CChinese Insight

HelloDive Supports MediaStorm’s Great White Shark Documentary in South Australia

• December 2, 2025
• Market Insight

In October 2025, the MediaStorm crew completed an intensive Great White Shark filming expedition in South Australia’s Neptune Islands. The project was fully supported by HelloDive, from early communication and charter planning to filming permissions, on-site coordination, and interviews.

How the Collaboration Began

MediaStorm - whose content reaches more than 14 million followers on Bilibili (Chinese YouTube) - reached out to HelloDive in April this year after discovering our detailed posts on Chinese social platforms about Great White Shark expeditions in South Australia. The clarity and practicality of the information helped build trust and opened the door to deeper discussions.

By August, both teams had finalised the filming plan and charter arrangements. 

 

Why the Great White? Why Rodney Fox?

One in A Billion has previously produced several ocean-focused works, including filming whales in Mauritius.

This Great White Shark documentary was initiated by MediaStorm founder Tim Pan, who hoped to present an accurate and respectful perspective on the species through long-form storytelling.

The production took place aboard Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions, a globally recognised operator in shark research and marine conservation. Founder Rodney Fox, now 85, is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Great White Shark studies.

The filming location, the Neptune Islands, is South Australia’s most notable Great White Shark habitat, known for stable migration routes and thriving pinniped populations. It is also one of the few marine protected areas worldwide where regulated shark observation is permitted.

Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions is currently the only operator in the world with an Ocean Floor Cage, allowing divers and filmmakers to observe Great White Sharks at depth - an aspect that was essential for this project.

 

Filming Conditions in the Neptune Islands

Water temperatures around the Neptune Islands were approximately 15°C during the filming period. The production team completed multiple dives each day, often requiring long periods of waiting underwater.

Despite the conditions, the team maintained a steady filming rhythm. Tim, though a newly certified diver, joined every dive, and the cinematographers pushed through the cold-water environment to capture the necessary footage.

Although Great White Sharks appeared on nearly every dive (an exceptionally favourable circumstance), capturing strong narrative material remained challenging due to behavioural unpredictability and environmental limitations. At the same time, all activities were carried out strictly in accordance with Australian regulations, with the film crew working closely with the boat staff to minimise disturbance while completing the filming.

HelloDive’s role throughout the project

Marine documentary filmmaking involves extensive coordination, environmental considerations, and regulatory compliance. Throughout the project, HelloDive played a central role in ensuring that operations ran smoothly. Key responsibilities included:

• Coordinating with the vessel on filming logistics and underwater procedures

• Liaising with the South Australia National Park Authority regarding permits

• Reviewing requirements to ensure minimal ecological impact

• Supporting daily operations onboard and coordinating filming schedules

• Arranging the founder interview at the Rodney Fox Shark Museum in Adelaide

• Managing real-time adjustments during the expedition

For HelloDive, this project served as a meaningful opportunity to work closely with a committed creator team and to understand more deeply the operational needs of documentary-oriented charters.

 

The Great White Shark documentary by “A Little Different” was released across multiple platforms on December 1, 2025.