Ocean Footage Mastery

Turn Your Underwater Passion into Pro-Grade Cinematography

Welcome to Ocean Footage Mastery

Unlock the practical knowledge, protocols, and systems you need to improve your craft.

OFM isn’t about promising overnight stardom—it’s about bridging the gap between solid diving skills and high-end cinematography through clear, proven techniques and continuous feedback.

Is This Program For You?

  • Skilled Divers with Access: Do you dive in prime locations around the world?‍
  • Ocean Conservation Passion: Do you care deeply about the underwater world and its creatures?
  • Commitment to Improvement: Are you determined to refine your craft and develop a professional workflow?‍
  • Persistent Achiever: Do you have the drive to solve the “apprenticeship gap” by learning techniques that set professionals apart?
  • Investment-Minded: Are you ready to invest in your passion to overcome obstacles in reaching your creative and professional goals?

If you answered “YES” to many of these, then OFM is designed for you.

FastTrack Your Learning

Address the Apprenticeship Gap

Are you currently wrestling with the "Apprenticeship Gap? Though equipped with diving skills and a love for oceanic life, you need exposure to high-end cinematography techniques and practices that differentiate amateurs from professionals. The only way to do this is through a formal apprenticeship with an established underwater cinematographer. For many, this is impossible, and for those who can, the opportunities are very limited and hard to get. Not having the above manifests as frustration at being passed up for shoots and a sense of missing out and not achieving your hunger for being world-class.

Realise Your Pro Potential

Through this program, you will gain access to all the knowledge, protocols and systems you need to unlock your full potential. Ongoing coaching, community feedback and accountability will reinforce and accelerate your learning curve. A key milestone will arrive when you are able to craft footage that could be considered for inclusion in wildlife documentaries for Netflix and AppleTV. Reaching this level of actualisation will empower you to pursue a full-time career as an underwater cinematographer. Alternatively, you could work part time in the industry and contribute footage to high-end productions through stock sales.

The OFM System: A Practical, Step-by-Step Approach

We don’t promise that you’ll become “world-class” overnight. Instead, our system gives you a clear pathway to build your professional skills step by step:

1️⃣ Decisive Cine Framework (DCF)

Even if you have excellent diving skills and a love for the ocean, the high-level techniques of professional underwater cinematography aren’t available on free tutorials. OFM fills that gap by teaching you the systems and protocols that experienced cinematographers have refined over years of work.

Learn the fundamentals of visual storytelling:

  • Composition: Arrange visual elements to guide the viewer’s eye—think balanced framing, leading lines, and strategic use of negative space.
  • Coverage: Capture a range of shots (wide, medium, tight) so you have everything you need in the edit.
  • Lighting & Movement: Master natural and artificial lighting while moving deliberately, not chasing the action.

2️⃣ SequenceCraft OS

A structured, adaptable workflow that guides you through every phase of production:

  • Frame: Set clear objectives and plan your gear, logistics, and shot lists.
  • Explore: Test your assumptions in the field and adapt your strategy based on real conditions.
  • Craft: Execute the shoot with deliberate, controlled techniques (whether in blue water, fluid benthic, static benthic or topside environments).
  • Leverage: Review your footage, refine your approach, and integrate feedback to improve future shoots.

3️⃣ Real-World Application

Our current cohorts are already seeing shifts in their approach:

  • Refined Camera Movement: Nick now guides the frame instead of chasing subjects, resulting in smoother, more controlled footage.
  • Improved Shot Stability: Nick emphasises anticipation and steady tracking over frantic reaction.
  • Natural Lighting Mastery: Jessica is challenging her reliance on video lights and experimenting with natural light to achieve more immersive looks.
  • Deliberate Composition & Sequence Building: Jessica and Fabio both now think in terms of complete sequences rather than isolated shots, ensuring their footage is cohesive and story-driven.

What You Get with OFM

Ocean Footage Mastery (OFM) isn’t just another online course—it’s a structured, hands-on training ground designed for serious divers who want to refine their cinematography skills with the guidance of an industry expert. This isn’t about passive learning or surface-level tutorials. It’s about building real, professional-level underwater cinematography techniques through deliberate practice, expert feedback, and a system that works in the field.

1️⃣ Structured, Actionable Learning

Many underwater cinematography courses focus on concepts without giving you a clear execution plan. OFM follows a practical, structured learning approach that ensures you understand not just what to do, but how to do it effectively in real-world conditions.

