It seems like not so long ago, I was writing articles about our office expansion in Koh Tao's Sairee Plaza. Well, once again we find ourselves outgrowing our office space here and we've decided to construct our own custom building on some land the company owns on a hill behind Sairee Beach.

Only a month after making the decision, the building is looking like it will be finished soon! The new Oceans Below office will be built on three levels, with the top level set up for underwater camera/housing maintenance and prep area. We've also designed a kitchen area  here for the staff and video trainees.

The next level will house the editing suite where they can all create and edit their HD underwater videos. This part of the office looks straight out onto an amazing banyan tree which has grown around a huge rock. The lowest level, near the entrance will be Elisabeth and my office which overlooks the tree to one side, and the other side up to the hills across the valley. It's a stunning scene, sure to inspire the staff for some great Underwater videos! As you can imagine, we are quite anxious to get moved in.

Tree of Inspiration...?

The new office is taking shape...

This month also has seen the promotion of one of our staff members. Autumn, who has been filming the PADI and SSI open water courses for us, and before that she worked with the film company in Bans Dive Resort, was ready for a change in life and work. Conveniently, we were ready to train and take on another BSAC HD Underwater Video Instructor. We felt that Autumn had the qualities we look for in our trainers.

Autumn, at work underwater.

And in the office.

Over the last few months or so she committed to crossing over from PADI Divemaster to BSAC Diveleader, completed her BSAC Instructor course and has been diligently assisting on our Pro HD Video courses and internships. She's definitely paid her dues and has worked hard for her reward. Since getting started, Autumn has proved to us time and time again that she was definitely the right choice for the job. Thanks Autumn, for all you hard work and dedication to the Oceans Below team!

So with a new instructor, a new office, and new cameras on the way, Oceans Below's Pro HD Underwater Video School is getting set for the start of a great new season...

The crew at Oceans Below have been so busy recently that we've found it hard to find time to update you with the news on all the Koh Tao Underwater Video trainees that have been coming through our doors lately. Our BSAC Professional HD Underwater Video course is gaining more attention each day and we're filling up for this year and many spots are booked through 2011. There are still a few spaces available for this coming season, so anyone who's interested should contact us for more information ASAP.

To update, Bruno and Peter finished their course and video internship and left last month. They worked well together and both had a great time. Their enthusiasm and attention to detail helped them to become great underwater videographers!

Video Trainee, Peter...

Peter came with the intention of using his new Gates housing for the Canon FS10. Unfortunately, the housing had some teething problems, so he ended up completing the underwater video training with one of our Aquatica HD Wave housings for the Sony XR 520. We've got quite a few of these in stock at the moment for use on the courses.

Bruno completed his pro internship and is now working for the video team at Asia Divers on Koh Tao. Hope it all works out, Bruno!

On the wreck at Japanese Garden...

We've also had Cedric and Dominique complete their BSAC Pro HD Underwater Video course, recently. They too  did a great job. Dom, who completed her PADI Divemaster course a few years ago at Crystal Divers Koh Tao, is just in the later stages of her internship. She's now on our the documentary filmmaking internship. For this she will be writing, filming and editing her own short documentary on marine life camouflage. She's already filmed plenty- the only thing now is to try and glue her to an office chair and get the thing edited! What do you think Dom? Finished by June?

Cedric came to us after finishing his PADI Divemaster course at Asia Divers and was with us only for the 2 week BSAC Professional HD Underwater Video course. He certainly left an impression on the office with his great dry project. For those who don't know- during the course, students are asked to make a short dry project over two days. This allows them to learn more about the whole process of producing a film from concept to final product. Cedric already has some training in this area, and it really shows in his video. He chose to make a short film about the local Lady Boy Cabaret on Koh Tao. It was fantastic! Check it out on our YouTube channel.

The sunsets on Koh Tao have been breathtaking latel. So yesterday, Aidy and I organised a drink on the beach with the whole Oceans Below crew. Declan and Steph Have just finished the BSAC Professional HD Underwater Videographer training and will begin the 2-week internship. Today they are out practicing filming an Open Water Course at Scuba Junction, Koh Tao. We wish them the best of luck!

The Team at Vibe Bar for sunset drinks...

We also would like to welcome Autumn to our team! She is now doing the 2-month Video Instructor Development Course. She will be ready to start teaching our BSAC Professional HD Video courses in July.

Mikeala and Riccardo have recently completed their underwater videography internship, and are still on standby for the occasional job until they leave the island.

Peter and Bruno are one week into the BSAC video training and are already loving it! They have been out 4 times with the HD cameras and have managed to come back with some amazing footage of the 2 Eagle Rays that are hanging out at Japanese Garden.

Eric is still on his PADI Divemaster Course with Scuba Junction and will rejoin us soon to begin his internship. Meanwhile he has been very helpful with the BSAC photoshoot, the PADI photoshoot and the a job at the Island Muay Thai Training Camp which Oceans Below was commissioned to do.  We want to keep hold of him as he is an absolutely brilliant photographer!

Also at Vibe bar for the sunset drinks, was the rest of the Oceans Below team- Jen, Jenny and Cat. They've been very busy taking care of the Open Water course student videos at Koh Tao Easy Divers, Simple Life Divers, Scuba Junction and Seashell.

As a special thanks to all of our loyal Koh Tao dive centers and customers, Oceans Below organized a massive barbecue at Vibe  Bar on Sairee Beach on the 17th. Attending were most of the staff and Divemaster trainees from Koh Tao Easy Divers, Simple Life Divers, Seashell Dive Resort and our newest dive partner- Scuba Junction.

Massive Dave- always good value for money...

Dave and Therese cooked up burgers and sausages for 160 of Oceans Below's closest friends and business partners and we all enjoyed a few cold drinks on a beautiful, warm February night on the beach. Also attending were the crews from Thailand Gap Internships, Good Time Adventures, BSAC Thailand and All for Diving who've been hugely supportive of Oceans Below over the years. The professional underwater videographers and HD video interns of our own shop rounded out the guest list.

Therese- Everyone's favorite barkeeper!

The Crew from Good Time Adventures

A lot of individuals and companies have contributed to the amazing success of Oceans Below and we wanted to show our appreciation! The business of underwater video production in Thailand is never easy, always exciting, but without our network of dive schools, videographers and friends, we'd have a much harder time of it. Thanks again, Koh Tao, for your continued support!

At Oceans Below, we're always on the look out for ways to improve our service and facilities. We have long been associated with first class dive resorts on Koh Tao such as Koh Tao Easy Divers, Sea Shell Divers, Siam Scuba, and Simple Life Dive Resort.

