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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Underwater Bubble Blowers User Group Thread NEW

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Why do I often feel dirty after swimming in this thread?

...don't know what else to say.
 
So, can someone tell me (hopefully without needing assistance from the moderators) what qualifications, if any, are required in the US in order to train or give advice about occupational health and safety?

Are there any work safety standards and regulations relating to filming underwater? Standard 1910, Subpart T? Any others?
 
Hey Pawel are you a ADAS 2815.1 occupational diver or just a recreational diver? In Australia it is a requirement under Australian Standards 2299 that any occupational diving including commercial underwater film making be carried out under this standard and that the divers have to be certified ADAS diver to the minimum of 2815 level 1.
 
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Hey Ross,

I was considering doing a commercial license, but never actually had a need for one, so didn't end up doing it. Do you have one or/and find it useful or required for some jobs?
Not sure if military rebreather quals are considered "recreational" these days :)
 
Hey Pawel

All professional underwater cinematographers are supposed to operate under Australian standards 2299 within the frame work of Work Place Health and Safety in this country. I am trained on SM1600 military rebreathers as well as the ADP Evolution and the ISC Megalodon CCR units and it makes no difference if you use open circuit or military spec CCR you are required by law to run your commercial operation as a ADAS 2815 minimum level 1 certification. If you don't there are far reaching ramifications in regard to such things as liability insurance and accident responsibility whilst being employed by a production company or carrying out a commercial venture such as a film production. I was vice president along side the president Ron Taylor on the UWVPAA Underwater Visual Producers Association Australia which was set up to advise the Dept of Work Place Health Safety federally and I am surprised you are not aware of the implication and personal responsibilities you have to producers that hire you or crew that you might hire for your own productions.
 
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Thanks Ross, greatly appreciated.

I thought that comemercial operations were required to comply with Australian standards, rather than having being certified, just like with other Workplace Health and Safety laws and regs i.e: certification doesn't ensure compliance and compliance is not achieved by certification. But, I may be entirely incorrect on this.

What I was asking for were qualifications needed to provide training and advice. In Australia, this requires a 6 - 12 month course and competency assessment to Cert IV in OHS. My question was about equivalent requirements, if any, in the US. Hopefully Tom or Johnny can tell us what certifications they completed.

Re. Military rebreathers: I wasn't referring to recreational training on dual-purpose rebreathers. The reason I put a smiley was because I was thinking more about factory training designed for combat situations on rebreathers that can not be purchased by individuals (and some governments). Never mind. All good skills to have.
 
The SM1600 or Mark 15.5 is a rebreather designed for the military and is sometimes available domestically. Pure O2 rebreathers military or non military I find are far to restrictive for serious underwater film work as they are depth limited. To comply with AS 2299 I believe one needs to be certified 2815.1 as a minimum.
 
Ross Isaacs said:
Pure O2 rebreathers military or non military I find are far to restrictive for serious underwater film work as they are depth limited...
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I agree, I was not referring to 02 rebreathers. Great for marine mamals, surface work and fun, though :)
 
Tom Hamilton said:
At last count, there are no less than seven major award-winning underwater camera guys who inhabit this thread
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I knew they were out there, but who are they exactly. Top seven major award winnings underwater camera opts?
 
For me, the guy with the record...

Dive with sharks. One check. Drive with sharks and live. Another check. Dive with sharks, live and have it all on film. Check, check, check. Produce great shots, check. Do this 100s of times successfully... you get the point.

I'd like to train with a Navy SEAL, certifications or not over any dive school I have researched.

What are certifications used for? Renting gear? Certainly not for having the balls to jump in with sharks or the talent for capturing awesome underwater moments.

Pawel Achtel said:
So, can someone tell me (hopefully without needing assistance from the moderators) what qualifications, if any, are required in the US in order to train or give advice about occupational health and safety?

Are there any work safety standards and regulations relating to filming underwater? Standard 1910, Subpart T? Any others?
Click to expand...
 
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Finally, the sharks get some good press. This story reminds me of my stays in French Polynesia, Fakarava and Rangiroa, where the sharks are revered by the islanders as Gods of the sea.

I do suspect it was a series of happy coincidences, possibly an Oceanic White Tip or a Tiger scratching for a meal, but good stuff nonetheless.

http://www.inquisitr.com/334175/shark-saves-man-drifting-at-sea/
 
Pawel, a couple questions as we ready our camera for your deepX housing. is the nikonos 15mm pl mount? can the lens be focused remotely, do the batterys need to be fitting on 19mm rods or on the back of the epic?
 
Hi Will,

DeepX is the lens mount! You do not need any other lens mount :)

You can not focus remotely at present. We are working on a wet servo for ROV operation.
DeepX can use either RED dual or quad battery module or V-lock plate. You do not need any rails.
You do need a small HDMI or HD-SDI monitor until RED releases the Monitor Adapter module.
I will send you a manual.
 
can we use AB batteries? Dionic 90s?
 
Ross Isaacs said:
Hey Pawel

All professional underwater cinematographers are supposed to operate under Australian standards 2299 within the frame work of Work Place Health and Safety in this country. I am trained on SM1600 military rebreathers as well as the ADP Evolution and the ISC Megalodon CCR units and it makes no difference if you use open circuit or military spec CCR you are required by law to run your commercial operation as a ADAS 2815 minimum level 1 certification. If you don't there are far reaching ramifications in regard to such things as liability insurance and accident responsibility whilst being employed by a production company or carrying out a commercial venture such as a film production. I was vice president along side the president Ron Taylor on the UWVPAA Underwater Visual Producers Association Australia which was set up to advise the Dept of Work Place Health Safety federally and I am surprised you are not aware of the implication and personal responsibilities you have to producers that hire you or crew that you might hire for your own productions.
Click to expand...

Hey Ross,

It appears that my understanding was correct: ADAS 2815.1 certification is not legally required to perform work underwater in Australia. But, of course, the compliance to the standard is mandatory.

From ADAS website:

"...Media divers are normally highly trained camera operators who use diving as a method to reach their workplace, although some underwater photographers may start as recreational divers and move on to make a living from their hobby. The state and territory OH&S regulations are basically silent on any specific legal requirements for diver certifications for media diving...."

and

"...The Australian /New Zealand Standard 2299 Occupational diving operations; Part 4: Film and photographic diving, which has been prepared specifically for diving work in the film and photographic industry, supplies requirements and guidance relevant for producers, contractors and employees. The Standard is intended to assist in addressing the ‘duty of care’ with respect to diving placed on employers (such as producers) and employees under occupational health and safety legislation to take care of both themselves and others within the workplace...."

So, having Cert IV in OH&S I would be legally qualified to give advice on this standard as well as implementation of safety at a work place (underwater), even though I may not have ADAS 2815.1 certification myself.

And my understanding remains that I do not legally require ADAS 2815.1 certification to commercially film underwater and there should be absolutely no "ramifications in regard to such things as liability insurance and accident responsibility whilst being employed by a production company or carrying out a commercial venture such as a film production.". If you have any relevant legislation stating that ADAS 2815.1 certification is a requirement, please point it to me.
 
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