Master’s degree1,500 h · Online · 11 modules

Master's in Underwater Archaeology

This master's takes you into the world of submerged cultural heritage. You will learn to research, document and protect archaeological sites in aquatic environments, from historic shipwrecks to prehistoric settlements, and gain the technical and theoretical skills needed to lead excavation, conservation and management projects for underwater heritage.

Duration1,500 h

ModeOnline

Start1 December

Modules11

Program diagnosis

Prior knowledge check

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About the program

What is the Master's in Underwater Archaeology?

This master's covers the full cycle of an underwater archaeology project. You will study site types, the underwater environment and the ethics of minimal intervention; the legal framework, permits, inventories and the prevention of looting; desk research, diver survey, side-scan sonar, multibeam, magnetometry, ROVs and AUVs; underwater drawing, photography, photogrammetry, GIS and 3D models; excavation, stratigraphy and controlled recovery; the conservation of waterlogged wood, metals, ceramics and organic materials, in the field, in the laboratory and in situ; historic ship architecture, cargoes and the interpretation of wrecks; digital analysis and artificial intelligence; and the display, education and responsible tourism that make heritage part of public life.

What sets this master's apart: it treats every phase, from archival research to publication, as one chain in which a mistake at sea cannot be undone in the laboratory; it gives conservation, law and community engagement the same weight as excavation; it uses robotics, sensors and digital tools while keeping archaeological judgment at the center; and it closes with the planning of a complete archaeological campaign and a Final Project built around a real type of site, from a wreck to a flooded landscape.

Program typeMaster’s degree

ModeOnline

Duration1,500 hours

Modules11

Start1 December

Program highlights

Foundations and ethics: site types, the underwater environment, threats and minimal intervention.
Heritage law and management: permits, inventories, chain of custody and prevention of looting.
Survey and documentation: sonar, magnetometry, ROV/AUV, photogrammetry, GIS and 3D models.
Excavation and conservation: stratigraphy, controlled recovery, desalination and waterlogged wood.
Interpretation: historic ship architecture, cargoes, trade routes and site formation processes.
Public value: museum display, responsible diving tourism, education and campaign planning.

Syllabus

Syllabus of the Master's in Underwater Archaeology

11 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Foundations of underwater archaeology, submerged cultural heritage and historical-maritime context

1.1. The concept of underwater archaeology and the differences between underwater archaeology, submerged heritage, survey, excavation, documentation and conservation
1.2. Types of underwater sites: shipwrecks, ancient harbors, anchorages, coastal structures, flooded landscapes and remains of navigation
1.3. Links between navigation, trade, war, fishing, migration, naval technology and the formation of the archaeological record underwater
1.4. Characteristics of the underwater environment: depth, pressure, visibility, sediments, currents, salinity, corrosion and access constraints
1.5. The scientific, historical, social, educational and heritage value of submerged cultural property
1.6. Main threats: looting, marine construction, bottom trawling, unregulated tourism, erosion, pollution and loss of context
1.7. Archaeological ethics, minimal intervention, rigorous documentation and respect for the integrity of the site
1.8. A systemic approach to underwater archaeology that integrates history, science, diving, technology, conservation and heritage management
1.9. Actors involved: archaeologists, scientific divers, conservators, authorities, museums, research centers, coastal communities and maritime operators
1.10. Building an integrated view of underwater heritage as a non-renewable cultural resource

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 2

Legislation, heritage protection, institutional management and prevention of underwater looting

2.1. The legal framework of underwater cultural heritage and the differences between ownership, guardianship, protection, research and authorized recovery
2.2. International rules, national legislation, intervention permits, scientific diving authorizations and administrative competences
2.3. Principles of in situ conservation, non-commercial exploitation, international cooperation and protection against unauthorized extraction
2.4. Procedures to declare, register, inventory, mark and protect submerged archaeological sites
2.5. Management of legal risks linked to chance finds, private collections, recovered objects and recreational activities
2.6. Preventing looting through surveillance, education, access control and collaboration with divers, fishers and maritime authorities
2.7. Links between archaeology, museums, archives, local communities, cultural tourism and maritime memory
2.8. Institutional document management: files, permits, reports, minutes, photographs, maps, inventories and chain of custody
2.9. Professional ethics, conflicts of interest, scientific transparency and public responsibility in heritage management
2.10. Building governance models that ensure legal protection, responsible research and social value

