1.1 INTRODUCTION
Most divers have a desire to bring home the sights and sounds of being underwater. Underwater video makes it possible to save our underwater experiences and share them with others. Shooting underwater video is fun, exciting, and easy to learn. This course is designed to introduce divers to the equipment, techniques, and procedures needed to plan and shoot underwater video with maximum safety.

1.2 WHO MAY TEACH
Who may teach this course?
1. An active SDI Instructor or Assistant Instructor that has been certified to teach this specialty.

1.3 STUDENT – INSTRUCTOR RATIO
Academic:
2. Unlimited, so long as adequate facility, supplies and time are provided to insure comprehensive and complete training.
Confined Water (Swimming pool-like conditions):
3. N/A.
Open Water (Ocean, lake, quarry, spring, river or estuary):
4. A maximum of eight (8) students per Instructor. However, it is the instructor’s discretion to reduce this number as conditions dictate.
5. The Instructor has the option of adding two (2) more students with the assistance of an active Assistant Instructor or Divemaster.
6. The total number of students an instructor may have in the water is twelve (12) with the assistance of two (2) Assistant Instructors or Divemasters.

1.4 STUDENT PRE-REQUISITES
7. Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver.
8. Ten (10) years or older.

1.5 COURSE STRUCTURE AND DURATION
Open Water execution:
9. Two (2) dives are required with complete briefs and debriefs by the Instructor.
10. Plan dive must include Surface interval, Max no-deco time, etc. to be figured out and logged.
Course Structure:
11. SDI allows instructors to structure courses according to the number of students participating and their skill level.

1.6 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Administrative Tasks:
12. Collect the course fees from all the students.
13. Ensure that the students have the required equipment.
14. Communicate the schedule to the students.
15. Have the students complete the Liability Release and Medical history forms.
16. The Instructor should review the Liability Release and Medical Forms before starting on the course.
Upon successful completion of this specialty the instructor must issue the SDI Underwater Video Diver specialty experience card. The Instructor must:
17. Issue one of the following cards:
A SDI Insta-Card.
Use either a SDI diver registration form or a Pre-paid Diver certification form to file for the specialty certification card if a SDI certification card is requested.
Award card and certificate.

1.7 REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
18. Basic SDI Open Water SCUBA equipment as prescribed earlier in this manual.
19. Camcorder and underwater housing equipped for the camcorder (optional: underwater light system)

1.8 APPROVED OUTLINE
Instructors may use any additional text or materials that they feel help present these topics. The following topics must be covered:
20. Video Equipment
A. Video systems.
B. Types of video formats.
C. Camcorders.
D. Camcorder controls.
E. Accessories.
21. Underwater Video Housings
A. Types of housings.
B. Housing controls.
C. Features and benefits.
D. Selecting housing.
22. Recording Underwater
A. Dive planning.
B. Setting the video and dive objective.
C. Creating a storyboard.
D. Safety concerns.
23. Pre-dive Equipment Assembly
A. Setting the camera controls.
B. Assembling the system.
C. Checking for leaks.
24. Camcorder Handling Techniques
A. Using the viewfinder.
B. Point and shoot.
C. Using a tripod.
25. Basic Techniques
A. Shot selection.
B. Shot times.
C. Putting shots in sequence.
D. Approaching marine life.
E. Cutting video shots.
F. Surface water shots.
G. Above water shots.
26. Underwater Video Lighting
A. Natural light.
B. Artificial light.
C. Light systems and power supplies.
D. Lights and filters.
27. Shooting Video at Night
A. Safety Concerns.
B. Entries and exits.
C. Operating the camcorder and housing controls.
D. Approaching marine life at night.
28. Editing
A. Fundamentals of editing.
B. Required equipment.
C. Editing equipment configurations.
D. Editing techniques.
E. In-camera editing.
29. Care and Maintenance
A. After each dive.
B. Regular maintenance.
C. Periodic maintenance.
D. Storing underwater video systems.
E. Caring for a flooded camcorder / housing.
30. Traveling with Underwater Equipment
A. Deciding what equipment to bring.
B. Packing the equipment.
C. Brining underwater video equipment on boats.
D. Flying with underwater video equipment.
E. Renting equipment.

1.9 REQUIRED SKILL PERFORMANCE AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Students are required to successfully complete the following:
31. Open Water – Dive one (1)
A. Plan Dive.
B. Set the Video Objective.
C. Plan the sequence of shots.
D. Review of procedures.
E. Entry.
F. Diving procedures.
G. Exit.
H. Log Dive.
I. Care of equipment.
32. Open Water – Dive two (2)
A. Plan dive.
B. Review procedures.
C. Entry.
D. Planned dive.
E. Exit.
F. Log Dive.
G. Care of equipment.
H. Editing footage to follow story.