“In the Heart of the Sea” was filmed mainly in the UK and the Canary Islands, with studio work in England and ocean scenes around Spain’s volcanic coasts.

Main Filming Locations

  • Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, England – Large water tanks, ship sets, and storm sequences were shot here, including a gimbal-mounted deck used to simulate violent ocean movement.
  • London, England, UK – Additional studio and interior work, including period sets and harbor-related scenes, was completed in and around London.

Canary Islands (Spain) Locations

  • La Gomera, Canary Islands – Key open-sea and coastal shots were filmed off La Gomera, which doubled for 1820s Pacific and South American waters thanks to its calm seas and dramatic coastlines.
  • Lanzarote, Canary Islands – Ocean and coastline scenes used Lanzarote, including areas like Alegranza in the Chinijo Archipelago and Charco de los Clicos, to capture stark volcanic backdrops.

Quick HTML Table of Locations

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<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Location</th>
      <th>Region / Country</th>
      <th>How it was used</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden</td>
      <td>Hertfordshire, England, UK</td>
      <td>Tank work, storm scenes, ship sets and interiors for the whaling vessel sequences.[web:5][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>London</td>
      <td>England, UK</td>
      <td>Studio work and additional interiors/exteriors for period harbor and city scenes.[web:1][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>La Gomera</td>
      <td>Canary Islands, Spain</td>
      <td>Open-ocean and coastline shots doubling for Pacific and Ecuadorian waters; base at Playa Santiago.[web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Lanzarote & Alegranza</td>
      <td>Canary Islands, Spain</td>
      <td>Seafaring sequences and rugged volcanic coastlines, including Chinijo Archipelago and Charco de los Clicos.[web:5][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Extra Context

  • The Canary Islands were chosen for their reliable weather, cinematic light, and ability to pass for remote Pacific waters in the early 1800s.
  • Large-scale water and storm scenes relied on controlled studio environments in Leavesden to safely create towering waves and harsh weather, blending with location footage for a seamless look.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.