For most, that means a couple of years of starving, working part-time jobs and waiting for that break when you are in the right place at the right time with the right skills. All negativity aside, for those in the right place at the right time, the future of diving in the entertainment industry is bright. Apart from the increased number of big-budget productions that involve water work in development, technology has made working underwater considerably less intimidating for a director or production company. Reliable underwater communications, improvements in watertight camera housings, larger studio filming tanks and knowledge brought about by experience have all contributed to making the underwater environment less intimidating. The advances in technical diving also are beginning to have a positive effect on the film industry.
Nitrox fills provide longer, yet safer, working times, with less fatigue.
Rebreathers will make those difficult bubble-free shots easier and allow camera operators to get closer to marine life. Even the fin techniques of the cave divers have applications on underwater sets where any silt could ruin an expensive shot. Mark Lonsdale founded Frogmen Unlimited to meet the entertainment industry's need for qualified divers. He draws on 20 years of experience in commercial, public safety, special operations and sport diving to supply technical advisers, instructors, safety swimmers and stunt professionals for movie and television productions. This article appears in the sold out Winter '96 issue of Immersed .