We have recently teamed up with Good Time Adventures who have a fantastic long-hulled speed boat that allows us to access any of Koh Tao's dive sites in a matter of minutes, and to run trips at 'off-hours' when we're sure to have the sites to ourselves. We've also joined ranks with 'The Film Company' operating out of Bans Dive Resort, and are now supplying them with videographers to film their resort videos. This is a great opportunity for our trainees to get paid work after our BSAC Professional HD Underwater Video Internship!

Now, we're happy to announce our newest partnership on Koh Tao... Scuba Junction, who are one of  Koh Tao's oldest, most professional, and most recognized dive centres, teaching both PADI & SSI courses, will now be working together with Oceans Below! We're looking forward to employing their staff and facilities in the training of our video students to get the prerequisite skills to join our courses. We'll also be sending our staff out to film their students with an eye towards promoting the dive shop and allowing their students to leave with souvenir DVD's of their dive experience on Koh Tao.

The shop is conveniently located just a few minutes walk from the Oceans Below studio, and situated right in the middle of Sairee Beach.

So now, our videography staff and BSAC Underwater Video students can walk from Oceans Below to the beach, hop on the Scuba Junction long tail boat and get taken to their dive boat- The Manta Ray- in no time at all. Underwater Video training in Thailand couldn't be easier!

We REALLY look forward to working with Scuba Junction!

As a way of welcoming Scuba Junction into the fold, we'll invite them and all of the staff from our existing dive centres for a big barbecue at Vibe Bar on Sairee Beach on the 17th! Welcome aboard!!!

At Oceans Below we've long been specializing in teaching Professional Underwater Video training in Thailand, focusing on the use of full manual controls on HD video cameras and underwater housings. Our trainees normally then progress on to an internship program. But we also teach underwater photography from time-to-time.

A few days ago, one of our trainees found out he had to postpone his BSAC Pro HD Video course at short notice which allowed us an opportunity to fit in a 2 day underwater photography course. I ended up teaching to a lovely couple who had just finished their PADI Advanced Open Water course at Koh Tao Easy Divers. It was a pleasure to teach two people who were so interested in what they were doing. They listened and learned and got more and more hooked on underwater cameras and photography as the days passed. I find it really rewarding to see complete beginners develop so fast! Their results were fantastic- I think the results speak for themselves...

Hard to believe- all thse photos were taken by relatively new divers after only 2 days of training with Oceans Below!

One of the first questions we tend to get asked when a new student starts their BSAC Professional HD Underwater Video course is, "If I decide to do the customer filming internship as opposed to the documentary-style internship, will I be able to find work on the island afterwards?"

How about this for a job...?

Up until now, Oceans Below has been doing well with finding work for our trainees. We do the best that we can to keep them busy at the many shops that we represent, but there's oftentimes more applicants than jobs. We've been able to find fulltime positions for our trainees in dive centers such as Buddha View Dive Resort, Davy Jones Locker, Asia Divers, and Island Dive Club as well as the positions that we have with Scuba Junction, Easy Divers, Simple Life Divers and Seashell.

This look like work to you?

But as of now, things should be even easier. Anyone who comes to do their underwater video training in Thailand with us and then chooses to do the paid vdo internship, will be welcome to film resort videos for The Film Company at one of Asia's most successful dive centers.

How do you reckon he deals with so much stress?

This is an amazing opportunity for our new interns to start making their investment back from the pro video course as soon as they have completed an internship with us, and to join the ranks of professional divers who have, quite possibly, one of the best jobs in the world!

We look forward to working closely with the crew from The Film Company in the future and we're sure to see our new underwater videographers thrive...

Oceans Below Koh Tao starts the new year with lots of new projects! The BSAC Professional HD Underwater Video manual goes to print this month. We can't wait to see the final product of all our efforts. Aidy did the graphics, I wrote all the text and Darius edited the whole manual! The photos for the BSAC photo shoot that Aidy and I took will soon be featured on big banners across the country to help promote their services. And the official launch of the new BSAC video course will be in March (though we've been conducting these programs for some time now).
 
On the 31st I took Alvin and Simon out for the last dives of their Pro Video Internship. We went to film the Bull Sharks at Chumphon Pinnacle. Away from the site, we found no less than 15 massive Bull Sharks swimming around us! Chris 'The Boy' from Koh Tao Easy Divers joined us with a still camera and we all got great underwater footage and photos!

Alvin finished his showreel in the afternoon and left on the 1st to return to Sipadan where he works as a Divemaster. He's planning on investing in an Aquatica HD Wave underwater video housing and a camera soon so that he can film the magnificent marine life off of Borneo. Simon will stick around for a few more days to complete his DM course with Crystal Divers. We'll be sure to upload their work on youtube in the coming days for all to see!

Big Bull Shark at Chumpon Pinnacle


Hermit Crab at White Rock...

On New Years Eve most of the Oceans Below staff and trainees gathered together at Vibe for drinks until midnight before spreading out on the beach. Everyone had a great night and made resolutions to never drink again!

A few days ago Oceans Below organized a celebration at Dragon Bar in Mae Haad for our staff, underwater video trainees and Koh Tao Easy Divers. As our regular venue for screening movies is undergoing remodeling, we wanted to introduce our people to the new place and to show our appreciation to our loyal partners at Easy Divers.   We started early, took care of some snacks and  Craig started us all off with his famous Dragonfly cocktails as a welcome drink.

Underwater Video Staff Just warming up...

Though it's been here for sometime, for some reason we haven't been at Dragon Bar much lately and it was nice to be back. It's easily the nicest, most cosmopolitan place on the island and we're enjoying our new arrangement.

Pro HD Video Interns Alvin and Simon (aka the Chipmunks)

Even Hiroshi showed up after some convincing. He's just finishing up his Dive Instructor course and is studying hard for the PADI Instructor Exam. Longtime HD Underwater Videographer, Cecile, is also back on the island and we've gotten her filming open water movies straight away.

The team...

All in all it was a great night thanks to Craig and all the great staff at Dragon Bar!

With such beautiful weather and great conditions for Koh Tao's "monsoon season", Aidy and I have decided to take the opportunity to get out diving as much as possible before the high season kicks in next month. We're really enjoying filming underwater with the new Aquatica HD Wave housings and are lucky to be encountering some great subjects underwater.

Spotless Lionfish...

Yesterday, we were out on the New Way Divers boat at Chumphon Pinnacle- one of Koh Tao's favorite deep dive sites. The east side of the pinnacle was super-clear all the way to the bottom (34m). I spotted 1 big Bull Shark cruising the area, a Giant Trevally on the prowl, 2 feisty Malabar Groupers and the Spotless Firefish (or Lionfish) we were looking for! We definitely came back with some nice HD footage.

