When Jean-Jacques Mantello is deep below the surface of the waters surrounding the Azores archipelago, shooting his visually arresting films about sea life, he often can’t stop to look around at the ocean’s blue beauty.

The Frenchman is wondering how his images are framed. There’s bit of a fear factor. He’s lugging around a lot of fancy equipment.

There are many technical considerations in an undertaking the size of “Dolphins and Whales 3D,” opening Friday at the Tulsa Cinemark IMAX.

When Mantello is swimming beside the world’s largest animals, his view is far different from that of tourists watching whales from the safe, sunny deck of a yachting adventure.

“Those people on a nice boat, with calm seas, and a nice drink — that sounds nice,” he said, chuckling during a recent phone interview.

“The reality for me is that you have rough seas, very crappy boats, and you don’t drink that cold water, and whales don’t show up every five minutes.”

“Dolphins and Whales” is the third time Mantello has directed an underwater IMAX film. “Ocean Wonderland” explored the sights of the Great Barrier Reef, while “Sharks 3D” offered close-up views of the “lions and tigers of the ocean.”

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