Photo & Video Course (SSI)

CAPTURE YOUR AMAZING UNDERWATER EXPERIENCES

PHOTO & VIDEO

Scuba World is also the only dive shop in Australia that is an Aqualung Partner Centre and Scuba Schools International (SSI) Diamond Dive Centre. This is the highest achievable level worldwide.

Underwater photography has some challenges not found on land, but with the SSI Photo & Video specialty program, you will soon learn how to capture your amazing underwater experiences. At Scuba World, we have used the SSI content of this course as the foundation, and expanded it to provide more in-depth knowledge of photography.  You will develop your skills and learn techniques to take your underwater images to the next level, plus perfect your diving abilities while using your underwater camera system.

Mike and Shara will be running all these courses for the foreseeable future. Mike is an SSI Instructor Certifier with over 3000 logged dives in over 12 countries. He has been diving since 1997 and started underwater photography in 2010. He has a wealth of knowledge and video/photography is his passion. Mike understands how to interact with the marine life, and the skills that will take your photography to the next level.

Shara (Mike’s partner) although not a professional in either scuba or photography, exudes passion for both.  She fell in love with diving when she did her open water course at Scuba World in 2016, and now has over 300 dives. Shara has 5 years’ experience as a photography assistant.  In this time she has been involved in countless shoots, been on photography tours with the whales, attended Australian Institute of Professional Photography conferences, watched the judging of many award competitions and been heavily involved in the running of a photography business.

The combination of these two skill sets will ensure you receive a very high standard of teaching. We promise you will be given all the tools and tricks to improve your photos or videos. We guarantee it.

  • Perfect Buoyancy certification
  • 24 logged dives

$379

  • Access to state of the art digital online training
  • Pool fees
  • Tanks and weights
  • Internationally recognised digital certification card

7:30 – 10:30am | Academic session

10:30am – 3pm | Pool session

3 – 4pm | Wash up equipment, de-brief at shop & sign paperwork

    • Understanding how water affects light & colour
    • Understanding the basics of photography including exposure, composition and image formats
    • Choice of camera system
    • How best to use your existing system
    • Preparing underwater camera set ups & care
    • How to achieve great underwater photos & videos

The primary goal of any SSI Specialty course is to teach you important skills in a fun environment. All courses are taught using home study, short academic sessions, and in-water training.

COURSE SKILLS:

  • Preparing your camera system
  • The following skills must be completed while holding/carrying your camera system:
    • Buoyancy Check with a Total Diving System
    • Controlled Descent
    • Neutral Buoyancy (Diving Position)
    • Neutral Buoyancy (Hovering)
    • Moving with a Camera System Underwater
    • Practice with the Camera System
  • Camera Equipment Care (Camera System)
  • Your own underwater camera or video (DSLR, point and shoot, or Go Pro)
  • Underwater Slate

A certified SSI Photo & Video Diver possess the skills to to take high quality images that you can share with everyone.

2024
  • No dates available 
  • As this is a theory and pool only program, we believe that an ocean session with Mike/Shara would be hugely beneficial. We are offering a private session for $300 OR a group rate of $150 per person, minimum of 2pax. Either option will be PLUS the standard cost of a double dive (club members can use their free standby dives). In this session we will set goal images with you before the dive, help you to create them underwater, review your images after the dive and do a basic edit of one image.
  • Photo and video editing is also a huge part of underwater photography. This is not included in the course content. Editing sessions for anyone interested will be discussed during the course
  • Hire equipment is an additional cost. To hire an Aqualung regulator with computer, Aqualung BCD and wetsuit is $55 for the 1 day.
  • A minimum of two divers is required to start this course
  • Price subject to change without notice