 
If I call this Pleurobranchus forskalii, does that make me sound smart?

For the second dive we went to Twins for some more muck diving. While I was trying to get a good close up shot of the seahorses, Aidy came back to find me and showed me a Pleurobranchus forskalii. It seems that new marine life is showing up in these waters almost daily. Speaking on behalf of the Pro Video team at Oceans Below, I'd like to give a big "Welcome to Koh Tao!" to all our new immigrants...

This morning Andrea, who has now long finished her BSAC Professional Underwater Video course as well as the full paid internship, went out diving with my girlfriend Delphine and me to Chumphon Pinnacle in search of the Bull Sharks.

Everything went to plan. We were diving off the the Koh Tao Easy Divers boat and reached the site bright and early. As we jumped in and dropped down over the main pinnacle, we slowly made our way along the west side of the site, swimming on to Barracuda Rock. Just as we came around the west end of the rock, straight in front of us were three big, female Bulls just circling. The biggest was close enough to 3 meters long! Beautiful!


Bull Sharks are back at Chumpon Pinnacle

Andrea has just bought an Aquatica Wave underwater housing for her camera and was lucky enough to have it pointing in the right direction as we moved closer. It was a great dive. I'm so happy to see these majestic creatures back in our waters. On the way back to Koh Tao, we stopped in at White Rock for the second dive. I was lucky enough to find a Jenkins Whip-ray that seemed to like nothing more than swimming around and performing for the camera. It was a perfect end to a great morning's filming!


Jenkins Whip-ray on White Rock

The Pro Video team at Oceans Below is happy to announce the return of the Bull Sharks to the waters of Koh Tao. Darius, who's been here for 11 years can remember a time when it was unheard of to see Bull Sharks around Thailand, but about 8 years ago, they suddenly showed up and have been around off-and-on periodically, since then. They move to deeper waters to breed, but the last time they were spotted was about a year and a half ago, leading some to think they may have been caught by fisherman to support the barbaric shark fin soup industry.


Photo by Jenny O'Flanagan

Some of us were here when they initially came and we were involved in a big debate about whether they were, in fact, Bull Sharks. That debate was settled a few years back when pictures were submitted to a few different shark experts from around the world and it was confirmed.

Now they're back and Open Water students, Divemasters, Instructors and of course the Videographers on Koh Tao are excited to get in the water at Chumpon Pinnacle. Filming these sleek bad boys underwater is a thrilling experience and we hope they stick around! They offer so much to our movies and the general mood around the video studio is lifted whenever we get some footage of these amazing creatures.

Hopefully, they'll be here for awhile as we'll be welcoming 4 new BSAC Professional Underwater Video Trainees in the month of December. So if you're reading guys, get ready for some of the coolest, most heart-thumping dives ever during your internship!

Aidy and I want to thank the many that replied to our post asking for help identifying the odd little fish that has turned up in the waters around Koh Tao! Yesterday, while out diving with Pro Underwater Video Trainee Andrea, we again stumbled upon the little guy- a juvenile Painted  (a.k.a Silver) Sweetlips. This time he was spotted in Mango Bay, one of the most idyllic bays in the Gulf of Thailand, where recently we've found lots of Estuarian Seahorses, some very active Devil Scorpionfish and many other little creatures roaming the sand.

A better photo of Koh Tao's newest resident...

Since this time we knew what we were filming we tried to get good close up shots of the juvenile Silver Sweetlips.


A longer term resident...

We were out with the new Sony AVCHD cameras and Aquatica underwater housings and worked especially on adjusting white balance, close up shots and manual focus. Pro Video Trainee, Andrea, has finished her BSAC Professional Underwater Videographer Course and started her Internship, but still enjoys the fun dives we do in between jobs to practise more filming in HD and getting the perfect shot. The divers on the island are looking forward to some better weather now that the effects of typhoon Ketsana seem to have dissipated and we're back to blue skies and flat seas!

Oceans Below's latest Pro Video trainee, Andrea, writes of her experiences only a week into her 2-week program. Afterwards, she'll remain on Koh Tao to complete her internship where she'll be filming in the various dive shops along with our full time staff...

Halfway, But More Than Half Full!

"Well, here I am less than half way through my Underwater Videography course and already yesterday I was able to film and edit an entire piece in one day! I can't believe the arc of this learning curve! Fantastic!

I owe it all to the amazingly efficient tutelage of Aidy, who has whizzed me through the many different tried and true shots and shown me all the speediest ways to handle a professional edit. How great is it to be learning so many years of knowledge in such a short time? I'll be up and running as a professional in no time! It is so inspiring to be learning from individuals who are so passionate about their craft. When I am out diving with Aidy, I can see how interested and excited he is about filming, he can barely wait to get back to the office to see what we managed to capture.

Videographer filming a Videographer on the wreck at Tanote Bay!

This type of attitude is contagious, you can't help but be excited about the whole process. It's the coolest feeling to see a finished project and know that you did it. Wow!"

trainee page

The Marine Conservation Branch of the local environmental action group, Save Koh Tao, recently held a photo competition open to all Koh Tao residents. The team from Oceans Below did exceptionally well with our Pro Video team winning the top 3 spots!

The photos will be printed in the upcoming issue of Sabai Jai magazine and the 2010 edition of the Save Koh Tao Calendar...


Pro Video Trainer Aidy Kaye's 3rd Place photo


Pro Video Staff Angie Kerridge's 2nd place entry


And Aidy's winning shot...

Last week I went out diving with Koh Tao Easy Divers to film on the final day of the PADI Open Water course. We went to Hin Pee Wee which is a fantastic dive site near to White Rock, just to the west of the island. It was in fact my first time diving at Hin Pee Wee. And what a great dive it was!


Gill's Big Green Turtle...

Towards the end of the dive, one of the open water students noticed a big turtle lying on the sand below us. It was a large Green Turtle who let me get in close to film him. I may have disturbed him from his mid-morning nap, but  he was very relaxed and not in the slightest bit concerned with me.  I got some lovely footage of the turtle, and just when we decided it was time to start heading back towards the buoyline, there was much commotion as the students pointed out a second turtle cruising through the water towards us. This one was a Hawksbill Turtle, which gets its name from the fact that its face is beaked. The green turtle in comparison has a rounder face, and is much deeper in the body, growing to a bigger size than the Hawksbill. The Hawksbill swam right past us and I followed it for a while and I managed to get some nice footage of him too. Just another wonderful morning in the Gulf of Thailand!


...and the Hawksbill Turtle...

