What Hydroflex does

HydroFlex, Inc. is a US-based specialty rental company that designs, manufactures, and rents proprietary underwater cinematography equipment to the film, television, and government sectors. Founded in 1985 by Pete Romano—a former Navy Diver and Industrial Light & Magic assistant cameraman—the company is headquartered in El Segundo, California, and operates as a rental-only business (no equipment sales). Its core product lines include the RemoteAquaCam family of underwater camera housings (compatible with ARRI Alexa 35/Mini LF/Mini/XT/Plus/65, Sony Venice 2/FX3/FX30/A7S III, RED, Panasonic Varicam, Blackmagic, and Phantom cameras), the HydroPar underwater lighting series spanning HMI (up to 4000W), incandescent (up to 5000W), LED (SeaSun, Linear LED, LitraStudio), and fluorescent (HydroFlo) technologies, and a broad accessory catalog (HydroHead remote pan/tilt heads, GFCI safety systems, buoyancy compensators, underwater monitors, splashbags, exposure meter housings).

The company's value proposition rests on proprietary safety and optical technology—including custom underwater mateable connectors with "Mate First/Break Last" grounding circuits, integrated GFCI protection certified to UL 1573 and CE standards, and flat/dome lens ports that correct optical distortion—and on two Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Technical Achievement Awards (1991 SeaPar 1200W HMI; 2002 Remote AquaCam). HydroFlex generates revenue exclusively through quote-based equipment rentals from its El Segundo facility and through a global agent network spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, with channel relationships at ARRI Rental (UK/Germany), Panavision (Canada), Sanwa Cine Rental (Japan), and others. Named customers include major Hollywood productions (Titanic, Mission Impossible series, Pearl Harbor, Perfect Storm, Jaws the Revenge), television, documentaries, commercials, music videos, independent filmmakers, and NASA (for astronaut training at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory using the 4000W HydroPar HMI). The company is privately held and bootstrapped, with ownership and control concentrated in the founder.

Name

Hydroflex

Legal name

HydroFlex, Inc.

Website

https://hydroflex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HydroFlex, Inc. is a US-based rental company that designs and rents proprietary underwater cinematography equipment—camera housings, underwater lighting systems, and accessories—to Hollywood film productions, television, documentaries, and government clients worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Underwater Cinematography Equipment

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (3343)

SIC

Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)

akta.pro primary industry

Underwater & Protective Gear (Housings, Cases, Cages, Rain Covers) (CRACAPAK)

Keywords

• Underwater camera housings
• Underwater lighting systems
• Cinematography equipment rental
• Underwater film production
• Camera support accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Toluca

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rental: HydroFlex operates as a rental equipment company. All equipment is available for rent only, not for purchase. Customers rent directly from the Los Angeles facility or through a worldwide network of rental agents that stock HydroFlex equipment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HydroFlex rents specialized underwater cinematography equipment to film, television, and commercial production crews. Its inventory includes watertight camera housings compatible with major cinema cameras (ARRI, Sony, RED, Panasonic, Blackmagic, Phantom), underwater lighting systems (HMI, incandescent, LED, fluorescent), and a range of camera support accessories such as remote pan/tilt heads, video monitors, and splash protection bags. The company operates exclusively on a rental basis from its El Segundo, California headquarters, with worldwide distribution through an authorized agent network.

Product overview

HydroFlex is a professional underwater cinematography equipment rental company established in 1985, serving the film industry for nearly 4 decades. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of underwater camera housings, underwater lighting systems, camera accessories, and splash protection equipment. The core product line includes the award-winning RemoteAquaCam housing system (with versions for ARRI, Sony, RED, Panasonic, Blackmagic, and Phantom cameras), multiple HydroPar underwater lighting products (HMI, incandescent, LED, and fluorescent technologies), and specialized camera support accessories including the HydroHead remote pan/tilt system and buoyancy compensation equipment. HydroFlex operates as a rental-only business from its headquarters in El Segundo, California, with worldwide distribution through a network of agents and international shipping capabilities. The company has received two Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Technical Achievement Awards for innovation in underwater cinematography equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HydroPar: Underwater lighting systems including HMI, incandescent, and various wattage options
• HydroHead
• RemoteAquaCam
• SeaSun
• HydroFlo
• Splashbags

