Course - Underwater Videography

UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY

Learn how to master the craft of underwater videography, guided by an expert instructor with professional SCUBA diving training. Explore and understand the impact of ocean conservation to create your own marine short film masterpiece.

Join us for an immersive, month-long underwater videography course designed to launch or advance your career in marine videography. With a strong focus on ocean conservation and ethical visual media, this hands-on course blends expert instruction with field-based training, preparing you to work across broadcast, NGO, corporate, and digital platforms.

Based in the coastal town of Scottburgh, on South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal South Coast – renowned for its marine biodiversity and proximity to the world renowned Aliwal Shoal – you’ll receive practical training in underwater camera work, lighting, framing, and post-production using videography techniques. The programme includes an 18-dive package with Scuba Xcursions, starting with 2 rock pool sessions for gear orientation and skills development, followed by open-water dives exploring coral reefs and encountering marine life such as sand tiger sharks, turtles, rays, and dolphins.

To take part, participants will need a PADI Open Water certification (or equivalent). If you’re not yet certified, we can help arrange a course ahead of the programme (at an additional cost). All dives are conducted by qualified dive professionals and follow strict safety protocols to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience underwater.

The course also includes essential business training tailored for freelancers and marine creatives – covering branding, networking, income generation, and creating a simple business plan. Instruction is personal, interactive, and hands-on, with professionals guiding you step-by-step through every stage of the process. By the end of the course, you’ll have produced your own underwater short film, ready for pitching, submission, or showcasing your unique voice as a visual storyteller.

This intensive underwater videography course combines expert mentorship with hands-on experience. The syllabus includes guided expeditions focused on marine wildlife, freediving training to improve underwater control and breath-hold ability, and comprehensive instruction in digital workflow, editing, and post-processing – supporting the full creative process from capture to presentation.

Over the month-long course, participants will join 18 underwater expeditions to film a variety of marine life, from wide-angle reef scenes to detailed macro subjects. An additional 2 freediving expeditions include baited shark snorkelling sessions, designed to enhance breath-hold performance and underwater collaboration in dynamic, real-world conditions.

What to Expect:

Marine wildlife encounters within vibrant reefs, including blacktip sharks, sand tiger sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, rays, and more (enquire for the full list)
Learn how to use underwater camera systems: setup, housing assembly, and maintenance
Work with people underwater, focusing on movement, communication, and creative direction
Wide-angle and macro techniques, with attention to subject choice, composition, and execution
Lighting skills, from ambient light use to strobe and creative lighting setups
Post-production for video, with Adobe Premiere training in editing, sound design, and visual storytelling
Portfolio development to produce a professional, market-ready body of work, with guidance to building a sustainable career

The programme is based at the Blue Wilderness Shark Center in Scottburgh, a laid-back surf town located an hour south of Durban. Participants will need to fly into King Shaka International Airport, where a team member will meet you and provide transport to the accommodation.

Accommodation is in comfortable, self-catering, dorm-style housing located on-site at the Center – just minutes from the beach – creating an immersive and convenient learning environment. The residential house features shared living areas, workspaces, kitchen, bathroom, and garden spaces, with shops and restaurants nearby. Private rooms are available on request for an additional fee.

What's Included:

– 28 Day Programme

– Practical & Theoretical Training

– 18 Dive Package with 2 Rock Pool Sessions

– Accommodation with Internet

– Underwater DSLR Photographic Kits with Strobes

– Full SCUBA & Wetsuit Kits

– Airport Transfers

Underwater Videography

USD $ 4500

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Methods 2. Affiliates can transfer due commissions to their outstanding account with Africa Media. This is typically used to offset costs of upcoming participation of the affiliate in an Africa Media experiential learning program.

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In the event a customer requests and secures a refund for a transaction for which the affiliate has earned commissions, any commissions earned on the refund amount will be deducted from the affiliate’s balance.

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Affiliates are permitted to use the Africa Media brand and marketing resources available in the affiliates section of the Affiliate Program. Logos and other assets cannot be modified. The affiliate does not gain any trademark, copyright or any other rights to these materials.

