I have been working for Wildstar continuously since September 2020 as a researcher/dive supervisor. I have a strong underwater background and have worked on long complex shoots with multiple camera systems in place. I am a HSE Part IV scuba diver (Trained with Neil brock) with over 7 years diving experience and lots of media diving e... Read More

I have been working for Wildstar continuously since September 2020 as a researcher/dive supervisor. I have a strong underwater background and have worked on long complex shoots with multiple camera systems in place. I am a HSE Part IV scuba diver (Trained with Neil brock) with over 7 years diving experience and lots of media diving experience. I have more than 500 dives and I am a PADI Divemaster, O2 administrator trained, First Aid at Work & Remote first aid trained (Secret Compass). I have a lot of experience of dive supervising and safety diving on remote natural history film shoots with both Scuba and rebreather divers in tropical and cold water. I hold a valid HSE medical (Expiry – 24/11/23) and I have completed the Human factors in Diving course(Gareth Lock). Additionally, I help run the dive team within Wildstar, which involves running masterclasses for the company and providing advice for people setting up dive shoots. I also have experience of running diving operations on liveaboard boats, and ensuring the safety of divers with various sharks, dolphins and whales in the Azores. I previously worked as a Skipper and Safety snorkeller in Norway with Orcas and Humpback whales and I have a lot of experience diving underwater with various cetaceans such as humpback whales, orcas, sperm whales, pilot whales etc.  
 
Skills:
Researching and developing story ideas through a journalistic and academic approach using all sources of reference 
Planning and preparing logistics for shoots - in particular dive shoots but not limited to
Going on location as a field director - managing the team and logistics. Working with the camera team, reviewing footage each night to ensure we are getting the shots and making selects 
Dive supervising and safety diving (Scuba & rebreather)
Writing PRA's, Medcoms & Dive RA's 
Camera assistant type support: Taking stills and BTS on location, setting up Go pros
Catching and Deploying drones from boats 
Presenting Dive masterclasses within the company 
 
I would say my strengths are organisational, adaptable & people skills. These all come in very handy on location, especially when you have to work & live on a boat with a relatively large team in extreme environments. 
 
Previous shoot experience:
 
Costa Rica - Cocos Island sharks - Bertie
Costa Rica - Bait balls - Bertie
Antarctica - Fin whales - Bertie 
Crozet Island - Orcas - Queens
Current production: Australia (x2) , Alaska  - (Field director), Namibia - (Field director), New Zealand (x2) (Field director), Mauritius - (Field director).  Read Less