Products and services

• RemoteAquaCam Underwater Camera Housing Systems Flagship underwater camera housing system compatible with over 25 camera models including ARRI Alexa 35/Mini LF/Mini/XT/Plus, Sony Venice 2/F55/F5, RED Dragon/Epic/Komodo/Monstro/V-Raptor, Panasonic Varicam LT/35, Blackmagic URSA Mini, and Phantom Flex/HD/4k cameras. Features tubular hydrodynamics, underwater mateable connectors, and remote operation capabilities. Available in specific versions for the ARRI Alexa 65 and Arri 435. Awarded Academy Technical Achievement Award.
• Sony Mirrorless Camera Housings Modified Ikelite 200DL underwater housings for Sony FX3, FX30, A7S III, A1 Mk2, and A9 III cameras. Features internal HDMI to HD-SDI converter, underwater video bulkhead for tethering to Video Village up to 100 feet, and depth rating of 200 feet.
• Mini Vistacam Deep Water Housing Aluminum underwater housing for Mini Vistacam cameras using standard Arri 400 ft. magazines, accepting Nikon and Leica lenses. Features include reflex viewing, video viewing, remote video to surface, and depth rating of 100 feet.
• Arri 435 Deep Water Housing Deep water underwater housing for Arri 435 IVS cameras with 400 ft. Arri magazines. Features interchangeable flat and dome ports, custom viewfinder eyepiece, internal witness camera, and external 2.5 inch monitor.
• Outex Underwater Camera Enclosure Underwater camera enclosure compatible with DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Waterproof to 10 meters (33 feet). Features professional-grade front and rear optical glass and full access to camera and lens functions.
• HydroPar HMI Underwater Lighting Systems State-of-the-art underwater HMI lighting systems available in 4000W M1, 1200W SE, and 1200W M1 configurations for feature and commercial film production. Modular components with underwater mateable connectors and integrated GFCIs. Depth rated to 100 ft. Conforms to UL 1573 and CE Standards. The 1200W SE received an Academy Technical Achievement Award in 1991.
• HydroPar Incandescent Underwater Lighting Systems Submersible underwater incandescent lighting systems available in 2000W SE, 2000W M1, 1000W, 650W, and 5000W M1 configurations. Feature quick-adjust fresnels or interchangeable reflectors for spot, medium, and flood configurations. Use custom underwater mate-able connectors with Mate First/Break Last grounding circuit and Shock-Block GFCIs to prevent electrical accidents. Depth rated to 100 ft.
• HydroPar MR-16 Underwater Fixture Compact multipurpose underwater fixture with high lumen output for practical set lamps. Features quick bulb/reflector replacement and underwater mateable connector allowing lamp change-outs without removing power cable from water.
• HydroRama High-Powered Underwater Light High-powered underwater fixture for illuminating large areas, ideal for front lighting underwater greenscreens and bluescreens. Configurable with dual 4000W SE HMI or dual 5000W SE Incandescent lamps. Reflector position adjustable through 180 degrees. Depth rated to 100 ft.
• SeaSun LED Underwater Housings Underwater housings for ARRI SkyPanel S30-C LED soft light and Litepanels 1x1 LED panel. SeaSun S30 SkyPanel is fully adjustable via single cable from surface including color temperature (2800K-10000K), gel colors, RGB selection, and DMX control. SeaSun Litepanels 1x1 features soft output with dimming and beam pattern shift via knobs on housing back. Cool running temperature allows use in or out of water.
• LitraStudio Underwater LED Light Battery-powered RGBWW underwater LED light rated to 30 ft depth. Color temperature adjustable from 2000K to 10000K with over a million RGB colors. Controllable via Bluetooth (out of water) or buttons/knobs underwater. Features 97 TLCI color accuracy and up to 3000 lumens brightness.
• Linear LED Underwater Housings Underwater housings for Astera Titan and Helios lamps and Quasar Crossfade lamps. Astera lamps available with wired (surface power and DMX) or wireless battery operation. Depth rating 100 ft for Astera housing.
• HydroFlo Fluorescent Underwater Lighting Systems Underwater fluorescent fixtures in 6 ft, 2 ft, and 15 inch sizes using Kino Flo flicker-free ballasts. Depth rated to 100 ft. Can be used individually, handheld, hard mounted, or grouped in banks of 4 or 8.
• HydroHead Remote Pan and Tilt Head Waterproof remote pan and tilt head for use with RemoteAquaCam housings. 2-axis analog head with underwater mateable connectors. Depth rated to 150 ft. Uses industry standard Power Pod electronics.
• HydroHead 3rd Axis Roll Modification Modification to standard HydroHead adding roll axis to camera movement. Provides 35 degrees in either direction for total 70 degree movement. Depth rated to 100 ft with underwater mateable connectors.
• Buoyancy Compensating Camera Float Inflatable camera float with adjustable outrigger bladders for controlling float level from just under surface to above waterline. Stabilizes camera even in pitching seas. Includes sliding base plate and quick release plate.
• Underwater Video Monitors Underwater monitor housings including Small HD 503 Ultrabright (2200 nits, 5 inch, 1800p resolution) and HydroFlex 4.3 inch HD Underwater Monitor with false color and center mark options.
• SL Cine Pan and Tilt Head Anodized aluminum and stainless steel pan and tilt head for underwater use. 360 degrees pan, 41 degree tilt with adjustable drag and lock. Compatible with Mitchell style tripod, riser, or high hat mounts.
• Underwater Speaker System Underwater communication system allowing topside personnel to speak to all persons in water. Includes amplifier and microphone with 12V DC battery power and gold mount battery plate. Enables visual communication via nodding camera for yes/no answers.
• Waterproof Exposure Meter Housings Aluminum and plexiglass waterproof housings for Minolta 1 Degree Spot Meter, Minolta Auto IV Incident Meter, and Spectra Pro IV Incident Meter. Also includes Sekonic L-164 Marine Meter II (depth rated to 180 ft).
• Spray Deflector Spray deflecting air knives built into matte box to prevent water drops on lens. Includes internal defogging system. Optional accessory for splashbags.
• GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) Class A ground fault circuit interrupters for electrical safety when using AC power near water. Includes 120V-20A GFCI, Daniel Woodhead 120V-20A GFCI, 240V-30A GFCI, and Bender 120V-100A GFCI models. Integrated into lighting systems to meet UL 1573 and CE standards.
• Studio and Handheld Splashbags Professional splashbags for surface use with dry-suit type zippers. Studio Splashbag available in two lengths (for primes/short zooms and longer lenses), mounts on ARRI style Sliding Dovetail Plate and Bridge Plate. Handheld Splashbag (Mini HH for ARRI Mini; Universal HH for wider camera variety) is smaller and lighter, not submersible, for surface use only.