A few days ago I was out filming a new promotional video for Koh Tao Easy Divers. I took Stuart- who's finishing up his professional underwater videographer internship- along with me to try out Oceans Below's newest toys, the Aquatica HD Wave video housings and Sony HDR-XR500 cameras. We had a nice dive at Japanese Gardens and then moved round to Twins.

After shooting a bunch of underwater shots for the video, we headed off into the sand just north of the dive site itself. We were in search of the sea horses that live out there, as they would be great subjects for a bit of close up HD macro work.

We found the sea horses and spent about 15 minutes filming them. We then swam off north to see what else we could find. After about 10 min of swimming over sand I spotted something moving quite strangely. On closer inspection it turned out to be a fish that I have never seen before. It was moving like a juv sweetlip- dancing around aimlessly- but the long fin on top of its head rules that out. It also did not stay in one spot like a sweetlips would instead flickering all about the place.


Have you seen this fish?

I always love to see something new out there and this is definitely new to me. But I could use some help identifying this little guy. He was only about 10-12 cm or so and it was tough to catch a good close-up shot of him because he just wouldn't sit still! These photos were also from the video camera we had out for a road test rather than the Canon G10's that we use for photography, so the images are a bit grainy, but I'd love to hear from anyone who may have an idea.

Last week I was working with Seashell Divers filming a PADI Open Water course at Chumphon Pinnacle, about a 45 minute boat ride from Koh Tao. The visibility was just perfect and we had a beautiful dive. Towards the end of the dive we decided to head up to 5 metres to do out safety stop.


Oceans Below Videographer Gill filmed this odd couple at Chumpon Pinnacle

While the students were hanging on the buoyline, I noticed a big jellyfish swimming along about 3 metres below the surface. I quickly swam over with the camera and began to film it. Then I noticed that inside the jellyfish (on the underside where the tentacles are) was a big crab! At first I thought that the crab was dead and had been killed by the jellyfish. But then the crab crawled out and began walking around on the top on the jellyfish! It was an amazing thing to see, especially so near the surface. There were also many other tiny fish swimming in very close to the jellyfish so I guess its quite a social place to be!

Seeing such cool stuff on a daily basis is just another reason that I think that working as an underwater videographer has got to be the best job in the world!

It seems like just yesterday that I arrived here on Koh Tao. But my time here has now come and gone...

Doing the Underwater Videography Course on Koh Tao has by far been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Everyone at Oceans Below has been a huge help and a lot of fun (up until the last night on the island of course- they know what I'm talking about!). I will never forget the stories or experiences I have had. I also hope to return back to the island as soon as possible, and bring others to do their training and internship, as well. I came here with a background in video, and I never thought I would feel so uncomfortable with a camera in my hands as I first did underwater. But Aidy and Elisabeth were a great help and taught me a lot to improve. After two months of diving and filming, I think I have come a long way.


Scott, a legend...

So this is farewell to everyone at Oceans Below. At least now I won't have to deal with Elisabeth waking me up all the time and Aidy worrying that I will walk out with a camera and never see me again. And they won't have to deal with me... whether that's a good or a bad thing, I don't know. The office will definitely be a lot less American in my absence! Thanks a lot guys.

trainee page

Nassos on Koh Tao

Nassos, a PADI Dive Instructor from Greece, completed his underwater videography course and internship with Oceans Below in March and April of this year. He's now back to work diving at home and is actively using the knowledge and skills he gained with us on Koh Tao. Following is the feedback form about his time diving and training with us in Thailand:
 
What University course did you study?
I studied  Business Administration at Boston University in the States (1992-1997).

How long have you been working and what was your job before coming to Koh Tao?
After graduation, I worked for a couple of years in travel and tourism and then in the hotel industry. For the past 7 years I've been working in scuba diving.

How does the content of the Oceans Below videography training compare with what you learned at University and your past work experiences?
In university during my business studies, I learned how to make money. With Oceans Below I learned how to make money and enjoy life at the same time. The level of professionalism at both Boston University and Oceans below are quite alike!

What do you plan to do now that you have finished your training and internship with Oceans Below?
After finishing my training with Oceans Below I return to my job which is to work as a diving instructor. However, having done my first steps in videography with Oceans Below I plan to use this knowledge and start filming whenever I do technical dives. I'm well into both deep and cave diving. Recently, one very good technical team approached me about becoming their videographer! I'm starting to think of ideas for a documentary. It may be a bit early at the moment,  but it's definitely at the back of my mind.

Do you think training with Oceans Below helped your future prospects? If so how?
Yes, definitely! I can now combine recreational diving or technical diving with videography and many opportunities are coming up.

Did you show any of your underwater videos to people back at home - colleagues, lecturers? If so, what did they think?
I definitely showed my underwater videos to people back home. Everybody was surprised by the fact that my videos looked quite professional even though I spent just 6 weeks with Oceans Below. A result of good training, I guess...!

What would you say to someone thinking about taking an underwater videography course with Oceans Below?
I would definitely recommend Oceans Below to anybody who's interested in underwater videography. Not only will you learn from motivated and experienced professionals the secrets of underwater video, but you will also be able to apply your skills working in the field and have the opportunity to constantly get constructive feedback.

I will definitely continue filming, because besides the technical knowledge I got from the team at Oceans Below, they also inspired me with their passion. Now I look forward to continuing to develop as an underwater videographer!
 

trainee page 

Every couple of weeks Oceans Below organizes a company dinner for all of the staff and underwater videographer trainees. A few nights ago we decided it was time for another one!  We took the guys to Hippo Restaurant on Sairee Beach where we normally screen the dive videos for one of the shops which we represent- New Way Diving. Hippo is owned by our friends Bear and Liz and serves up, without a doubt,  best steaks on the island!

We were only 6 for dinner this time around since Amber is on holiday until next week and Cat joined us later at Vibe Beach  Bar for a couple of drinks. The 6th was the Full Moon Party on neighboring Koh Phangan and that's where all the backpackers head to before coming over to Koh Tao to complete their PADI Open Water course training. As there were rumors that the party was going to be huge with all the students now taking their summer break and we anticipate a lot of work coming up in the next few weeks, Aidy and I decided to spoil the team a bit!

Koh Tao has some new residents which have moved into the White Rock dive site! Two broadhead flatheads have decided to make the small cave at the bottom of the west buoyline their home.

While filming a PADI Open Water course for Simple Life Divers, the group and I decided to pay the flatheads a visit. It took my eyes a while to adjust before I saw them. With their sand-coloured bodies, they are very well camouflaged, and you have to distinguish their eyes first to be able to find them. Luckily for us, one of the flatheads got a bit of a fright when he saw us coming, and moved very quickly out of his little sand pit so we could get a glimpse of his entire body.

