Programme Schedule
Please note: Itineraries and activities are subject to change
Diving Videography Internship Programme
The programme is designed to equip you with all of the necessary skills to do this fun and rewarding job. However, the work will require you to show both technical ability and good people skills, so you must be prepared to work hard! Although the focus of the programme is the paid working internship, one of the major benefits of this programme is that you will complete many logged dives, adding to your personal diving experience.
Media Skills and Training
This programme is a fantastic way to develop, improve or advance your own media skills, making it the perfect platform if you’re looking to go into a media-related course or employment. You’ll get all of the necessary training for you to record, edit and produce your own movies, which will require you to become IT literate and familiar with a number of video and sound editing software programs. By the end of your programme, you are likely to be able to make a high quality documentary.
Your training will take place in weeks one and two of this 10-week programme (other durations available); however, if you need to complete any diving courses first, add two weeks for both Open Water and Advanced Open Water; or one week for Advanced Open Water only. If you have not dived for more than six months, you will need to have a skills review first.
The videography course will cover:
- How to assemble the equipment
- Skills with the camera which includes shot selection and selecting the right contrast
- Equipment maintenance
- Video editing which includes adding a soundtrack, cropping, cutting and pasting of footage etc
- Selling / dealing with tourists
The internship includes the use of all the equipment and materials that you need. This includes access to underwater camera equipment, a custom built video editing facility, and experienced videographers who have been doing this for a long time!
Paid Work
The last eight weeks will be the paid working element of your programme. Your main role will be to record, edit and produce a DVD video of the scuba centre’s customers completing their Open Water Dives. This will be these customers’ first dive experience, making the video a great souvenir of their stay in Koh Tao. You will be paid on a commission basis, receiving 500 baht for each video you sell; this equates to about £7 or £8, depending upon the exchange rate. Because some groups are quite large and living costs are low on Koh Tao, you could earn a good income.
Please Note: A good videographer can expect to sell three to four videos each working day during busy periods. However, there are no pay guarantees on this programme, so you need to budget your finances accordingly.
Typical Day
Every working day you will need to wake early, so you can prepare your camera and diving equipment. You’ll need to be there before the Open Water divers, so you can record them before they go out on the first dives.
You will accompany these two dives, documenting the day out – the transfer to the dive boat and journey out to the dive site.
The main part is underwater videography, recording the customers diving, and capturing the marine life they saw on film. Then filming the big smiles when they come up from the dive and group shots on the way back to shore. Your afternoon will be spent transferring the footage to the PC, which you will use to edit the movie. At this stage, your choice of shot and soundtrack are really important. On completion, you will burn the film to DVD.
In the evening, you’ll meet with the Open Water divers in a local beach bar to screen the movie. This will be your opportunity to sell the DVD to as many of the customers as possible, therefore increasing your commission.
Health Requirements and PADI Indemnity Forms
All students looking to participate on this programme need to ensure that they are reasonably fit and free from any conditions that may prevent or be a danger to you when diving. Before departing the UK, it is best to consult your doctor.
In addition to the medical requirements, it is also necessary for you to complete several PADI indemnity forms. This stipulates that you will follow all of the necessary codes of conduct and that you accept the inherent risks of partaking in a scuba diving programme. Failure to complete these forms will prevent you from joining the course.
