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Excerpts from Jeff Goodman’s Book Action Camera Underwater Video Basics, Part 3 of 6: Buoyancy Control for Filming

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underwater videography

Precise buoyancy control is essential to taking good underwater video. Unlike taking a photo, where the image is captured in a fraction of a second, video shooting requires that you hold the camera steady on the subject for a number of seconds or minutes. It is important to be able to hover, without finning, for long periods in one place and at any depth. The hover needs to be steady so as to minimise any possible body and camera movement. While usually in the horizontal position, it is often necessary to hover in the vertical, as when filming at a coral or cliff face.

Buoyancy control is an important part of diver training and should not be overlooked. It is crucial for camera work as well as for comfortable diving with minimal expenditure of energy and breathing gas. An added bonus to this is if you are relaxed and able to move slowly and surely then most wildlife around you will also relax and not hurry away.

underwater videography

Although buoyancy control training is down to a dive instructor who will give all the advice and knowledge needed for safe and comfortable diving, I will explain what works for me. My buoyancy drill changes slightly depending on where I am and under what conditions I am filming. In normal circumstances I set my buoyancy in the standard way. If I breathe in deeply I slowly go up and if I exhale, I slowly go down. But if I know I am to be filming on the seabed in a current or surge, then I like to slightly over-weight myself so as to be able to stay on the bottom with minimum effort. I then make small adjustments to my buoyancy with my BCD and compensate as needed, making sure I let air out as I surface to control my rate of ascent.

underwater videography

If you have difficulty remaining horizontal, ask an instructor about trim weights that can be distributed in different parts of a BCD rather than carrying all of it around your waist on a belt.

Being on the bottom is not always a good idea. Think about the silt or sand you may kick up and hence ruin the visibility. Other divers near you won’t be too pleased either.

NEXT WEEK:

Part 4 of 6 – Pre-Dive Equipment Checks

Action Camera Underwater Video Basics by Jeff Goodman is available now from DIVEDUP Publications:
https://www.divedup.com/shop/action-camera-underwater-video-basics-the-essential-guide-to-making-underwater-films/

About Jeff Goodman

underwater videography

Jeff is a multiple award-winning freelance TV cameraman/filmmaker and author. Having made both terrestrial and marine films, it is the world’s oceans and their conservation that hold his passion, with over 10,000 dives in his career. Having filmed for international television companies around the world and as author of two books on underwater filming, Jeff is Author/Programme Specialist for the Underwater Action Camera course for the RAID training agency.

Jeff has experienced the rapid advances in technology for diving as well as camera equipment, and has also experienced much of our planet’s marine life. He has witnessed, first-hand, many of the changes that have occurred to the wildlife and environment during that time.

Jeff runs bespoke underwater video and editing workshops for the complete beginner up to the budding professional.

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PADI Launches World’s First Scuba Technician Distinctive Specialty Course with Octo Diver

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Scuba Technician

Octo Diver, in collaboration with PADI, have introduced the first-ever PADI Scuba Technician Distinctive Specialty Course, designed to raise the standard of dive equipment knowledge and safety in the scuba diving industry.

Scuba Technician

This 7-day hands-on course is open to all certified divers, dive professionals, and dive centre/resort staff, and focuses on vital life-support equipment servicing.

The course modules include:

  • Scuba Regulator Servicing (Diaphragm & Piston types)

  • 2nd Stage Servicing (Balanced & Unbalanced)

  • K-Valve Cylinder Valve Maintenance

  • Scuba Cylinder Visual Inspection

  • Power Inflator Servicing

  • Oxygen Cleaning for Scuba Equipment

  • Scuba Compressor Service & Maintenance

  • Standard Service & Repair Reporting

It is developed by Octo Diver’s professional team, led by a certified PADI Scuba Technician Instructor with a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering and over 15 years of experience in the diving industry.

Scuba Technician

This professional-level course can be conducted at Octo Diver’s classroom in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, or hosted at dive centers worldwide. Hosting dive centers receive exclusive benefits, including high commission, special course rates, and free seats.

Upon completion, students will receive certification from PADI along with official technician credentials.

Octo Diver is currently looking for dive centers and resorts globally to host this course. Let’s work together to make diving safer and more professional — Be a Certified PADI Scuba Technician.

For more information, visit www.Scuba-Technician.com

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Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort – A Hidden Gem in the Northern Moluccas

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Northern Moluccas

Far from the usual tourist trails, on a small island in the Northern Moluccas, lies a place of extraordinary beauty: Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort. Nestled between dense tropical jungle and a powdery white sand beach, the resort offers a peaceful escape immersed in nature at its purest. With panoramic views of the turquoise sea and direct access to some of Indonesia’s most untouched reefs, it’s a dream come true for those seeking tranquility above and adventure below the surface.

Northern Moluccas

The resort features just 16 spacious beachfront bungalows, each only steps from the ocean. At its heart is a beautifully designed open-air restaurant, built entirely from natural materials, where guests can enjoy a diverse selection of Indonesian and international cuisine.

Northern Moluccas

But what truly sets Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort apart is the underwater world that surrounds it. The reefs of the Northern Moluccas are among the most pristine and biodiverse in all of Indonesia – and remarkably, they remain largely untouched. Thanks to the remote location, dive boats are often the only ones around, giving divers the rare privilege of exploring vibrant coral gardens, dramatic walls, and colorful drop-offs in complete solitude.

Northern Moluccas

Marine life here is nothing short of spectacular. Blacktip reef sharks are spotted on nearly every dive, while nutrient-rich walls attract sea turtles, schools of jacks, and bumphead parrotfish. For macro enthusiasts, the area is a treasure trove of rare and photogenic species, including pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, and several types of octopus and shrimp.

Northern Moluccas

One of the region’s most extraordinary highlights is the Halmahera Walking Shark, a rare species endemic to this part of Indonesia. First described by scientists only in recent years, this small shark is unlike anything else in the ocean. Rather than swimming, it uses its muscular pectoral and pelvic fins to “walk” along the seabed. These elusive yet fascinating creatures are most often encountered on night dives – and witnessing one in the wild is a truly unforgettable experience.

Northern Moluccas

The reefscapes surrounding Spice Island Resort are equally impressive. Flourishing hard coral formations spread across the seabed, interspersed with vivid sponges, large sea fans, and colorful soft corals. The biodiversity is astonishing, and the visual spectacle underwater is a dream for photographers. Most importantly, the reefs here are healthy—a rare treasure in today’s marine environment. With minimal tourism and careful management, the ecosystem remains intact, vibrant, and teeming with life.

Northern Moluccas

Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort is more than just a dive destination – it’s a retreat for those seeking peace and a haven for underwater explorers looking to experience the authentic magic of Indonesia’s last true frontier.

Book your next diving adventure at Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort with Extra Divers!

info@extradivers.org

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