Quantifiable outcome

• Technical Achievement Award recipient from Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, regional and flagship.

• ARRI Rental (UK, Germany)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorARRI Rental stocks HydroFlex underwater equipment at their London, UK and Munich, Germany locations. ARRI Rental is a major equipment rental house serving the European film production market with HydroFlex underwater camera housings.
• Panavision (Canada)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPanavision locations in Toronto and Vancouver, Canada carry HydroFlex equipment for underwater cinematography rentals in the Canadian market.
• Air Sea Land (New York)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAir Sea Land in Astoria, New York stocks HydroFlex underwater camera housings, lighting and splashbags for East Coast productions.
• Cinemoves (Georgia)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCinemoves in Atlanta, Georgia is an authorized HydroFlex agent serving the Southeast US market.
• Sanwa Cine Rental (Japan)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSanwa Cine Rental in Tokyo, Japan represents HydroFlex in the Asian market, providing underwater equipment rentals for Japanese productions.
• Media Film Service (South Africa)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedia Film Service in Cape Town, South Africa stocks HydroFlex underwater camera housings and splashbags for the African market.
• Aquacam (Australia)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAquacam on the Gold Coast, Queensland represents HydroFlex in the Australian market for underwater film equipment rentals.
• CineNautic (Brazil)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCineNautic in Sao Paulo, Brazil represents HydroFlex for South American productions needing underwater cinematography equipment.
• NASAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA uses HydroFlex 4000W HydroPar HMI for astronaut training at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, simulating lunar lighting conditions. This represents a unique government research application of HydroFlex technology.
• Baja Studio (Mexico)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaja Studio in Rosarito, Mexico has extensive underwater tanks (including a 600x600 ft outdoor tank rated to 40 ft depth) used for major film productions that utilize HydroFlex equipment.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gates Underwater Products: Gates designs and manufactures professional underwater camera housings for cinema and broadcast applications, competing directly with HydroFlex's RemoteAquaCam line across major camera platforms including ARRI and RED systems.
• Nauticam: Nauticam manufactures high-end underwater camera housings for cinema, broadcast, and professional photography, with deep compatibility across ARRI, Sony, RED, and Canon cinema cameras directly overlapping HydroFlex's housing portfolio.
• Kino Flo Lighting Systems: Kino Flo manufactures professional film and television lighting including flicker-free fluorescent ballasts used in HydroFlex's HydroFlo systems; the companies co-develop and integrate products across the same professional lighting customer base.
• Aquatica: Aquatica produces professional underwater camera housings for cinema and digital cameras, competing head-to-head with HydroFlex across the same ARRI, RED, and Sony camera platforms in the film production rental market.

Broad incumbents

• Keslow Camera: Keslow Camera is a major US-based cinema equipment rental house offering cameras, lighting, and accessories for high-end productions, an adjacent incumbent that occasionally enters specialized cinematography equipment including underwater work.
• ARRI Rental: ARRI Rental is a major global cinema equipment rental house and a stocking channel partner for HydroFlex; the company also develops its own underwater solutions and represents a broad incumbent competitor with significantly larger scale.
• Panavision: Panavision is a dominant cinema equipment manufacturer and rental house that distributes HydroFlex through its Canadian locations while also developing its own specialized cinematography accessories, including underwater-related solutions.

Emerging players

• Ikelite: Ikelite manufactures underwater camera housings and strobes primarily for the diving and underwater photography market, with a smaller footprint in cinema but overlapping product architecture including the housings HydroFlex modifies for Sony mirrorless cameras.
• Light & Motion: Light & Motion produces professional underwater lighting and dive lights, partially overlapping with HydroFlex's lighting products while also serving scientific, broadcast, and underwater photography segments beyond cinema.
• Outex: Outex makes universal waterproof camera enclosures for DSLR and mirrorless cameras and is distributed as part of HydroFlex's accessory catalog; it competes in a more accessible tier of underwater and splash protection than HydroFlex's professional cinema housings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hydroflex-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hydroflex