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 3

Survey, location, preliminary recording and assessment of underwater sites

3.1. Foundations of underwater survey and the differences between visual reconnaissance, systematic survey, geophysical survey and desk-based research
3.2. Preliminary research in archives, historical charts, shipwreck accounts, port records, newspapers and oral tradition
3.3. Visual survey by divers using transects, swims, grids, marking, buoying and recording of finds
3.4. Use of side-scan sonar, multibeam echosounders, magnetometers, sub-bottom profilers, ROVs, AUVs and surface drones
3.5. Georeferencing finds with surface GPS, buoys, baselines, visual references and acoustic systems
3.6. Preliminary identification of materials: ceramics, metal, wood, glass, stone, anchors, cannons, ballast and structural elements
3.7. Assessing the condition of the site: dispersal, preservation, threats, accessibility, depth and scientific potential
3.8. Controlling bias, false targets, positioning errors, low visibility and technological limitations
3.9. Preparing survey sheets, sketches, initial photographs, distribution maps and intervention recommendations
3.10. Building preliminary assessments to decide on protection, monitoring, excavation or conservation

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 4

Underwater archaeological documentation, photogrammetry, mapping and 3D modeling

4.1. Foundations of underwater documentation and the relationship between visual recording, measurement, context, scale and scientific traceability
4.2. Archaeological drawing underwater: sketches, record sheets, scales, orientation, references, grids and context control
4.3. Underwater archaeological photography: lighting, color, scale, framing, sequence, visibility and sediment control
4.4. Underwater photogrammetry: capture planning, overlap, control points, scales, calibration and image processing
4.5. Producing orthomosaics, 3D models, point clouds, plans, sections and metric products of the site
4.6. Underwater mapping with GIS, bathymetry, sonar, digital seabed models and heritage information layers
4.7. Recording objects, structures, scattered material, concentrations, visible stratigraphy and spatial relationships
4.8. Documentation quality control: accuracy, resolution, repeatability, metadata, errors, versions and file backup
4.9. Integrating visual, geographic, historical and technical documentation for archaeological interpretation
4.10. Building robust graphic records to study, conserve and communicate submerged heritage

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 5

Underwater excavation, stratigraphy, controlled recovery and archaeological work underwater

5.1. Foundations of underwater excavation and the differences between spot intervention, test pits, open-area excavation and emergency recovery
5.2. Criteria for intervening: threat, research, conservation, accessibility, permits, resources and capacity for later treatment
5.3. Organizing the work area with grids, baselines, references, bags, labels, tools and recording stations
5.4. Sediment removal techniques: water dredges, airlifts, hand tools and control of archaeological layers
5.5. Underwater stratigraphy, association of materials, context, original position and prevention of information loss
5.6. Recovering objects with prior recording, labeling, wet packing, chain of custody and safe transport
5.7. Safety during excavation: reduced visibility, sediments, currents, depth, fatigue, tools and diver coordination
5.8. Handling samples of organic material, sediments, wood, metals, ceramics, biological remains and fragile materials
5.9. Temporary or permanent backfilling of excavated areas, site protection and post-intervention documentation
5.10. Building excavation procedures that preserve context, scientific evidence and operational safety

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 6

Conservation of archaeological materials, stabilization, laboratory work and preventive preservation

6.1. Foundations of underwater archaeological conservation and the differences between stabilization, restoration, preservation and museum display
6.2. Deterioration processes in wood, iron, copper, bronze, ceramics, glass, leather, bone, textiles and composite materials
6.3. First-aid conservation in the field: keeping objects wet, packing, labeling, control of temperature and salinity and minimal handling
6.4. Desalination, cleaning, consolidation, controlled drying, corrosion inhibition and material-specific treatments
6.5. Conservation of waterlogged wood, ship structures, organic elements and large objects
6.6. Laboratory management: inventory, photographic records, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and stable storage
6.7. Risks of extraction without conservation: structural collapse, accelerated oxidation, salt crystallization and irreversible loss
6.8. In situ conservation: protective covers, environmental monitoring, controlled reburial and physical protection of the site
6.9. Coordination among archaeologists, conservators, chemists, museums, institutions and legal officers
6.10. Building conservation strategies that ensure material preservation, scientific value and responsible public access

