Steve Dobie- After completing my divemaster course and getting to know all the guys at Deepdown it was obvious to me what my next path in the diving industry would be.
So after a short stint working as a DM I started my pro level video course and never looked back.
The wealth of knowledge and professionalism that the guy’s posses are obvious from day 1 and the help and the right instruction tailored to suit each individual is amazing.
I started off as a novice and believe me you come out as a professional.
Special thanks to Jace , Tea Bag , Dan and Jon .
I really enjoyed my time here with you all and as you say “edit with passion”.
Nick D'Jong - I arrived in Thailand in the summer of 2007 to embark on a "learning to dive" adventure, i had already completed my divemaster training but fancied doing something a bit different so i signed up to deep down productions "Underwater Videography" course.
What struck me immediately was the vibe they had within there team, all very very friendly guys and a great team to work with. What i enjoyed the most was my one on one tuition that i received from Jase, the Divemaster training was always quite intense with lots to learn all the time however the underwater videography course was suited so that you could enjoy it in your own time and learn at your own pace. It was a much more enjoyable experience cruising about underwater with a video camera and i got a far greater appreciation for the variety of life that you can find on the reefs of Koh Tao.
From start to finish the staff were always friendly and very helpful, talking you through the software packages needed to produce a professional production and giving advice and demonstrations on the different technology they use in their studio. I was on Koh Tao for nearly 5 months, and the 3 weeks i did with deep down productions was far and away the most enjoyable period of time on the island. It left me with a huge desire to get up close and personal with marine life, so much so that i enrolled in a marine biology degree when i returned to England, and am now approaching my second year. For all those planning a trip to Koh Tao, make sure you have a chat with the deep down production guys, they will show you things you will never forget for the rest of your life, and you get to show off to your friends with your own videos of what you saw when you get back home :)
Nick D'Jong (Da'mage)
Nick Prest - After doing my Divemaster course at Crystal dive in early 07 and working as a divemaster in the dominican republic i returned to Koh Tao in November 07 specifically to do the professional videographer course with deepdown, Jon and the other guys were extremely knowledgeable and professional and were there to help with any problems i came across while filming or editing. After completing the course i was fortunate enough to be offered a position working for deepdown filming open water courses for crystal dive!! I worked for deepdown for 7 months and thoroughly enjoyed every single second of my time working with Jon, Jace, Dan and towards the end of my time there Tony.....i would and have recommended deepdown to anyone considering stepping into the world of underwater filming and thanks to the guys at deepdown i now dont want to do anything else for a job and im looking at ways to progress my career in this wonderful world of an underwater videographer. I miss my times at deepdown everyday.....best times of my life!!!
James Hustler - Straight out of college with a Uni film course set for September I wanted to make use of the summer to gain some experience with filming and have some fun at the same time. I decided to go to Thailand, booking course with DDP - I’m really glad I did. Having very little previous dive experience didn’t matter, with great instruction you very quickly feel totally comfortable diving with a camera in your hands. The diving was incredible, and the amount you see is unbelievable, having a whale shark swim past just feet away from you can’t easily be put into words… but I do have it on DVD! The island itself is amazing, I certainly don’t think I’d be the first to say I didn’t plan to stay their the entire length of my Thailand trip…but did. The experience I gained from the DDP course was invaluable, and set me up so well for my film production course back home. Now a term in I don’t think the progress I’ve made would have been possible without DDP. Thanks to all at DDP, especially Jace.
Iona Hudson-Mackenzie - I trained to rescue diver whilst studying at university, in lakes and quarries in the north of england...harsh, freezing conditions!
During my design degree I also filmed an instructional diving DVD and began to dream of filming marine life in somewhere where the visibility was more than 2meters! Whilst editing my final project and waiting for the footage to render I began searching
for dive courses abroad...within 10 minutes of finding the Professional Underwater Videography course at Deep Down, I had booked my ticket with the last of my loan! It is the best thing I have ever done. The team were very professional and friendly, they teach you much more than I expected.
From video editing techniques, meeting deadlines, ways to approach certain marine life and interesting facts about the underwater world you will work in, you will be amazed at how much there is to learn.
I even stayed on to work a few weeks as an intern after my course. I think the highlight was filming a turtle for over half an hour,
though the sharks were cool too!...in fact I loved it all and am starting to wonder why I am not still doing it?
Ed Wellman - I went to
Koh Tao having never dived before, and went from open
water diver to advance
d, rescue and finally videographer
in about a month. The diving around the island is spectacular,
and now I would like to see all the great dive sites
around the world. It's very cheap to learn to dive on
Koh Tao, so it's a great place to get started. The team
of videographers I worked with at deep down productions
were professional and fun to be around. We went out
diving most mornings and I got to work at my own pace
in the editing suite when we got back. It culminated
in having my video shown on the big screen at the dive
bar one evening. It was a simple video showing off all
the sharks, turtles, snakes, sting rays, eels and fish
I'd seen. I've left with a new enthusiasm for videography
and film in general (and of course diving). It was a
great experience and I highly recommend it!
Thanks!
Ed
Matthew Fennell - I’m
a MSDT and Videographer. I became a Videographer with
the DDP team in Koh Toa Thailand.
The training I received was superb with Jon and the
team always on hand to answer any questions. I picked
up a lot of skills and information from the training.
The structure of the course its self is really good.
Split up in to filming and editing as well as selling
your final DVDs to the customers in this case dive students.
It really gives you a feel to all aspects of the industry.
I’m now a free lance Videographer which has given
me the potential to go any where I want to and film
it as well. From the knowledge I received from the deep
down course I am starting my own filming business.