The flatheads have become celebrities in Koh Tao, with word spreading fast and many divers now on a mission to find them. The only thing is that word is going around that they are crocodile fish, as they look very much like them. They are, in fact, closely related and very difficult to distinguish but the Oceans Below staff and trainees have done their homework- consulting numerous websites and fish books and we agree that they are definitely broadhead flatheads. They can grow to a maximum of 31 centimetres in length. The White Rock flatheads are not yet fully grown, with one being bigger than the other. We hope our new fish friends decide to stay!

With the help of Marcio Pereira, father of Oceans Below underwater videographer intern Leila, we think we have identified the mystery jellyfish that Gill shot last week at Chumpon Pinnacle. It was a bit of a shock to the team as is it's definitely not common for these waters, but it seems that Gill, while accompanying her group of open water students, filmed a jimble box jellyfish!

Though common around the waters around Coffs Harbour, NSW, to Albany, Western Australia, it seems at least one has made its way to the waters off of Koh Tao. As odd as it sounds to Koh Tao divers, nobody can deny that in recent years more and more odd creatures are being seen in the waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

I've heard speculation that fishing boats which take on water in distant seas only to offload it closer to home are responsible for untold foreign fish species being displaced. Not sure if that's the case, but there's no doubt that these fish do seem to be turning up in unexpected places.

Though we're not looking to begin a raging debate on the subject similar to that which ensued a few years back when Chumpon's Bull Sharks which were commonly mistaken for grey reef sharks (and incidentally, were at last positively identified by a number of shark experts), we would like to know if anyone out there has come across anymore of these jellyfish. Likewise, if anybody would care to weigh in on whether you think we're correct in our experienced- though unscientific eyes- or just dead wrong, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We look forward to hearing from you! Here's some photos for comparison...


This lost jellyfish was filmed by Gill last week


Here's a photo of a jimble box jellyfish at night in Western Australia.


...and another. See the resemblance?

Just had another reminder that being an underwater videographer on Koh Tao is a job that never gets old! A few days ago while out filming an open water course on the Easy Divers boat at Chumphon Pinnacle, we came across the most interesting looking jellyfish. Swimming elegantly around the top of the pinnacle, the jellyfish came so close to the school of batfish that it might have thought it was one! Shaped like a rectangular box , it had 4 long yellow tentacles. Neither I nor the dive instructor whose group I was filming had seen one of these before, and luckily, I was able to capture it on film.


Can you identify this jellyfish?

After heading back to the Oceans Below offices to edit my movie, all the staff and video internship trainees had a thorough search in the various fish guides and over the internet to try and identify the odd creature. We ended up drawing a blank. The jellyfish starred in the open water video that evening, and many of the dive center's PADI Divemasters and Instructors came to have a look and see if they could identify the new specimen. It's amazing that with the collection of scuba diving experience that we have from around Thailand, nobody can agree on what type of jellyfish it is. So, here's a photo. If anyone has any ideas please let us know!

In this e-mail interview, we quiz Jonathan McLaughlin on his time as an underwater videographer trainee with Oceans Below on Koh Tao...

What University course were you studying?
Film Production Technology

What year had you finished before your training with Oceans Below, Koh Tao? How long have you been working and what was your job before coming to Koh Tao?
I graduated in 2005, lived in Canada for a year with the odd job as a runner. Got back to UK mid 2006, worked as a gardener for the last 3 years! Running alongside with gardening I set up my own film business which is still going to this date.

How does the content of the Oceans Below videographer training compare with what you do for a living?
It’s very different, no tripod!! You just film what you need instead of filming loads then picking out a small segment of it. Makes you think on your feet, in your head your editing whilst filming.

What do you plan to do now that you have finished your training and Internship with Oceans Below?
Embark on my Mongolia trip and push more work for my film business as I’ve jacked in the gardening, well full time anyway! So I need some cash…

Do you think training with Oceans Below helped your future prospects? If so, how?
Immensely, filming and editing skills have improved tenfold; have more capability to think on my feet.

Did you show any of your underwater video footage to people back at home - colleagues, lecturers? What was their reaction?
Hell yeah!! I showed the whole world! They loved it, very jealous of that way of life!! They loved the work I did and one person said the music was perfect and he’s in a band so I was chuffed with that.

Jon (seated, center) with a group of PADI Open Water students that he filmed

What would you say to someone thinking about taking an underwater videography course with Oceans Below?
Do it!! It will be best thing you ever do; people there are also great they don’t have film snobbery! If you don’t like the filming, then you will love the diving, and the things you see. Also it improves your diving skills, you got to be a good diver to do the video course, if you don’t like the filming or diving you still get to meet loads of people with amazing stories, if you don’t like at least one of those then you’re not human!!!

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In this e-mail interview, we quiz Lauren Smith on her time as an underwater videographer with Oceans Below on Koh Tao...

What University /college course are (or were) you studying?

I studied at Shrewsbury Sixthform College, Shropshire, UK. I took Geography, Politics, Art, General Studies, Media Studies and Film Studies. This September I am going to Cardiff University to Study Journalism, Film and Media.

What year had you finished before your training with Oceans Below, Koh Tao? How long have you been working and what was your job before coming to Koh Tao?

I had finished year 13, A-levels before going to Koh Tao.

How does the content of the Oceans Below videographer training compare with what you learn at University or with what you do for a living?

It fit into the practical elements of my media and film course. Having already used Adobe 2.0 editing software in college it set me up for the internship at Oceans Below. However, in regards to it being underwater, it is a skill that only I, in my college, possess. Not only that but it backs up what I already had learned about narrative structure, introduction of protagonists and following their journey. Also, camera language and shots, thinking about construction of mise-en-scene.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?

My future plans involve either doing a post graduate in the USA learning about the production of films, moving to London and trying to get a place within the BBC, or coming back to Koh Tao for a few years and continue working as an underwater videographer.

Do you think training with Oceans Below helped your future prospects? If so how?

MOST DEFINITELY!!! It has showed that at only 18 years old I have been working in a professional setting- making money for myself and my company. It will show future employers that I am reliable and motivated, as well as show my passion for film as I moved to Thailand to pursue it!

Did you show any of your underwater video footage to people back at home - colleagues, professors? What was their reaction?

As soon as I was home I was asked to teach an entire class on it to all the A Level classes in Film and Media Studies, showing them about what I did with Oceans Below. My college professors are all thoroughly impressed and are encouraging all other students to follow my example. He asked whether I wanted to go into business with him in the Middle East after university...

What would you say to someone thinking about taking an underwater videography course with Oceans Below?

