2 week videography training and internship

Train to become a BSAC Professional HD Underwater Videographer on Koh Tao, Thailand

Underwater videography course Thailand

2 Week BSAC Pro HD Underwater Video Training

Become an underwater videographer in one of Asia's top dive destinations! While you are living on the beautiful island of Koh Tao, you will be trained to capture the stunning underwater world. Oceans Below will provide you with all of the skills and equipment needed to produce professional HD underwater videos. Your training will include the use of high-quality HD video cameras, Gates and Aquatica Underwater Housings, and Adobe software. Join our highly experienced team of professionals for the 2-week BSAC Pro HD Underwater Video Training program.

You must be a certified PADI Rescue Diver (or equivalent) with 50+ logged dives It is possible to add on the scuba training courses before the start of the Pro HD Underwater Videographer Training if you have no prior dive experience. Oceans Below can organize your dive training and accommodation through Koh Tao’s Premiere 5-Star IDC Center.

2 week video training

Get hands-on experience in the making of top-quality underwater movies. Learn to shoot everything from the biggest fish in the world, to the smallest shrimp, using full manual camera controls for that perfect image(white balance, focus, exposure, lighting, and zoom) edit your movies on Adobe Premiere Pro.

Instructor and student with the HD cameras

Available Dates

The Pro HD Underwater videographer Training Course is available year-round. We only take 2 people per course to ensure that each trainee gets lots of personalized attention throughout the course. We begin a course at the start and at the middle of each month. These courses usually are booked at least a few months in advance, so make sure you check in with us prior to traveling to check the availability.

The best time of year for a chance to see Whalesharks is close to the monsoon period, so April/May and September/October/November are the best months. However, they can turn up anytime. May to February are the best months to get close encounters with the Bull Sharks. April, May and June are the easiest months to spot Green and Hawksbill turtles. Throughout the year you’ll see Moray Eels, Stingrays, Scorpion Fish, Octopus, Sea Snakes, Boxfish, Jacks, Groupers, etc...

Health Requirements for underwater videographers

If you are looking to participate in this program you need to ensure that you are reasonably fit and free from any conditions that may prevent from or be a danger to you while diving. Before coming to Thailand, it is best to consult your doctor and get a signed Medical Statement.

Underwater videographer training Thailand

2 Week Underwater Video Internship (only available after the 2 week BSAC Pro course)

Once you have completed your training, you will have the option to follow one, or both of the following:

-learning to produce souvenir videos for divers. Film and edit a movie to music telling the story of the diver's day trip. By the end of this internship you'll have gained all the skills and knowledge to be successfully employed in the field.

-continued Education and skill development. Quite simply, diving and filming to produce your own short documentary. Diving away from the main student dive sites and so avoiding the crowds, spending 45 minutes filming a seahorse to get that perfect shot. Or head out to the dive sites that the big student boats can't reach, Sam Ran pinnacle, Sail Rock, Hot spots to shoot the big stuff.For this course we will be using the Goodtime Adventures speedboat so we have no time restrictions and can get to any dive site in a matter of minutes.

Goodtime Adventures speedboat

You must be a certified BSAC Sports diver or PADI Rescue Diver (or equivalent) with 50+ logged dives. Being a competent scuba diver is critical as you will be filming PADI Instructors with students in training and you will be expected to look after yourself underwater. It is possible to add on the BSAC Dive Leader or PADI Divemaster Training Course or even the BSAC Open Water Instructor Course or PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) before or after the Underwater Videographer Internship.

Available Dates

The Video Internship is available year-round. You may begin any time after your 2-week Video Training Course. The length of the internship is 2 weeks. Oceans Below will give you as many opportunities as possible to gain experience.

Jason Settles into life as a Professional Underwater Videographer!

Written by Jason

Thursday, 02 September 2010 15:43

I can't believe that I've already finished five Open Water Course videos since my paid video internship with Oceans Below began!

It feels like I just touched the tip of the iceberg of underwater video despite the immense ammount of knowledge that my Professional Underwater Video Trainers Aidy, Elizabeth and the brownie-loving Autumn have given me these past 6 weeks. Since I arrived on Koh Tao, I've felt right at home with the Oceans Below team who have extreme humor, patience and dedication (or obsession?) to underwater videography. I couldn't be more happy working with anyone. Anywhere.

whaleshark-oceans-below-koh-tao-training
Jason films his 1st-ever Whaleshark while working with us...

While doing my BSAC Pro HD Underwater Video course, I had the pleasure to film tons of little creatures such as gobies and tiny little shrimp, a variety of corals and lots of fish. The work involved with macro-videography is a time-consuming addiction you just can't get enough of, and once you start you just can't stop. On the flip side, I also had the good fortune of grabbing beautiful footage of a whaleshark that swam by Chumphon Pinnacle the other day. This was a mind blowing experience that I am still in shock of to this day! Going for a dive without a camera just isn't the same anymore.

As for the island, what place could be more perfect than Koh Tao? To my surprise, you can do nearly anything and get everything here- ranging from finding Gruyere Cheese from Switzerland to taking Trapeze classes taught by world class artists just down the road from the Video Studio. You can also go to the depths of the ocean via scuba diving or rock-climb up to the scenic heights of Koh Tao. The food is scrumptious everywhere you go (especially the Looking Glass brownies, just ask Autumn about it!), the people are really friendly and the scenery is amazing. Good thing Oceans Below helped me get that 1-year visa so that I can enjoy my time here in paradise!