The affiliate will never imply that they are acting on behalf of Africa Media. The affiliate is not an agent of Africa Media, nor employed by Africa Media. The affiliate will never bid for advertisements that compete with Africa Media.

The affiliate will never represent themselves, Africa Media or their relationship with Africa Media in a false or misleading way.

The affiliate will not engage in the distribution of an unsolicited bulk email (spam) mentioning or referencing Africa Media.

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Both parties have the right to terminate the agreement immediately without prior notice.

If the affiliate terminates the agreement, no further commissions from Africa Media will be paid for any past or future customer transactions.

If Africa Media chooses to terminate the agreement, any balance greater, or equal to $200 USD will be paid to the affiliate within 60 days of termination. Balances that are smaller than $200 will be forfeited.

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This agreement shall be governed, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of South Africa, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

Arbitration
All claims and disputes arising under or relating to this agreement are to be settled by binding arbitration in South Africa. An award of arbitration may be confirmed in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Modification
We may modify any of the terms and conditions within this agreement at any time and at our sole discretion. These modifications may include, but are not limited to changes in the scope of available commissions, commission schedules, payment procedures and Affiliate Program rules.

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Terms and Conditions

Affiliate Programs

There is one type of affiliate program with Africa Media: affiliate program

Commissions

For a sale to generate a commission to an affiliate, the customer must complete the order form and remit a non-refundable USD750 deposit payment for the product. Commissions will only be paid on sales that are made when the customer clicks through qualified, correctly structured affiliate links (individually supplied to each affiliate). Properly coded links are the sole responsibility of the affiliate. Commissions can be viewed on the Affiliate Dashboard.

Payments to affiliates will only be made following requests by affiliates via a formal portal that is accessible on the Affiliate dashboard. Affiliates are entitled to accumulate commissions and commissions will not expire.

Payment

An affiliate can request a payment when their balance reaches a minimum balance of $200 USD. Payments can be requested once every 30 days. Payment processing can take up to 5 working days from the date it was requested. There are two types of payments that can be made in the affiliate program

Method 1. Payment into the affiliate PayPal account (as determined by email address supplied by an affiliate). Any fee applied by PayPal will be for the affiliate account.

Methods 2. Affiliates can transfer due commissions to their outstanding account with Africa Media. This is typically used to offset costs of upcoming participation of the affiliate in an Africa Media experiential learning program.

Refunds

In the event a customer requests and secures a refund for a transaction for which the affiliate has earned commissions, any commissions earned on the refund amount will be deducted from the affiliate’s balance.

Usage and Obligations

Affiliates are permitted to use the Africa Media brand and marketing resources available in the affiliates section of the Affiliate Program. Logos and other assets cannot be modified. The affiliate does not gain any trademark, copyright or any other rights to these materials.

The affiliate will never imply that they are acting on behalf of Africa Media. The affiliate is not an agent of Africa Media, nor employed by Africa Media. The affiliate will never bid for advertisements that compete with Africa Media.

The affiliate will never represent themselves, Africa Media or their relationship with Africa Media in a false or misleading way.

The affiliate will not engage in the distribution of an unsolicited bulk email (spam) mentioning or referencing Africa Media.

Term and Termination

Both parties have the right to terminate the agreement immediately without prior notice.

If the affiliate terminates the agreement, no further commissions from Africa Media will be paid for any past or future customer transactions.

If Africa Media chooses to terminate the agreement, any balance greater, or equal to $200 USD will be paid to the affiliate within 60 days of termination. Balances that are smaller than $200 will be forfeited.

Governing Law

This agreement shall be governed, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of South Africa, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

Arbitration

All claims and disputes arising under or relating to this agreement are to be settled by binding arbitration in South Africa. An award of arbitration may be confirmed in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Modification

We may modify any of the terms and conditions within this agreement at any time and at our sole discretion. These modifications may include, but are not limited to changes in the scope of available commissions, commission schedules, payment procedures and Affiliate Program rules.

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UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY

Learn how to master the craft of underwater videography, guided by an expert instructor with professional SCUBA diving training. Explore and understand the impact of ocean conservation to create your own marine short film masterpiece.

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