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 PC or Mac computers. 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 or Final Cut 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 availablity.

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:

-paid work opportunities in up to 5 different scuba centers associated with Oceans Below to help fund your active social life on the island. The location is the perfect place for you to stay and enjoy your Video Training Internship. With white sand beaches, a comfortable mix of Thai and Western culture and a laid-back atmosphere, Koh Tao has everything for the underwater adventurer!

-continued Education and skill development. Quite simply, diving and filming as much as possible. 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 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 PADI Divemaster Training Course or even the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) before the start (or even during) 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 approximate length of the internship is 4 weeks, depending on customer numbers and the season. However, this schedule can be extended to fit your itinerary and needs. Oceans Below will give you as many opportunities as possible to gain experience.

Oceans Below Underwater Video Training Update: New Course Begins

Written by Elisabeth

Wednesday, 22 July 2009 15:27

Two days ago our new underwater video interns, Stuart and Scott, started their 2 week BSAC Underwater Videography course with Oceans Below. They were both itching to get out in the water around Koh Tao and get wet, so yesterday we took them in the afternoon on the Simple Life Divers boat to Chumphon Pinnacle and Twins to have their first try at filming underwater. After we briefed them on the dive site, they got a full explanation on how to film under water; shot lengths, camera movement and white balance.

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Aidy on the boat with Stuart and Scott

We had a beautiful first dive and they both looked like pros in the water! The batfish are back on the pinnacle so we spent the last couple of minutes trying to capture their best side on film. For the second dive we moved the boat to Twins where we did some buoyancy skills in the sand with the camera before enjoying the dive site.

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Stuart getting the feel of the camera and housing

Since Twins is such a great Open Water course training site, we spent a lot of time giving them a thorough orientation to the area and pointing out where to find all of the interesting stuff to film. After a great dive we came back up and both of them agreed that underwater filming looks easier than it seems! Later as we viewed their footage I had to admit, that they both have a knack for it. Today we’re introducing the editing software and hopefully we get to see tonight what the result is of their first edit. Good luck boys, now you're off and running!