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School diving into new film
By John Martin
Volume 50, No. 13, July 26, 2007 |
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| UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: Cameraman Malcolm Ludgate at work filming SMNCD Tom Adams for the documentary. |
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ABC viewers are set to find out just how tough it is to become a navy clearance diver.
West Australian company Prospero Productions has begun filming a four-part documentary at the RAN Diving School at HMAS Penguin on Middle Head in Sydney Harbour.
The episodes will follow trainees from their first Clearance Diving Acceptance Test through to their graduation in May 2008.
LEUT Matt Carroll, CIO of the Diving School, said there were 30 applicants when filming began on June 12 – now there were just 14.
Aside from the acceptance test and graduation, filming will also take in:
- underwater battle damage repair;
- mine counter measures;
- and maritime tactical operations.
Prospero Productions has been making quality documentaries for the Australian and international markets for the past 15 years.
It recently produced a six-part series called Eco House Challenge on SBS, and Pipe Dreams, which was part of the ABC’s Constructing Australia series.
This is not its first foray under the water.
About 10 years ago it made a seven-part series called Dive School which followed the exploits of commercial divers in Britain.
This is the first time it has focused on Australian Navy divers though.
Prospero Production’s research and production manager, Ingrid Longley, said the aim was to make a “fly on the wall” style series, following the trials and tribulations of the trainees as they progress through the nine-month long course.
The working title for the documentary is Navy Divers. Prospero Productions is in discussion with the ABC at the moment and hopefully the documentary will air next year.
The RAN Diving School holds Clearance Diving Selection Tests throughout the year to assess suitability of personnel to commence Clearance Diving Training. In addition to SMNCD recruits, nominations are accepted from suitable personnel throughout the fleet and the wider ADF. |
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