Adventure Cave Diving in the Bahamas – Underwater Sound Recording?

Posted on 11/07/14 | International Sound Recording Trip

For 20 days in the spring of 2014 I headed off to Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas to work on a cave diving documentary for Red Bull. We had two experienced underwater cave certified cinematographers handle the underwater audio. I was a part of the above ground crew that worked in the humid heat to capture the emotions, frustrations, and celebrations of the cave diving explorers as they attempted an never been accomplished feat.

Cave diving in one of the most dangerous adventure sports. If you mess up, get stuck, or get lost, divers only have a certain amount of air tanks with them. Topside we didn’t have it much easier – staying hydrated in the humid heat, avoiding the lightening strikes from the fast developing thunderstorms, and being weary of poison wood plants which result in a skin reaction similar to poison ivy (I got it all over my torso and arms!). But that’s why production companies hire me – Because I’m really good natured about surviving harsh conditions.

In the end I was able to record some great sound and also really work as an integral multitasking team member since we were a small crew. So if you need a super sound guy for your inter national adventure documentary feel free to give me a ring.

About The Author

Christopher Brown is a Winston-Salem base sound mixer who has been involved in broadcast, corporate and documentary video production since 1992. He has traveled all over the world and has experience in a multitude of production situations -- from the jungles of Papua New Guinea, desert of Timbuktu, Mali, Africa, all the way through to corporate board rooms. He provides location sound mixer / sound recordist services throughout the world. Locally in North Carolina he works on productions in the following areas: Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, Durham, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Mooresville and Charlotte, NC.