Owners | | | |
Elisabeth Lauwerys [Cameraman & Video Training Coordinator] Elisabeth, one of the founders of Oceans Below, is an experienced PADI & BSAC Instructor who has been living and working on Koh Tao for 8 years. Her drive has seen the company rise to the very top of the industry. She began her underwater video career filming freedivers at the island’s only freediving academy, Apnea Total, and is an accomplished freediver. She has written the BSAC Professional HD Underwater Videographer Manual and is an experienced photographer and cameraman. Elisabeth teaches Oceans Below's Advanced Broadcast Documentary Filmmaker Course with the SONY EX1R. |  |  |  |
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Aidy Kaye [Cameraman & Video Training Coordinator]Aidy, Oceans Below's co-founder, has been on the island for 10 years and is also an experienced PADI & BSAC Instructor. His expertise in IT and his proficiency in editing programs form the backbone of Oceans Below. He has been working as a videographer and trainer for close to 8 years on Koh Tao and has developed great skills as a cameraman and photographer. His expertise in the various editing programs helps to give Oceans Below productions their characteristic style. | |  | |
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Staff | | | |
Autumn [Professional Underwater Video Trainer]A.K.A 'The Automater' joined The Team in February 2010. She had a couple of years experience filming customers at The Film Company on Koh Tao prior to joining us. Autumn did her BSAC Instructor course followed by the Underwater Videographer Trainer Course with us and became quickly everyone's "sweetheart" in The Company. Her passion and enthusiasm for underwater filming is contagious, and she has a real penchant for finding turtles on Koh Tao's dive sites. When she's not in the water or in the Oceans Below classroom, you can find Autumn practicing her dance moves at one of the island's beach bars! | |  | |
John [Pro underwater videographer & Staff coordinator]'John Boy' has been on Koh Tao since the island was a political prison in the 1940's and has spent many years filming its underwater attractions. His experience as a Dive Instructor and the fact that he knows most everyone on the island particularly suits him to be Our Staff Coordinator and general 'Go-To' Guy. | |  | |
Cecile [Professional Underwater Videographer] Cecile joined The Team in December of 2006 and her consistency and professionalism is a valued asset to The Company. Her easy smile and open heart make her a joy to have around despite the fact that she speaks a totally incomprehensible and at times annoying language. She once owned and operated a successful events and marketing company in Paris which she recently sold, allowing her to spend her days slumming on the island with us mere peasants while not really having to get her hands dirty. In her spare time she likes to “…eat cake.” | |  | |
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Rudey [Professional Underwater Videographer] After loitering on Koh Tao for a year, Rudey one day had an epiphany. Soon she was on track to becoming one of Our favorite videographers. With her positive attitude and chatty personality, 'The Rude One' was perfect for the job! Never one for industry, she's now one year into her Divemaster Course and close to being halfway done. But at least she's not a quitter! | |  | |
Ben [Professional Underwater Videographer] | |  | |
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Former staff | | | |
Amber [Professional Underwater Videographer & Staff coordinator]Amber came to Koh Tao a few years back to train as a PADI Divemaster only to discover that her true passion lay in underwater videography. She worked at Oceans Below for nearly 2 years and was one of the most talented and dependable members of The Team. She currently moves between England and Australia working as a fashion photographer. | |  | |
Jen [Professional Underwater Videographer]Jen came to Us as Jenny, but as we already had one of those, she was made to change her name to Jen. Originally from the UK, Jen lived on Koh Tao about 7 years ago working as an instructor at New Way Diving. She then left to explore the water of the Philippines where she worked before coming to Oceans Below to do her video training. Born with itchy feet, she's now traveling Asia and last we heard, working in Vietnam... | |  | |
Hiroshi [Professional Underwater Videographer]Hiroshi from Maui, joined our team full-time in September 2009 and with Oceans Below's guidance his skills developed tremendously. With his gentle demeanor and understated wit, he slotted into the shop seamlessly and he gained our affection and respect from day 1. His artistic talents, creativity and nearly flawless editing abilities resulted in some great movies. Hiroshi trained religiously in Koh Tao's Monsoon Gym and Muay Thai camp and was once the designated bodyguard and paparazzi man-handler to all of the Oceans Below staff. | |  | |
Gill [Professional Underwater Videographer]Our newest member of staff, Gill is easily one of the most popular, positive and outgoing of the fulltime Oceans Below Team. Gill is a natural people-person whose movies are continually improving. She came to us from filming at the the island's Flying Trapeze Adventure where she filmed the local dare-devils. She's soon off to study further pointless circus arts (lion-taming, miniature bike-riding and sword-swallowing) before she returns to take up her position with us in January 2010. | |  | |
Henrik [Professional Underwater Videographer] | |  | |
Jenny [Professional Underwater Videographer]After her BSAC training and Internship Jenny stayed another 5 months working for us as an underwater videographer filming Open Water students. Jenny is hugely talented and has since returned to Sweden to pursue a career as a professional photographer. She has plans to return to Koh Tao to help us out in the future and we look forward to her return. | |  | |
Jason [Professional Underwater Videographer] Jason joined The Team in August of 2010 and he proved to be the right person for the job. Jason 's professional behavior, fantastic dive skills and his big smile were a huge asset to The Company. He was focusing on specialized movies for Apnea Total- the island's freediving academy- and spends his free time holding his breath and inhaling brownies from Alice's bakery. | |  | |