You learn a great amount from this training. The best
bit about it after your hard work you get to see a final
product which you’ve created your self. I plan
to return to Thailand to do some more filming in the
near future. When you first take the camera underwater
its feels a little strange and after while you couldn’t
imagine not having one. Filming with DDP gave the opportunity
to film allsorts from turtles and sting rays to sharks
and Anemone fish. I’ve just got back from doing
a season filming in Spain which has continued my career
in professional Videography. I am now waiting on the
next move. Ready to pick up my camera and go. I thoroughly
recommend this course to any one in to diving and has
a bit of creativity. Your helped every step of the way
and you always have the rest of the team for support.
It was a fantastic experience for me it will be for
you to.
Laetitia Warny - "During
five weeks, I have been living with my favorite element:
the water. During the two last weeks, I have been praticing
underwater video, which is part of what I would like
to do in the future: scientific journalist. I had a
great experience !!! Filming underwater is such exciting,
I never thought there was so much to see in the sea.
By filming you see the submarine life another way that
what people normally do. I felt closer to this life
and diving becomes completely different. It also helped
me to become more confident. And, of course, Koh Tao
is certainly one of the best sites to do t his ! I hope
to come, maybe next year, to go on with it and improve
myself. We don't become a videographer after two weeks,
it's something you reach at each dive you do. Each dive
brings you more. Thank you for everything. The DDP-team
is a champion team, they are wonderful and very kind
! See you !! "
Tim Band - I came to
Koh Tao with the intention of spending a month improving
my diving by doing a Dive Master course at Crystal Dive
but like many before me I found the island a difficult
place to leave. I’ve always had a interest in
film-making and I was really impressed by the Open Water
videos that Jon and the Deep Down team show each evening
in the bar at the dive centre. I was amazed that such
good quality films could be filmed, edited and made
ready for
viewing in only a day. After speaking to some of the
students on the course, who all gave glowing recommendations,
and a chat with Jon I was convinced to sign up for the
course. I had a fantastic time doing the course, believe
me it’s an incredibly fun way to spend a few weeks.
The fast pace at which you can learn everything from
preparing the camera and housing for diving to digitising,
editing and adding a soundtrack owes and lot to the
one on one tutoring and in depth knowledge of Jon and
the guys. Within 3 days I’d produced my first
film! Everyone at Deep Down always had the time to answer
any questions or queries. The friendly and supportive
environment at Deep Down counted for a lot especially
the first time one of my films got shown on the big
screen at the bar in front of a ‘live’ audience.
It’s quite a nerve-racking experience but the
satisfaction you get when you ‘nail it’
is unbeatable!
Kate Cooper - I stopped
in Koh Tao on my way to Bali and had originally planned
to stay for a couple of weeks. After meeting Jon and
his team on the dive boat I decided to take the Underwater
Videography course and prolong my stay, tempted by the
one-on-one instructed dives.
I had the most amazing time learning filming and editing
techniques,improving my diving skills and buoyancy and
becoming even more aware of diving safely and responsibly
as this is greatly stressed on t he course. So after
a month and with their great instruction and encouragement
I emerged with a whole new career possibility, some
great friends and the added bonus of wearing a bikini
and board shorts to work
!Hol ly Sharrock - Last
summer, i decided i wanted to have a go at something
different. I had been diving in England a few times
and had handled a video camera all of two times, so
attempting a videography course seemed an exciting and
new experience, and that it was! The course was not
only fun but highly informative. In just six weeks i
learnt practical elements of using a video camera and
using the editing
programs. Within just three days we had begun to edit
our own footage into short films.
I found the course covered so much ground but always
moved at a fast pace, introducing you to new skills
daily. The course particularly helped me with buoyancy
control and gave me much more confidence while diving.
Most importantly to me i began to be able to spot things
i previously would have swam past. The videography course
opened up a new side of diving to me, while being highly
enjoyable and satisfying. The staff at deep down productions
are highly professional and were always there to help
every step of the way, from the first dive to the final
film. Not only is the course intriguing and fun but
you also get the practical results, i returned from
thailand with a log book full of dives and most over
15 hours of footage. I would recommend this course to
anyone who wants to try something a bit different and
have a lot of fun doing it!
Lucjan Karpinski - Originally,
I had had different plans for the summer but as they
came crashing down around me I found myself searching
the internet for new inspiration when I came across
a website offering a combined rescue diving and videographer
course and I caught myself wondering, slightly nervously,
(possibly like you are now!) should I? Well I can tell
you now that just deciding to go for it, to leave everything
behind and go somewhere amazing and do something amazing
was the best decision I have ever made, I can honestly
say that I had the best time of my life. In fact, I
enjoyed myself so much that I ended up extending my
flight and staying even longer!
Firstly the diving there is spectacular; especially
the shark diving! Then you also get to do it with state
of the art equipment then turn your footage into films
in a hi-tech editing suite, fantastic! Also, I found
that the team at deep-down productions were able to
blend perfectly a high level of instruction and professionalism
with a fun and laid back atmosphere- allowing you to
work at your own pace, and now, as a result of the training
I have received, I feel totally competent using a camera
underwater. But it’s so much more than just the
training; the people you’ll meet are friends for
life and the experiences are something you will talk
about forever! Overall I just think it’s great
value for money, thanks guys for an amazing time
!MSDT
Angie Kerridge - I did
my MSDT ( Master Scuba Diver Trainer ) with deep down
Productions early in 2006 as videography is one of my
specialties. I was really impressed with the scope of
knowledge the team has and what they passed onto me.
I learnt lots about shooting techniques for getting
the best shot underwater, different camera & housing
systems and different editing techniques. The whole
team are very professional, supportive and great to
have a beer with at the end of the day when we watch
the final product on the big screen.
To anyone interested in doing a course
in underwater videography I would highly recommend "Deep
Down" as a first choice for training.
