Whale filming with drones

Everything you need to know about flying at sea and filming cetaceans with drones! Even if your projects have documentary, research or conservation purposes, it’s always essential to ensure compliance with wildlife conservation regulations.

Shall we set sail?

Capture your documentary of cetaceans and marine wildlife with drones

Filming moving boats with drones is a technical and creative challenge that requires specific experience in aerial operations at sea. Conditions are not simple: the wind, the instability of the vessel, the smooth coordination between pilot, camera and crew, and the constantly changing environment demand meticulous preparation. In these scenarios, capturing spectacular aerial images of sailboats, yachts or research vessels depends not only on talent but also on the team and the people supporting each flight.

Moreover, filming offshore or in protected areas involves strict compliance with current regulations on drones in marine and port spaces in Spain, including coordination with maritime authorities or obtaining permits from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, if the project includes filming of protected marine wildlife, such as dolphins or whales.

In this article, we answer all your questions about how to approach a drone shoot from the sea and explain why you should choose a specialised operator in drone filming of boats and marine documentaries.

Filming marine animals, such as cetaceans and other species, is strictly regulated.

Safety and responsibility in every flight

Safety is non-negotiable when operating over water. To protect your project, the vessels and our team, we apply specific measures:

Third-party liability insurance.
Backup drone.
Team supervision to monitor flight conditions.
Briefing protocols and pre-flight risk assessment and inspection.

Our priority is to provide a reliable service while minimising any contingencies.

We strictly comply with all current regulations regarding drone operations in marine and port areas:

Flight authorisations managed in advance.
Specific permits in port spaces and restricted areas.
Coordination with maritime authorities if the project requires it.

We guarantee you a 100% legal service, with no surprises or worries.

Additionally, filming in offshore waters, port areas or protected marine zones with drones carries considerable legal and technical responsibility. In Spain, regulations on drone filming over the sea are strict. Any project involving aerial filming of protected marine wildlife, such as dolphins, whales, cetaceans or birds in sensitive areas, requires permits obtained at least 1 month in advance. This includes not only the relevant flight authorisations according to AESA, but also coordination with local maritime authorities, port captaincies and, in many cases, processing with the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. At BeeDron Record, we have real experience in this management, as we must take into account the specific challenges of filming on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona, the Canary Islands or the Basque Country. Working with a professional drone operator for filming at sea is not just a guarantee of quality, but also of legality and safety. In this article, we answer all your questions about how to approach offshore drone shoots, explain how we meet every step of the legal and technical process, and show why choosing a team specialising in aerial filming of boats, yachts and cetacean documentaries can make all the difference in your project.

Drone filming of whales, dolphins and other animals is only authorised by the ministry, and only in certain cases.

Some of the things we need to consider for filming offshore are that wind and sea conditions must be favourable, and the most suitable boats for drone take-off and landing are usually zodiacs. However, larger vessels such as tuna fishing boats or bigger often have areas that are free of cables and with unobstructed surfaces. Windy days or rough seas not only make take-off and especially landing more difficult, but also affect visibility, especially if the documentary project involves filming marine animals.

We have the experience in filming documentaries with drones and handle the process of applying to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition for filming protected marine wildlife species.

Our goal is to transform your documentary vision into images that engage and communicate effectively. When you work with us, you get:

Crisp footage of up to 6K for advertising, tourism promotion or documentaries.
Specialised drone flights for marine documentaries.
FPV drone flights over the sea.
Cinematic shots that enhance the dynamism of the marine environment.
Creative advice to maximise the audiovisual impact of your project.

Why choose us for your documentary shoot?

Choosing a drone operator specialised in documentaries at sea makes all the difference in terms of results and safety. We offer you:

Real experience in marine environments in Spain.
We have cutting-edge technology for your documentary and know how to adapt to the marine environment.
Total transparency on permits, insurance and operations.
Personalised advice tailored to your project’s needs.

Drone service for documentaries. Bring your maritime project to life.

If you’re planning a drone shoot for your documentary at sea in Spain, whether it’s for a marine wildlife documentary or marine research, we offer a tailor-made solution, 100% legal and ready for the challenges of the environment. Do you want to showcase your project or activity at sea like never before? Request a tailored proposal for your project today, with no obligation.