✅ A Clear Pathway from Learning to Execution

Instead of leaving you to piece together disjointed techniques, we provide a step-by-step system that ensures steady, measurable progress. Whether you’re refining your camera movement, adjusting to natural lighting, or framing a compelling shot, every lesson is designed to be immediately applicable.

Built for Different Ocean Environments

Underwater cinematography isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether you're working in open blue water, dynamic reef-based environments (fluid benthic), or controlled seabed sequences (static benthic), OFM teaches you the specific techniques needed for each setting.

Learn at Your Own Pace, with Guided Milestones

While OFM gives you structured learning modules, we also recognise that every cinematographer progresses at their own speed. You’ll have access to a flexible curriculum that allows you to move forward as you refine your skills, ensuring that your execution matches your ambition.

2️⃣ Continuous Feedback & Hands-On Mentorship

Many courses sell you information and disappear. OFM is different.The real transformation happens through ongoing feedback, shot reviews, and direct mentorship.

Expert Shot Reviews

Every serious filmmaker needs constructive, expert feedback to improve. You’ll submit your footage and receive direct critiques that help you refine your technique, composition, movement, and exposure.

Live Q&A and Mentorship with Roger

Roger doesn’t just provide generic feedback—he dives into the nuances of your footage, your shooting conditions, and your challenges, offering practical solutions and high-level insights.

Community Feedback & Peer Learning

You’ll be part of a private network of serious underwater cinematographers who are learning and growing alongside you. Through peer reviews, shared experiences, and group discussions, you’ll gain fresh perspectives, troubleshoot common issues, and accelerate your progress.

3️⃣ Proven Workflows & Real-World Application

Most divers struggle to make the jump from filming ocean life to creating footage that professionals actually use. OFM bridges that gap with industry-tested workflows used in major productions, including My Octopus Teacher and Blue Planet II.

Decisive Cine Framework (DCF) – Master the Core Pillars of Cinematic Filmmaking

  • Composition: Learn how to frame shots with balance, symmetry, and leading lines to guide the viewer’s eye.
  • Coverage: Capture a variety of shots to build an editor-friendly sequence rather than disconnected clips.
  • Lighting & Movement: Master controlled motion and natural light techniques instead of relying on excessive artificial lighting.

SequenceCraft OS – A Systematic Workflow for Every Filming Scenario

This framework ensures consistency in your approach, whether you're shooting in:

  • Blue Water (mastering negative space, bait balls, and pelagic wildlife)
  • Fluid Benthic (tracking fast-moving reef life with controlled motion)
  • Static Benthic (filming slow, character-driven stories in controlled environments)
  • Aerial & Surface Cinematography (integrating drone and gimbal work into your underwater sequences)

Professional Shooting & Editing Practices

  • Learn how to approach a shoot with structure and intention, so you’re not just reacting to what’s happening but orchestrating a compelling sequence.
  • Develop an eye for sequences rather than standalone clips, making your footage far more valuable to broadcasters and editors.

4️⃣ A Network That Grows With You—For Life

One of the most underrated benefits of OFM isn’t just what you learn today—it’s the lifelong access to a growing network of serious underwater cinematographers. Unlike many programs that give you temporary access, OFM is a career-long asset, ensuring that you are always part of a thriving, evolving ecosystem of ocean filmmakers.

Your Network Expands Over Time

The students in OFM today will become tomorrow’s leading underwater cinematographers, directors, and industry professionals. As this community grows, so do the opportunities for collaboration, referrals, and professional connections.

A Space for Shared Knowledge & Ongoing Learning

Technology, shooting techniques, and best practices will continue to evolve. By staying connected, you’ll always have access to new insights, workflows, and emerging industry trends from fellow OFM members.

Collaboration & Career Opportunities

Many of the best career opportunities don’t come from job postings—they come from people you know. This network is where students:

  • Share shoot opportunities and industry jobs
  • Find collaborators for high-end productions
  • Connect with alumni who have gone on to work with major broadcasters

An Exclusive, High-Quality Community

Not everyone gets into OFM. This is a network of dedicated, skilled divers who are serious about their craft. That means every interaction, piece of feedback, and shared resource comes from a high level of expertise and commitment.

Apply now

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re a dedicated diver determined to solve the “apprenticeship gap” and enhance your cinematography skills through proven systems and continuous improvement, OFM is your path forward.