JUST DO IT!! It is an unforgettable experience; I plan to go back every summer in between university, that’s how much I loved every second!! You meet so many wonderful people and work with some of the most talented minds in the industry. It will change your life :)

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In this email interview, we quiz Nathalie Holman on her time as an underwater videographer with Oceans Below on Koh Tao. 

What University (College) course are (or were) you studying? I studied for 3 years at Aberystwyth University in Wales, UK. I studied Performance and Scenography with a speciality in film art. I graduated in 2007 and worked in London for two years.

How long have you been working and what was your job before coming to Koh Tao? I worked for two years in TV production in the roles of Post production assistant and Production Co-coordinator before wanting to take a break from the fast paced life of London to escape to the calmer waters of Thailand.



How does the content of the Oceans Below videographer training compare with what you learn at University or with what you do for a living? Alongside my training at University I also did a Director's course for Motion Pictures Production at Brighton film school, this was a 3 month course and was good at teaching you the theory behind film production but in comparison I learnt a hell of a lot more during my time at Oceans Below. Elisabeth was fantastic at teaching you the specifics involved in the production of Underwater Videos. Everything from setting up the kit, taking you out and teaching you to be a responsible diver in charge of a camera, teaching some new and different camera movements, teaching you about the underwater world and how to edit together a fast paced and interesting video in a matter of hours. Adrian was always on hand to give advice along the way and was a pro at producing some first class promo videos. It was a fun filled course that taught you practically how to make good videos quickly.

What have you done since you have finished your training and Internship with Oceans Below? Since leaving Koh Tao I have come back to Brighton, UK and have got stuck into work in film production. I have produced a low budget feature film that is currently in post production and soon to be entered into international festivals and I am producing a sitcom pilot that is currently in pre-production. I have also continued my work as a wedding videographer and have taken on board my new skills to make my videos more interesting. I am also trying to build up my underwater videography skills by immersing myself into the dive world over here. I have teamed up with a local videographer and am off to Birmingham in October to help him film the Dive Show for Dive Magazine.

Do you think training with Oceans Below helped your future prospects? If so how? My time at Oceans Below has almost definitely helped me get to my position now and will help me progress in the future. After my couple of years in TV production I began to doubt that this was the route I wanted to take as I could see how hard the journey was going to be however my time at Oceans Below reignited my passion for film production. It gave me the skills to work as an Underwater Videographer, new skills to help my work as a camera woman and experience working with different cameras and editing software.

Did you show any of your underwater video footage to people back at home - colleagues, professors...? What did they think? I showed my footage to many friends and family as well as my work colleagues. They all loved the work I had done and I have been able to use the footage on my show reel ever since to get future work.

What would you say to someone thinking about taking an underwater videography internship with Oceans Below? I would recommend anyone to do an internship with Oceans Below; it was such a fantastic experience. I would most definitely recommend you also do it alongside some dive training - I did my divemaster training on the island at the same time. Oceans Below are able to help organize this with you as they did for me. It was a fantastic way to earn a bit of money whilst traveling and meeting new people. I gained some invaluable skills and expertise alongside making some memories I will treasure forever. Thank you to Elisabeth and Adrian for making this one of the best adventures of my life so far!

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I was recently in Bangkok for a few days to check out some new underwater video cameras and housings for Oceans Below and I stayed at a new hotel, Citadines. The girlfriend and I had a lovely stay and found the place quite nice. However on the last day of our stay, I had a look at the information packet that the hotel leaves in the rooms recommending things to do and places to go in the city.

Turning to the restaurants section, I was shocked and saddened to find that top of the list was a Shark Fin Soup establishment! I didn't see any point in complaining to the staff on the desk, so upon returning home I wrote a letter to the management. I expressed that though we had a great experience at their lovely hotel, we wouldn’t return due to their promotion of a business which is involved in such a barbaric and environmentally unsustainable industry. I didn't really expect much to come of it- we do live in Asia, after all. So I was surprised to receive a letter today thanking me for my feedback and ensuring me that they have removed the offensive restaurant from their recommended list of dining establishments!

What a great result. It was a valuable lesson to me that even on an individual level, we are all responsible for making our world a better place. I’d now like to recommend Citadines Bangkok Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 11 to anyone looking for a new place with great rooms, friendly staff and an eco-friendly management team! We’ll be sure to send all of our staff and underwater internship trainees to stay there in the future, as well. I designed the above photo and will ask if they can arrange to add it to their information pack.

Yesterday started gloriously! The sun was out and the sea was calm, so Elisabeth and I decided we should take a break from designing the new BSAC Professional Underwater Video Course and get wet. We resolved to make our way over to Nangyuan Island and get some stock footage on both the video and photo cameras. Elisabeth prepped and brought along a Seatool HD underwater video housing that a friend asked us to keep an eye on while she was away, and I took out our new Canon G10 still camera.


The wreck at Japanese Gardens- Koh Tao

We planned to get some shots of her diving and filming around the small wreck at Japanese Garden and to also go off the beaten track at Twins to see what we could find. Everything worked out beautifully. We got what we were looking for and more, as the sea once again offered up some amazing scenes!


The Wild West, Underwater

 The visibility around the wreck was a bit limited, but it added an eerie feel to the underwater photos, especially in black & white.  Also, as luck would have it, we came across two gorgeous seahorses- both a male and a female. They were willing models and posed beautifully for us. Just as we got back to the Oceans Below offices, the beautiful blue sky opened up and reminded us that we live in the tropics, giving Koh Tao a good soaking. We’re glad we got back when we did and can’t wait to get out and document some more amazing underwater experiences!

While out fun diving and testing out a new underwater video housing a few days ago with Freediving Instructor Trainer Monica, I had a new encounter with a fish I'd never seen in Koh Tao waters before!

We were out at Shark Island and the conditions were great with 30 meter visibility, the sun was shining bright and there was only the gentlest of currents carrying us along. The site was full of fish on the day. I filmed schools of juvenile circular batfish shaped like boomerangs, a number of Titan triggerfish clearly agitated by our presence, and a large school of Wiebel's butterflyfish who were anything but camera shy.

Near the end of the dive, something flashed by the corner of my eye and went into hiding. I waited about 5 minutes for it to come out and when it did, I had no idea what I was filming.



Here's a photo of the little guy 

Back at the Oceans Below office, nobody could identify the strange fish, so I posted it on Facebook asking our friends from around the world to help us out. Finally, we had our answer from an underwater videographer in Belgium- it was a Juvenile Spotted Knifejaw. Thanks for that Patrick.


And here's what an adult will look like...

That's one of the many great things about this job- it never gets old!!

