In the world of Natural History, programs documenting marine life are ever present on television. The BBC, Discovery, Netflix and others are home to blue chip shows regularly presenting incredible wildlife behavior. Although a fair amount of this programming spotlights terrestrial animals, marine life is often on display. Due to incredibly rich seas, Indonesia is where many sequences are filmed and showcased to the world.
Located at the heart of the “Coral Triangle”, Indonesia is home to the most diverse marine life on the planet. With over 3000 species of fish and more than 500 species of coral, the region boasts abundant and healthy seas. Add into the mix the presence of whales, dolphins, dugongs and other marine mammals and Indonesia is a powerhouse destination for anyone wanting to tell a story about the ocean.
The Coral Triangle
Indonesia is most well known for its abundance of healthy coral reef systems. With a coastline size only second to Canada, there is an incredible variety of reef life. From the rich coral seas of Raja Ampat to shallow mangrove laden shorelines in Kalimantan, Indonesian seas are bountiful. The stories to tell for the discerning film maker are also bountiful. Animals as large as the blue whale offer a tale that everyone enjoys watching. The large population of cetaceans in the country are a major draw for tourists and photographers alike. Indonesia is a major migration route for a large number of species including sperm, blue, brydes, and humpback along with a large number of smaller, less known species.
Other stories abound in the area and have been featured on “blue chip” documentaries for many years. Recent examples include sea snakes hunting in large groups in the Banda Sea. Indo Pacific Films was chosen to document this story recently for the BBC. You can view Luca’s story about this amazing behavior on “BBC Asia”, a 2024 documentary narrated by the legendary David Attenborough. Also featuring in this flagship show was Luca and Parman’s underwater, drone, and behind the scenes work on the Manta Ray sequence filmed throughout Indonesia.
Marine Life Television Sequences
Other well known sequences that have appeared on television recently that have been filmed in Indonesia include stories about coconut octopus, cuttlefish, anemone fish and bobbit worms. Of course this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There are countless stories to tell when it comes to marine life and their behavior. As an added bonus, its not just the underwater subjects that make for a good story.
More Than Marine Life
Many Indonesian communities are connected to the sea. The most famous are the Bajau people who live a maritime nomadic existence. There are many films over the years that highlight the way they have adapted to living at one with the sea. However, they are not the only people with an oceanic story to tell. Conservationists are hard at work trying to preserve the marine environment. Local conservation efforts and large international NGOs are involved in everything from building coral reefs to protecting whalesharks and mangrove systems. Each of these efforts deserve to have their stories told in order to bring their work a wider audience of support. We support many such initiatives in the region and work regularly with organizations such as ReShark and Konservasi Indonesia.
If you are interested in filming a story about marine life or anything to do with the ocean in Indonesia then we would love to hear from you. Indo Pacific Films specializes in underwater filming and can acquire any and all film permits within the country. We are also available for overseas shoots both on land and underwater. If you have a project you are considering filming in Indonesia then feel free to Contact Us today for further discussion.