The film magazines, which each weigh 10 pounds, contain only three minutes of film. This actually speeds up the film going through the camera. Instead of 24 frames per second, the film charges through the camera at 48 frames per second. A three-minute film magazine now yields just 90 seconds of action. Those logistical nightmares are present no matter where a large-format cinematographer is shooting.
Dolphins complicate everything.
Filming them means you're in a situation that requires rapid deployment of the camera. Another challenge for the underwater film team in the Bahamas was to be in clear water with cloudless skies so there would be enough light for the scene. Fortunately, most of the cinematography for the film occurred within 30 feet of the ocean's surface. Because natural lighting extends to those depths, artificial lighting was not necessary. Dolphins would be virtually impossible to track with light beams anyway, as their movement through the water is quick and unpredictable.