Wow! What a great day of freediving and filming I had at Koh Tao’s beautiful Aow Leuk (Deep Bay)! On one of my few days off for the coming months, I decided to go out with my camera for a look at what a few of the videographers in the shop had been telling me about. It seems all around the East side of the island, in the shallows near the rocks, there are baby Black Tip Reef Sharks feeding.


After awhile they came right in...

It is so cool to see these cute little guys. They’re very small- about 30cm’s or so- and very timid. It’s almost impossible to get close to them on scuba equipment as the bubbles seem to scare them away. But while freediving, they seem to be very curious and posed for some fantastic shots. I sure hope they make it to adults so I get a chance to film them again with our PADI Open Water course students.


Perfectly formed, but only about 35cm...

We really enjoyed the much-needed day off. Now, back to creating the new BSAC Professional Underwater Video Course and welcoming our new underwater video intern, Scott!

The weather is back to normal and the visibility in the waters around Koh Tao is becoming very special. Underwater videographer Cat got some fantastic footage of a relatively rare creature for these waters this morning- an octopus. 

Cat and her new friend...

Special thanks to Alan for the great photos!

Along with most of the civilized world, the underwater video team from Oceans Below was shocked and saddened by the passing of ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson. Unless you live in a cave, you could not have escaped being influenced by his tunes or those of The Jackson Five. With our interest in music and music editing it seems we were especially hard-hit by his sudden departure. We spent the day revisiting some of his greatest hits- many of which we hadn’t heard in years- and reminisced about what we were doing when those songs were still chart-toppers.

The whole Oceans Below crew decided to pay tribute to the King by including one of his songs on each of the open water dive videos produced for the coming days.  Rest in peace Michael Jackson, and thanks for the memories.

Koh Tao Underwater Video trainee Jonathan reports on his 3 months in Thailand

Hello everyone!! I've been on this stunning island for 3 months nearly!

I have loved every moment of it especially when i got my hands on the camera and got stuck into the filming!! I have a great passion for film and everything that i was taught at university and all the experience I have gained over the last five years was thrown right up in the air!

It's a completely new learning curve for me, its a very different style of filming and editing! The biggest gain I got out of the Oceans Below underwater video internship was the whole process of making the film for the open water students. As you are filming them, every shot you make is precise, you know what you want and you know what kind of shot you want in four or five shots time, you are always thinking ahead. When it comes to the editng you have all the shots ready to be put in the time-line with not much clipping or trimming, which for me made editing more enjoyable! I can't sit down for too long i get the fidgets!

Another cool aspect of the Koh Tao underwater videography training is the people you meet! They are so varied! It's especially good fun when you have a bunch of guys or gals playing up to the camera, it makes the day so much more enjoyable!

On occasions like that it's likely, after you have shown the video to them as the sun is setting in the background and you are sitting at a beach bar relaxing, [quite a picture isn't it], that you will end up going out and partying! Lots of good fun!!

Sadly my time is coming to an end here! I have had such an amazing time, met some amazing people and one day hopefully when I've had enough of whatever I'm doing in the years to come I'll come back and do a few months of filming open water students!!

It's a great course - do it!

One love - Jonathan McLaughlin

trainee page

Image: Elisabeth editing underwater video in Oceans Below's Koh Tao, Thailand video production office

The Oceans Below offices are located in Sairee Plaza on the beautiful island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. A great base for our underwater video trainees to start their underwater video course and internship. Oceans Below is fully equipped to provide the best possible courses to our video trainees.

Just recently Oceans Below has expanded the custom built video production facility. If you’re considering getting involved in underwater videography, come and have a look at our new office and underwater video equipment.

Images: Underwater video of Kirsty and Dale moments after the proposal in Koh Tao

A few days ago i was asked to film an underwater video for Pascal's open water group's dives three and four.A lovely couple called Dale and Kirsty.

However, this wasn't just any dive, this was the Dive Kirsty shall always remember. At 6 m below sea level at Japanese Gardens dive site, Dale produced a beautiful platinum banded diamond ring and wrote on a slate "Marry Me". It was exceptionally romantic and i think i was brought close to tears on a number of occasions. It is nice to have some proof that theres still romance on Koh Tao.

Later that evening we packed out Hippo Bar and Grill with half of Sariee wanting to see the proposal. There was alot of cheering and clapping making it possibly one of the most worthwhile days i have spent whilst doing my Koh Tao underwater videography internship.

Congratulations Dale and Kirsty, the Team at Oceans Below Underwater Videography hopes you have a long and happy life together :)

Image: Oceans Below Underwater Videography staff BBQ on Koh Tao

Every month Oceans Below Underwater Video Production & Training takes all underwater video Koh Tao trainees and staff out for dinner so we all get to know each other better outside the Oceans Below office...

We head slowly into the high season; the Full Moon Party was last night in Koh Phanghan so we're expecting to film a lot of Koh Tao underwater videos over the next few days.

Before the busy days start we decided to host a barbecue at my house last night and invited the whole Oceans Below team, 6 staff, 5 interns and boyfriends and girlfriends. Darius prepared lots of burgers and sausages...The food was amazing and we had a lot of fun!

Everybody should be ready now for the busy times coming up. The weather has been fantastic the last few days, the visibility is clearing up and the diving is good. The coming months will bring a lot of work for the team of underwater videographers. We already have some bookings for our underwater videography training and internship and some of our interns will probably start working full time soon for Oceans Below.

Image: Diving the new wreck during a Koh Tao underwater video with New Way

Fun morning dives with New Way Diving, making an underwater movie with PADI instructor pascal and seven open water students.

Our fist Dive was chumphon pinnacle which was beautiful as always. The second dive of the morning was at japanese gardens so that we could visit the new wreck - A Small yellow Dive boat in about fifteen metres of water.

We spent half the dive playing on the wreck. The open water students loved it, it made for a fantastic underwater video of diving Koh Tao, something a little different! The wreck is only a few days old so it will be very interesting to see how it changes over the coming months and what kind of marine life we will find living on it.

Image: Underwater video of wreck diving in Koh Tao

After been in contact with us for a few months now, Leila has arrived on the island to do her underwater video training and her Divemaster course.

We got things started a two days ago with her course orientation, and yesterday I took her out for her first two training dives with the underwater video camera.

I think she is going to take to it really well as she has been making her own underwater videos with a small digital still camera already.

We had two nice dives at Japanese gardens. But the best thing was playing around on Koh Tao's newest wreck! A small dive boat from the island got smashed off the rocks one night in a storm and was not able to be saved. So its been moved close to Japanese gardens for all to enjoy wreck diving.

