Whale shark silhouetted against the sun with a freediver above Diver with a cinema camera rig beside a school of fish Sunbeams over a coral reef Manta ray seen from above over a sandy reef Sea snake swimming in open blue water Dense school of fish over a coral bommie
Rec Reel 2026 Whale shark · Sumbawa

Luca Massimiliano Vaime

Director · Underwater DOP

Blue-chip natural history, feature documentary and conservation film from Indonesia and the Indo-Pacific.

Selected work ↓
  • Planet Earth IIIBBC
  • Asia: Beneath the WavesBBC
  • Blue Planet IIIBBC · In production
  • Finding The Real NemoNational Geographic · In production
  • Ocean HallSeattle Aquarium
  • ReSharkMini-series · Director / DOP
01

About

Biography
Luca Massimiliano Vaime smiling, seated in a cap and linen shirt
Luca Massimiliano Vaime at the surface on a closed-circuit rebreather
Luca Massimiliano VaimeTopside · On the rEvo CCR

I have lived in Indonesia for more than 20 years and have been working as a professional diver for over 25.

My career combines high-end cinema production, complex remote logistics and visual storytelling. As a Documentary Director and Cinematographer (DOP), I specialize in capturing the natural world for blue-chip natural history series, feature documentaries and conservation campaigns across Southeast Asia and globally.

Alongside commercial and broadcast television, I partner extensively with world-leading NGOs and marine institutions, including Conservation International, ReShark.org (directing and filming an ongoing mini-series), MARS Sustainable Solutions and the Coral Triangle Center.

Luca Massimiliano Vaime

Years living in Indonesia
20+
Years as a professional diver
25+
rEvo rebreather · Extended Range
CCR
RED cinema systems, housed
4
02

Selected Work

11 projects

My work behind the lens is featured in flagship broadcast productions, and in films for world-leading NGOs and marine institutions.

Broadcast & Exhibition

05
Client
BBC
Role
Cinematography
Status
Broadcast
Client
BBC
Role
Cinematography
Status
Broadcast
Client
BBC
Role
Cinematography
Status
In production
Client
National Geographic
Role
Cinematography
Status
In production

Featured content for the Ocean Hall, bringing the rich marine biodiversity of Indonesia to global audiences.

Commercial & Field

02
Client
Papua Diving
Location
Papua, Indonesia
Type
Promo film
Location
Sumbawa, Indonesia
Role
Underwater cinematography
Type
Field shoot

Conservation & NGO

04

Directing and filming an ongoing mini-series for ReShark.org.

Partner
Conservation International
Work
Conservation campaigns
Partner
MARS Sustainable Solutions
Work
Conservation campaigns
Partner
Coral Triangle Center
Work
Conservation campaigns
03

Stills

Photography & frame grabs
04

Craft & Kit

Owned & operated

My core expertise in underwater cinematography is backed by advanced technical credentials as a rEvo Rebreather (CCR) Extended Range diver.

Operating on closed-circuit rebreathers allows for extended bottom times, zero bubble disturbance and intimate access to wildlife behavior. I own and operate a complete suite of RED cinema camera systems, each equipped with underwater housing.

To capture steady, professional-grade underwater visuals, I use heavy-duty underwater grip and specialized optics.

A · Diving

rEvo CCR Rebreather

Extended Range

  • Extended bottom times
  • Zero bubble disturbance
  • Intimate access to wildlife behavior
B · Camera

RED Cinema Systems

All with underwater housing

  • RED V-Raptor
  • RED Monstro
  • RED Gemini
  • RED Komodo
C · Grip

Underwater Grip

Heavy-duty, rock-steady

  • Marine cinema tripods
  • Motorized sliders
  • Specialized cine cranes
D · Optics

Macro & Probe Optics

For minute creature behavior

  • Laowa Probe
  • Nauticam EMWL lens sets
E · VFX

Environment Plates

Shot on precision grip

Underwater environment plates for use as background assets in high-end VFX productions.

F · Topside

Beyond the Water

Air & land

  • Aerial drone cinematography
  • Expedition leadership in demanding, off-grid environments
Crew preparing an underwater camera housing on a boat
Camera prep on location · Papua
Phinisi schooner and tender silhouetted at sea
05 · Indo Pacific Films

Remote
Production

For production companies in the UK, USA, Europe, Japan and Singapore, executing shoots in remote tropical regions can be logistically complex.

Through my production company, Indo Pacific Films, I offer both standalone hiring as a Director/DOP and full-service remote field production.

My team delivers a complete operational package tailored to international broadcast standards.

  • UK
  • USA
  • Europe
  • Japan
  • Singapore
Option A

Director / DOP Hire

A specialized underwater cameraman to integrate into your incoming crew.

Option B

Full Field Unit

A complete unit to execute remote sequences from start to finish.

  1. 01

    Cinema Aerials

    Licensed, high-resolution drone capture.

  2. 02

    Field Sound

    High-fidelity location audio recording in challenging natural environments.

  3. 03

    Marine Safety

    Dedicated dive safety leads, medical protocols and underwater risk management.

  4. 04

    Expedition Logistics

    Permitting, customs clearance, local fixer networks and remote transport.

Whether you need a specialized underwater cameraman to integrate into an incoming crew or a full field unit to execute remote sequences from start to finish, we deliver broadcast-grade imagery safely, efficiently and with deep local expertise.

Broadcasters, institutions & partners