Marine Documentary Production Course
This course takes you through the whole process of producing a marine documentary, from the first idea to its release. You will learn to define the theme, central argument and point of view, research and write a treatment, plan production at sea with weather windows, permits, budget and risk assessment, film on deck, in port and on board with good sound and data management, approach underwater capture with the right equipment, lighting and dive safety, and distribute your film ethically while measuring its impact.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Marine Documentary Production Course?
This short course prepares you to produce documentaries about marine life, ocean conservation, exploration, science and maritime industry. You will study the types of marine documentary, theme and central argument, prior research and the development dossier, story construction, treatment, synopsis and sequence outline, maritime production planning, permits and access, budget and resources, crew roles and coordination with the vessel's crew, risk assessment, camera language at sea, maritime B-roll, interviews in operational settings, location sound in adverse conditions, data management on set, underwater planning, housings, lenses and buoyancy, underwater lighting and backscatter, dive safety applied to filming, low-impact filming of marine life, and distribution, delivery, marketing, ethics and impact metrics.
What sets this course apart: a production-first approach that treats logistics, permits, budget and safety as seriously as the image; a realistic view of filming on boats and underwater, including weather, salt, noise and visibility; a firm commitment to filming marine life without disturbance and following codes of conduct; scientific grounding so that stories are told with rigor and credibility; and a final project in which you design the launch strategy, ethical framework and impact measurement for your own documentary.
Program highlights
- Development: theme, central argument, point of view, treatment and sequence outline.
- Maritime pre-production: weather windows, permits, budget, crew and risk assessment.
- Filming at sea: camera language on deck, maritime B-roll, interviews and location sound.
- Underwater capture: housings, lenses, lighting, backscatter and dive safety for filming.
- Ethics: low-impact filming of marine life, image rights and fragile locations.
- Final project: distribution strategy, delivery package and impact metrics.
Syllabus of the Marine Documentary Production Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Conceptualising the marine documentary, editorial approach and development of the narrative treatment
- 1.1. Types of marine documentary: science, exploration, conservation, industry, tourism and investigative films with distinct goals
- 1.2. Defining theme, central argument and point of view: public relevance, technical accuracy and audience focus
- 1.3. Prior research and dossier: primary sources, scientific literature, open data and basic verification
- 1.4. Building the story: narrative arc, characters, scenes, conflict, pace and a meaningful ending
- 1.5. Treatment, synopsis and sequence outline: structure by sequences, continuity and development deliverables
Operational pre-production in the maritime environment: logistics, permits and risk planning
- 2.1. Maritime production plan: schedule, weather windows, itineraries, plans A, B and C and checkpoints
- 2.2. Permits and access: ports, protected areas, vessels, research centers and document management
- 2.3. Budget and resources: crew, rentals, insurance, transport, consumables and contingencies
- 2.4. Team design and roles: direction, camera, sound, production, safety and coordination with the vessel's crew
- 2.5. Risk assessment: risk matrix, PPE, critical areas, protocols on board and operational communication
Filming on the surface, in ports and on vessels: camera, sound and recording in real conditions
- 3.1. Camera language at sea: stability, horizon, movement, continuity and composition on deck
- 3.2. Capturing maritime B-roll: maneuvers, port operations, science on board and contextual technical detail
- 3.3. Interviews in operational settings: preparation, microphones, noise and vibration, permissions and message control
- 3.4. Location sound in adverse conditions: wind, salt, machinery, redundancy and quality control
- 3.5. Data management on set: cards, 3-2-1 backups, metadata, logging and chain of custody
Underwater production and specialist capture: lighting, safety and imaging techniques in water
- 4.1. Underwater planning: scene objectives, visibility, currents, timings and safety limits
- 4.2. Underwater filming equipment: housings, lenses, filters, buoyancy, maintenance and redundancy
- 4.3. Underwater lighting: color temperature, reach, scattering, backscatter and criteria for use
- 4.4. Dive safety applied to filming: buddy system, signals, roles, emergencies and coordination with the surface
- 4.5. Filming marine life without impact: distances, signs of stress, non-interference and codes of conduct
Distribution, impact and final project: launch strategy, ethics and measurement of results
- 5.1. Distribution strategies: festivals, television, streaming platforms, YouTube, institutions and educational circuits
- 5.2. Delivery package: masters, codecs, versions, subtitles, trailer, poster and press kit
- 5.3. Marketing and communication: the project's story, press, social media, community and sector partnerships
- 5.4. Ethics, law and compliance: image rights, sensitive data, fragile locations and editorial transparency
- 5.5. Metrics and impact: reach, retention, coverage, behavior change, partners and project reporting
Duration and format of the Marine Documentary Production Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Marine Documentary Production Course
Career opportunities after the Marine Documentary Production Course
Questions about the Marine Documentary Production Course
To inform and raise awareness about the ocean, marine life and the importance of conservation, through stories that are both engaging and accurate.
Depending on the project: underwater cameras and housings, specialist lighting, sound recording gear suited to wind and machinery, and sometimes drones or hydrophones.
Not to take the course. The underwater module explains planning, equipment and dive safety for filming; if you intend to film underwater yourself, a recreational diving certification issued by a recognized diving organization is advisable.
Filming without disturbance is a core principle: you will study safe distances, signs of stress, non-interference and codes of conduct for working around wildlife and fragile habitats.
Yes. Pre-production covers permits for ports, protected areas and vessels, budgeting with insurance and contingencies, and risk assessment with protocols on board.
You develop the release plan for a marine documentary: distribution strategy, delivery package, communication plan, ethical and legal review and impact metrics.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded, practical exercises with personalized feedback and guidance for individual projects.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
More programs in Underwater imaging
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at filmmakers and documentary makers, marine biologists and oceanographers who want to communicate their research, students of audiovisual communication and marine science, production companies and environmental organizations, and ocean enthusiasts with editing and storytelling skills; experience in audiovisual production or marine conservation is recommended, and a recreational diving certification is desirable for the underwater module.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and video editing software such as DaVinci Resolve or Premiere; your own camera equipment is helpful but not essential.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.