John Bracewell GBCT GTC John Bracewell IMDb

Working in various aspects of Engineering for 30 years, in 1999 he went solo pursuing his hobby in scuba diving which lead him to set up Merman Enterprises.

He originally learned to dive in 1976 with a local club in Rochdale, in the days of home made wet suits and borrowed equipment (scuba diving for Joe Bloggs was in its infancy)
He filmed underwater in those early days, recording on Super 8 and 16mm film in home made housings.

He attended The Professional Diving Academy in Dunoon to get his HSE Scuba pt4 to work professionally in the TV and Film industry as an underwater cameraman.

In 2009 he set up Merman Diving and Marine Services

John also operates as a commercial underwater cameraman in Film and TV with state of the art cameras and housings.

He has also achieved Medic status, working with NW Ambulance Service as a First Responder and recently progressed as a First Aid At Work Instructor also IMCA Diver Medic Technician.

Qualifications –

HSE Scuba pt4
MCA Powerboat Advanced “Commercially Endorsed”
RYA Sea Survival
RYA First Aid
RYA VHF Op.

Swiftwater and Flood Rescue  Advanced Tech.

Guild of Television Camera Professionals Member  GTC (3628)

Guild of British Camera Technicians (gbct)

BECTU Member

IMCA Diver Medic Technician

City and Guilds Electrical Pt P, 17th Edition Regs
City and Guilds Engineering Pt 2
BECTU/IOSH Safety Passport
HSE Registered Diving Contractor
CSCS Approved   “Diving and Underwater Engineering Projects Engineer”
Emergency First Response Instructor CPR /First Aid Infant/Child /Adult
North West Ambulance First Responder
ITV Approved Contractor

The company now also runs several Coded Safety boats and a Camera Boat as well as a professional team of HSE Divers and RYA skippers.

Richard Farrand

Richard served for 14 years in the Royal Navy as an Engineer. After his Naval Service he became a Police Officer with West Yorkshire Police .

He has been a recreational Diver for 20yrs , diving in a variety of conditions with a particular preference for Wreck diving.
He retired after 25 years service in West Yorkshire Police and wanted to combine his love of Diving with new career opportunities.
He attended the Professional Diving Academy in Dunoon and qualified as an HSE Scuba diver to work in Media , Archeological and Salvage. He also obtained RYA Powerboat Level 2 certification.

Since 2013 he has been employed in HSE media diving and water safety and has carried out a variety of directed diving roles , including simulating Police diver , rescue and body recovery, Historical diver and supporting Stunt Coordinators.
He also carries out the role of a Police Advisor on pre production recce and on set/location.

HSE 4 Scuba

Swiftwater Rescue Technician Advanced

First aid at Work

Simon Hayhurst

Simon has been a gamekeeper for 30 years, breeding game and running shoots in North Yorkshire.

His diving started in 1991 when he started training with PADI, progressing over the years to become an Advanced Openwater Diver, Rescue Diver and Assistant Instructor.

In 2015 he attended the Professional Dive Acadamy in Dunoon and passed as a HSE Scuba PT4 . He has worked with Merman Diving since 2009 and has worked on numerous television and film shoots.

Qualifications

Diver HSE 4 Scuba
Diver PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
PADI Rescue Diver
PADI Assistant Instructor
First Aid at Work Certified
Oxygen Admin.
Skipper SAA Powerboat Level 2

Brian Perks

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Brian has worked in the motor industry for 30 years as an Engineer.

He began diving in 1979 with Milnrow Sub Aqua and progressed to SAA Dive Supervisor. Since its early beginning Brian has worked together with John on numerous documentary and film shoots as a underwater camera assistant
He has been skipper on both camera and safety boats in some of the most demanding jobs March 2015   Marine Coordinator and Skipper on Icelandic survey for Newcastle University. Team member of Lifeboat Crew at St.Abbs  Scotland

Qualifications

Diver SAA Dive Supervisor
Skipper  / Marine Coordinator
MCA / RYA Powerboat Advanced Commercially Endorsed
RYA VHF Operator
RYA First aid at Sea
RYA Sea Survival