The actor Manuel, who had appeared in Méliès's 1906 drama "A Desperate Crime" and who would go on to direct some films for Méliès's studio in 1908, plays Yves the fisherman; the chorus of naiads are played by dancers from the Théâtre du Châtelet. The ballet in the film was choreographed by Madame Stitchel, the director of the Châtelet "corps de ballet"; Stitchel also choreographed dances for other Méliès films, including "The Chimney Sweep". Méliès's design for the film includes cut-out sea animals patterned after Alphonse de Neuville's illustrations for Verne's novel.