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 7

Historic ship architecture, wrecks, cargoes and interpretation of the underwater record

7.1. Foundations of historic ship architecture and the archaeological reading of hulls, keels, frames, planking, fastenings and joints
7.2. Evolution of construction techniques: Mediterranean and Atlantic traditions, wooden, iron and steam vessels and technological transitions
7.3. Interpreting wrecks through the distribution of remains, hull structure, ballast, anchors, armament, cargo and everyday objects
7.4. Maritime cargoes: ceramics, metals, amphorae, timber, food and colonial, industrial and military goods
7.5. Analysis of routes, trade, chronology, provenance, maritime networks, conflicts and wrecking events
7.6. Identifying post-depositional processes: dispersal, collapse, looting, sedimentation, corrosion, bioturbation and erosion
7.7. Integrating archaeological data with historical sources, charts, archives, materials analysis and dating
7.8. Social interpretation of heritage: life on board, crews, technology, maritime economy and cultural relations
7.9. Developing interpretive hypotheses, limits of evidence, uncertainty and critical review of conclusions
7.10. Building rigorous archaeological narratives that connect material evidence, maritime history and cultural heritage

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 8

Applied technology, underwater robotics, remote sensing and digital analysis of submerged heritage

8.1. ROVs for inspection, documentation, mapping, photography, video and support for non-invasive archaeological work
8.2. AUVs, USVs, sonar, magnetometry, bathymetric LiDAR, remote cameras and oceanographic sensors in heritage survey
8.3. Integrating geophysical, visual, historical and archaeological data in GIS platforms and collaborative digital environments
8.4. Image processing, advanced photogrammetry, 3D reconstruction, virtual reality, augmented reality and digital museography
8.5. Artificial intelligence for anomaly detection, object classification, image analysis and inventory support
8.6. Remote monitoring of sites with sensors, buoys, cameras, environmental stations and analysis of change over time
8.7. Managing large data volumes: naming conventions, metadata, interoperability, digital preservation and controlled access
8.8. Technological limitations: cost, accuracy, training, maintenance, detection bias and dependence on environmental conditions
8.9. Ethics of digitization, protection of sensitive locations and the balance between public outreach and heritage security
8.10. Building technology ecosystems that extend research without replacing specialist archaeological judgment

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 9

Museum display, education, responsible tourism and public communication of underwater heritage

9.1. Foundations of underwater heritage outreach and the differences between museum display, interpretation, education, tourism and science communication
9.2. Designing exhibitions, interpretation centers, heritage trails, digital archives, 3D models and audiovisual resources
9.3. Responsible underwater tourism: controlled archaeological diving, underwater trails, virtual visits and codes of conduct
9.4. Heritage education for coastal communities, schools, dive clubs, fishers, tour operators and the general public
9.5. Communicating finds, scientific uncertainty, conservation processes and the social value of submerged heritage
9.6. Preventing looting through awareness, community participation, citizen science and collaboration with sea users
9.7. Cultural accessibility, inclusive narratives, maritime memory, local identity and participation of communities linked to the heritage
9.8. Reputation, media, social networks, institutional communication and protection of sensitive information
9.9. Social impact assessment: visitors, learning, participation, public perception, community support and project sustainability
9.10. Building communication programs that turn underwater heritage into knowledge, identity and active protection

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 10

The underwater archaeology project: planning, management and publication

10.1. Designing a research project
10.2. Permits and authorizations
10.3. Budget and funding
10.4. Campaign logistics and safety
10.5. Interdisciplinary teams
10.6. Data and records management
10.7. Technical campaign reports
10.8. Scientific publication
10.9. Outreach to society
10.10. Final project report