Image: Underwater video of octopus scuba diving in Koh Tao

Very exciting morning diving for me! Filming an Koh Tao underwater video for PADI open water students at Easy divers Koh Tao.

We went out to Chumphon Pinnacle. Half way through the dive I spotted an octopus which are rather rare on Koh Tao, so i was especially pleased!

It was slinking over the rocks before it settled on some coral and pretended to be invisible. Octopus are my favorite things to find underwater. The way they move intrigues me. They appear to change color, texture and shape constantly. The are not the easiest creatures to film but the mission is well worth it.

Image: Koh Tao underwater video of turtle

Amber reports on an afternoon shooting Koh Tao underwater video diving with Simple Life Divers:

We arrived at the beach at midday to find a complete rainbow stretched over the ocean. The perfect reminder of how beautiful Koh Tao island can be.

We set out on the boat to a dive site called White rock. Which is well known for its turtle sightings. Today was no different!

The open Water group and I were nearing the end of the dive when the instructor spotted the hawksbill turtle gliding down from the surface after taking a breath. The turtle gracefully placed himself in his usual spot and sat without moving a muscle so I was able to get some lovely underwater video footage for the diving movie.

Image: Aidy explaining the camera to video intern Jef on the Simple Life Divers boat

Today our video trainee Mungo is leaving the Island. But he promised us he'll come back to Koh Tao for a visit!

We wish him all the best with his new job. Underwater Video trainees Lauren and Jef are rocking on!

They have been filming Open Water Divers almost every day and have a well earned day off today. Trainee Jon started his underwater video internship yesterday and immediately sold 3 copies of his underwater dvd! Well done Jon...

And last but not least Laura is doing her final exam tomorrow. She'll be filming 2 Open Water students. Good luck Laura!

Image: Crocodile-fish in Koh Tao

I was out at White Rock yesterday, making an Underwater video for an Open Water group diving with Simple Life Divers.

The instructor i was filming very kindly showed me 2 crocodile-fish - in more than 7 years on this island, I've never heard of them being seen so I was keen to get that great shot. I was lying down, trying to get a close up, when I looked up, and a turtle almost swam into my head!

I love filming on Koh Tao, but when you get something out of the ordinary like that, it's makes it very easy to do my job! I got back to the office, and nobody believed me about the crocs, but when they looked at my footage, we checked in the fish book, and I had filmed a broadhead flathead...I look forward to seeing them again soon.

Image: Frogfish in Koh Tao

So that was an amazing morning! Aidy and me went out looking for the Whaleshark this morning with New Way divers.

We had to be on the boat at 6am but that meant we were the first ones on the dive site. Slowly the sun came out and there 'she' was...a 4m whaleshark swimming around checking us divers out.

I had brought the HD Underwater video camera and Aidy took our new still camera to capture this beauty. She had a big mark on the side of her body and lots of scars on the top of her head and mouth, but she was very curious to see what kind of species we were. Some Open Water divers were very surprised to being followed by this majestic creature wherever they went. We were fortunate enough to spend over an hour filming HD footage and photograhing the shark before the other dive shop boats came out.

For underwater video trainee Lauren it was her first whaleshark to film and also Amber our top Underwater Videographer filmed the shark. A lot of happy people at the office!

For the second dive we went to Twins and I spotted a black Frog Fish in the sandy area around the pinnacles. That was another highlight of the day. In the almost 7 years I've been here I have never seen a Frog fish on Koh Tao. So Aidy and me spent the rest of our dive trying to get the perfect HD video shot of it! I'll make sure that in the coming days I'll put up some Underwater Video footage on our facebook group Oceans Below.

This year looks to be a good one for the Whale Sharks. Nearly all of our trainees have filmed at least one. Some lucky ones like Kezia, have had the good fortune to film THREE!!

Once again this morning there was Whale Sharks out at Chumphon Pinnacle, north of Koh Tao. So Elisabeth and myself are gonna head out there tomorrow with some of the cameras and see if we can get ourselfs some HD underwater video stock footage of one of the giant fish and a few nice underwater photos.

Another full moon party has finished over on the neighboring island of Koh Phangan, so this means that for us, a few hundred travelers are heading our way to become divers.

In a few days time as they start to finish their open water dive courses our team of old pros and trainees alike will be trying to film them all! A hard few days work ahead for the Oceans Below team. But it will all be worth it as the new underwater video trainees will get a lot of experience.

We just got back from a short holiday on the neighbouring islands. We spent a few nights at our friends dive resort on Koh phangan. A really nice operation set in a beautiful coconut grove with a quiet swimming pool among the trees. [check out reefersdiving.com]. We are discussing a new promotional video for their dive shop and resort. Then a few nights on Samui to get the shopping and back to Koh Tao to start working with the new underwater video interns.

Yesterday I took our two news guys, Jon & Laura, out for their first dives with a camera. We went to mango bay for both dives which is great as its the perfect training ground for beginners. Both took to it very well. but Jon unfortunately felt sick and didn't come on the second dive. Which was a shame as he missed out on the giant school of smooth tailed travely that live along the coast there. They were hunting a small group bait fish. It was cool to watch.

Written by Darius:

After Elisabeth’s great performance in a 4 round decision that went to her opponent in her very first Muay Thai bout, the staff from Oceans Below has been inspired to get their butts in gear and get in shape!!

Now, after a hard day’s work underwater- filming students and fun divers- our crew makes its way to the Monsoon Gym and Muay Thai camp for some hard core kick boxing training!

For the time being anyway, the whole shop is bypassing the daily sunset drinks on Sairee Beach for a much healthier alternative. Kezia who has actually been training in the gym for the last month is leading the way. Joining the fitness craze is Aidy, whose past life as a ballerina particular suits him to the sport and keeps him light on his toes.

Mungo has already discovered that Muay Thai training after a meal from the Greasy Spoon in Mae Haad is a really bad idea. Our Open Water video coordinator, Amber, has already taken the first step to getting fit by giving up smoking (after which she promptly came down with a chest cold) and is determined to get into the Muay Thai ring soon. Well done guys, kick some ass!

After a fantastic two week holiday to Laos, splashing around in waterfalls, eating amazing food and even better wine, I am now straight back into work.

First day, filming at Koh Tao Easy Divers with instructor Roland and team Holland was Brilliant.

We moored up at Chumporn Pinnacle and jumped into the water to find...a Whaleshark!!! We spent the entire dive watching as it cruised around the dive site playing in the bubbles.

The whale shark was a baby around four metres, the students couldn't believe their eyes! I was lucky enough to have the whale shark swimming towards me on a few occasions, so the underwater video footage i have is perfect. I couldn't have had a better first day back at work!