Biography

Growing up in a beach and water mad family, Jim started surfing at age seven and still loves the ocean 43 years later. As an excellent swimmer and water polo player, achieving national honours, Jim wanted a career that kept him close to the sea so in 1989 he joined the South African Navy. After qualifying as a Part 1 Clearance diver, he stayed with the Navy a further three years, completing the Deep Dive, Coxswain and Supervisor courses. Jim left the Navy in 1992 and transitioned into sport diving, working as a diving instructor and boat skipper. He moved up to the warmer waters of Sodwana Bay and Mozambique where he honed his surf launching skills running dive charters for dive centres at a number of 5-star lodges. After five years and a case of island fever he moved back to Cape Town and started working for a local dive travel magazine, Divestyle. The flexible hours allowed for time to freelance in the film Industry as a marine specialist and it was work on an underwater fashion shoot that lead to Jim meeting Jason for the first time. That fortuitous meeting lead to them joining forces and setting up Frog Squad in 2003. 32 years later and still loving the ocean, Jim is one of the most experienced Marine Coordinators around, having worked extensively in the film industry for over 17 years. His credits include: Red Water, Lord of war, The Triangle, Strike Back, Mary & Martha, The Jungle Book, Roots, The Giver, Resident Evil, Hooten & the Lady, Black Sails and Deep Blue Sea 2 & 3, to name just a few.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jim Fraser