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 11

Final Project

11.1. Defining the case study: a shipwreck, anchorage, ancient harbor, submerged structure, flooded landscape or threatened heritage area
11.2. Historical, archaeological, environmental, legal, technical and social assessment of the selected site or research area
11.3. Designing the survey plan with historical sources, visual methods, geophysics, ROV/AUV, mapping and preliminary recording
11.4. Preparing the documentation plan with photography, photogrammetry, archaeological drawing, GIS, record sheets, scales and metadata control
11.5. Developing the intervention, excavation or in situ conservation protocol according to scientific, legal and heritage criteria
11.6. Designing the plan for materials conservation, laboratory work, chain of custody, storage, risks and later treatment
11.7. Integrating operational safety, scientific diving, logistics, permits, roles, schedule, budget and contingency management
11.8. Preparing the strategy for interpretation, museum display, public communication, education and protection against looting
11.9. Writing the full technical report with methods, evidence, mapping, analysis, limitations, ethics and recommendations
11.10. Presentation and defense of the final project, with scientific, heritage, legal, technological and social validation of the proposal

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Master's in Underwater Archaeology

It is 1,500 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

Hours per week

4 h30 h

With 12 h per week

months to finish

125 weeks

weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

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 Coordinator

Objectives

Objectives of the Master's in Underwater Archaeology

01Manage and interpret underwater archaeological data, using specialized software to record, analyze and visualize information while ensuring its accuracy and integrity.

02Document and conserve underwater cultural heritage, applying 3D recording and photogrammetry to create accurate, accessible models of submerged sites.

03Lead underwater archaeological research projects, defining excavation, documentation and in situ conservation strategies and managing resources and specialized teams.

04Apply advanced technologies to underwater research, such as high-precision acoustic positioning systems (USBL/LBL) for navigation and 3D documentation of the seabed.

05Assess the impact of climate change on submerged archaeological sites, identifying vulnerabilities such as erosion, dissolution and biological activity and proposing in situ or ex situ mitigation strategies.

06Develop methods for the legal protection of submerged heritage, designing thorough documentation protocols (photography, video, 3D models) that can serve as evidence and as a formal record.

Careers

Career opportunities after the Master's in Underwater Archaeology

01Underwater archaeologistexcavation, documentation and analysis of submerged archaeological sites.

02Underwater cultural heritage managerprotection, conservation and communication of underwater heritage in public or private institutions.

03Underwater archaeology consultantadvice on marine infrastructure projects, environmental impact assessments and heritage studies.

04Conservator of underwater archaeological materialstreatment and conservation of artifacts recovered from underwater contexts.

05Marine geophysical survey technicianuse of sonar, magnetometry and other methods to detect submerged sites.

063D documentation and outreach specialisthigh-precision models, educational programs and exhibitions on underwater heritage.

Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Master's in Underwater Archaeology

Scientific diving, supported by remote sensing, robotics and digital documentation. The program covers both diver-based methods and tools such as sonar, magnetometry, ROVs and photogrammetry.

Marine, river, lake and coastal settings, including shipwrecks, ancient harbors, submerged structures and flooded prehistoric sites.

No. It teaches the archaeological methods used underwater and the safety of scientific diving operations; diving certifications are issued by the competent diving organizations and authorities.

Yes. A full module covers deterioration processes, first-aid conservation, desalination, consolidation, waterlogged wood, laboratory management and in situ conservation.

Yes. A degree in a related field such as history, anthropology, marine biology or oceanography is enough; the admission interview confirms that the program suits your profile.

Through practical cases and exercises in each module, the planning of a complete archaeological campaign and a Final Project presented before a panel.

A master's issued by Navalis Institute, together with the survey, documentation and conservation plans you develop during the program.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7 with live sessions that are recorded, forums and tutorials. It comprises 1500 hours of study across 11 modules of about 136 hours each.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements

Profile: aimed at archaeologists and archaeology students, professional and recreational divers interested in documenting submerged sites, historians, anthropologists and conservators, cultural heritage managers, and graduates in related fields such as marine biology or oceanography. A degree in archaeology, history, anthropology or a related field, or demonstrable experience in terrestrial or underwater archaeology, is recommended.
Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
Technical resources: a computer with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection and videoconferencing software such as Zoom or Teams.
Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.

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