and aerial coverage.
- Drone operators for aerial whale tracking.
The crew has worked together across multiple sperm whale productions. That continuity matters, they know each other’s communication systems, safety protocols, and working patterns in the water.
Mauritius Film Rebate for Wildlife Productions
Sperm whale filming in Mauritius qualifies for the Film Rebate Scheme administered by the EDB:
- 30% cash rebate on qualifying production expenditure (QPE) for documentaries.
- Up to 40% cash rebate for feature films (minimum USD 1 million QPE) and high-end TV drama (minimum USD 150,000 per episode).
- Direct cash payment, not a tax credit. The stated percentage is what you receive.
- QPE covers vessel charter, marine crew, diving equipment, underwater camera rental, boat fuel, safety equipment, catering, logistics, filming equipment, local and foreign cast and crew salaries, international flights, hotel accommodation, and transport for foreign cast and crew.
We have managed 27 approved rebate applications since the scheme launched. Full guide to the Mauritius Film Rebate →
Why Mauritius for Sperm Whale Filming
- Resident pods, sperm whales live off the west coast year-round, not seasonally.
- Habituated and curious whales, the Mauritius pods are accustomed to human presence in the water, often staying at the surface rather than diving away. This makes for extended filming windows that are rare in other sperm whale locations worldwide.
- Warm water year-round, sea temperatures range from 23 to 29°C. Camera teams and divers can work comfortably for extended periods without drysuits or heavy exposure gear, unlike the Azores or Norway.
- Proximity, whale sites are a short boat ride from shore. No multi-day offshore expeditions required.
- Broadcast-proven, Paramount, Disney+, BBC, National Geographic, and Underdog Films have all filmed here.
- Integrated production, sperm whale shoots can combine with land-based filming, post production, VFX, and other services through Identical Media.
- Regional access, from Mauritius we also operate marine shoots in Seychelles, Madagascar, Réunion, and the Maldives.
Work With Us
If you are developing a natural history series, blue-chip documentary, or feature that needs sperm whale footage, we have the access, the credits, and the years in the water to deliver it.
Email: contactmauritius@identicalpictures.com
Direct: ah@identicalpictures.com (Andreas Habermeyer)
We respond inside one working day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you film sperm whales in Mauritius?
Yes. Resident sperm whale pods live off the west coast of Mauritius year-round. Identical Media has been filming them since 2016, with broadcast credits for Paramount, Disney+, BBC, National Geographic, and Underdog Films.
Is a permit required to film sperm whales?
Yes. Swimming, diving and snorkelling with whales is prohibited under the Tourism Authority (Dolphin and Whale Watching) Regulations 2012 unless authorised in writing for scientific and educational purposes, and sperm whale filming requires clearances from several departments plus a named-personnel authorisation. Identical Media manages the whole process.
Does sperm whale filming qualify for the Mauritius film rebate?
Yes. Documentaries qualify for a 30% cash rebate on qualifying production expenditure. Feature films (minimum USD 1 million QPE) and high-end TV drama (minimum USD 150,000 per episode) can qualify for up to 40%.
When is the best time to film sperm whales in Mauritius?
Sperm whales are present off the west coast year-round and spend much of their time at the surface. Best filming windows depend on sea conditions and visibility, which our team monitors based on a decade of local knowledge.
For productions planning a broader natural history shoot across the Indian Ocean, see our dedicated Natural History Documentary Filming page covering marine life, land wildlife, and biodiversity filming in Mauritius, Seychelles, and Madagascar.
