Anyone done the Koh Tao Underwater Videography course?

[Seanothon]

I am seriously considering doing this and was seeing if anyone had any experience. I have been doing videography & editing for a few years but am a complete newbie to scuba diving. http://www.oceansbelow.net/underwate...ng-course.html
I would just be going to Koh Tao to do the program. I would not be going for several months. I would like to pursue underwater videography/photography as a hobby and perhaps a career. I am in Cincinnati, so I don't have much opportunity to scuba, except on vacation. I was considering getting a few certifications around here, but it would just be in pools and maybe a quarry then heading out to try videography. I am also open to learning to dive while I'm there. Again, I'm new to most scuba stuff. Any advice on other underwater videographer programs would be a help to. This one just seems pretty notable with it being BSAC's only professional underwater videographer certification.

 

[waterpirate]

It would be my experiance that the phrase "bsac and new to scuba" do not go together, unless you were certed by them initially. In scuba one of the big no no's is task loading and myoptic vision. Two scuba activities that come to mind immediately are photography and spearfishing. Both activities can get a diver in pretty deep pretty easily. That being said posting in the video forum will get you a lot more on point disscussion on the skils and level of control it takes to to video underwater without looking like the cammera has a case of the spastics.
Eric

 

[Quero]

Hi Seanothon, and welcome to ScubaBoard.

If I understand correctly, you are wanting to become certified and subsequently do an underwater videography course. Is that correct?
First of all, I find I hold a different view from waterpirate in regard to BSAC in his post above. Outside the UK, BSAC has an ordinary, commercial basic open water dive training course much like those of other agencies. So learning through a BSAC shop in Thailand is not like learning through a BSAC club in the UK.

Next, if I wanted to take an u/w video course on Koh Tao, I'd go to Deep Down Productions.

 

[ronscuba]

Before shooting underwater video, I would get your scuba certification in the US and become a comfortable diver. That might be as few as 20 dives or as many as 100.

If you shoot video topside, you already know how involved it can be to set the scene, angle, camera settings, etc.. You want your scuba skills to be automatic before you take on the additional tasks of shooting video.

 

[DevonDiver]

I'm guessing that this is a question about the videography companies on Koh Tao. I worked on Koh Tao...and as I can teach the PADI videography speciality, I thought I should gain some better skills and knowledge on the subject. I signed up for an instructor internship with Deep Down Productions and enjoyed every second of it. It certainly put me into a position where I could better teach the subject.

I also had a student that I trained at OW and AOW level, who was a pro-photographer in 'real life'. She got to Rescue Diver level then made a decision between doing the DM course and doing a videography course. She did videography, again at Deep Down. Had very positive reviews of it. Later did her DM and Instructor course anyway.

I'm also guessing that the 'BSAC Videography' course is with DJL? They're a decent dive centre, but I assume their BSAC video course is some sort of home-written one (akin to a PADI distinctive).

My recommendation is to go with Deep Down. Never heard a bad word said about them. Loved my course there.

 

[Seanothon]

Thanks for all of the replys, everyone! I understand that I should become comfortable diving before attempting a course like this. I had planned on either getting some certifications here or go a month ahead and get certified in Thailand. I thought that learning in Thailand waters could be greatly beneficial because I could actually be in the ocean instead of a pool or quarry, but it would cost me to learn that way. I am still on the fence about that. So, what I am gathering is that everyone seems to prefer the courses from Deep Down? Any other places for a really good videography certification? I'm not set on Thailand, it just seemed to have a really good program

 

[DevonDiver]

I really don't know about DJL. Ace Marine Images is the other main outfit on Koh Tao. I don't have personal experience, but they've got a good reputation also.

Basically... you're spoiled for choice.

Gotta get the core scuba skills nailed first though... there's little point learning the technical fineries of videography if you're going to be bobbing and rolling all over the place and kicking up a sandstorm every time you're near the bottom. And, as others have said, you need to cope with the task loading of shooting video, whilst still maintaining a safe situational awareness of your buddy, your air, your depth, your time etc..

 

[ronscuba]

.... Any other places for a really good videography certification? I'm not set on Thailand, it just seemed to have a really good program

I took a look at the link in your 1st post. Which class are you considering ? The 2 week course calls for 50+ dives experience. The other courses look pretty basic and you said you already have experience shooting and editing topside video.

What video camera and editing SW do you have ?

Thailand has world class diving. If the goal is to come home with world class footage, I would learn and practice in the US or Caribbean until my skills were good enough that I could shoot quality UW video. If you are naturally comfortable under water, this won't take long.

When I was learning to ski, I had dreams of skiing in the French Alps, Colorado, Utah, etc.. IMHO, it would have been a waste to go to those destinations when my skill only allowed me to ski the bunny hill.

 

[Seanothon]

I took a look at the link in your 1st post. Which class are you considering ? The 2 week course calls for 50+ dives experience. The other courses look pretty basic and you said you already have experience shooting and editing topside video.

What video camera and editing SW do you have ?

Thailand has world class diving. If the goal is to come home with world class footage, I would learn and practice in the US or Caribbean until my skills were good enough that I could shoot quality UW video. If you are naturally comfortable under water, this won't take long.

When I was learning to ski, I had dreams of skiing in the French Alps, Colorado, Utah, etc.. IMHO, it would have been a waste to go to those destinations when my skill only allowed me to ski the bunny hill.

I had contacted them and they said they could customize a course to get me up to the certification level i needed and then start theirs.

I shoot mainly on a Panasonic AF 100 (I don't think that it would be a viable underwater camera as most of the lens controls are manual) and I edit in Final Cut and After Effects.

I get what you are saying. I'm looking into local scuba to start my training

 

[Seanothon]

I think I am getting the general consensus of get the basics down first. I'm looking locally to start and I'll go from there.