Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Lighting in Marine Environments Course

This course teaches you how light behaves in the sea and how to control it. You will learn how water absorbs color and scatters light, choose and maintain strobes, LED video lights and batteries, position lights to avoid backscatter in macro and wide-angle work, light boat interiors, night scenes and nautical events safely, and finish your images with white balance and color correction.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
Program diagnosis

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.

Your diagnosis
6of 6 to cover

You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Lighting in Marine Environments Course?

This short course is devoted to light in the marine environment, both beneath the surface and on board. You will study how light behaves underwater, color absorption, scattering and particles, visibility and natural light at the surface, underwater strobes, LED video lights, surface lighting, batteries and burn time, strobe positioning, backscatter control, macro and wide-angle lighting and mixed light, backlighting and reflections, night shooting, lighting for boat interiors and nautical events, electrical safety, and finally white balance, color correction, shadow recovery and post-production workflow.

What sets this course apart: it starts from the physics of light in water, so every technique has a clear reason behind it; it covers underwater, surface and on-board lighting in a single program; electrical safety and equipment maintenance are treated as part of good practice in a salty, wet environment; and it ends with a photographic series that demonstrates your control of light in marine settings.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • The physics of light in water: absorption, scattering and visibility.
  • Strobes, LED video lights, surface lighting, batteries and maintenance.
  • Strobe positioning and backscatter control for macro and wide-angle work.
  • Lighting boat interiors, night scenes and nautical events.
  • Electrical safety in marine settings.
  • Final project: a photographic series lit for the marine environment.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Lighting in Marine Environments Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Light in the marine environment

  • 1.1. How light behaves underwater
  • 1.2. Color absorption
  • 1.3. Scattering and particles
  • 1.4. Visibility
  • 1.5. Natural light at the surface
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Lighting equipment

  • 2.1. Underwater strobes
  • 2.2. LED video lights
  • 2.3. Surface lighting
  • 2.4. Batteries and burn time
  • 2.5. Maintenance
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Underwater lighting techniques

  • 3.1. Strobe positioning
  • 3.2. Backscatter control
  • 3.3. Macro lighting
  • 3.4. Wide-angle lighting
  • 3.5. Mixed light
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Surface and on-board lighting

  • 4.1. Backlighting and reflections
  • 4.2. Night filming and photography
  • 4.3. Lighting boat interiors
  • 4.4. Lighting nautical events
  • 4.5. Electrical safety
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Post-production and project

  • 5.1. White balance
  • 5.2. Color correction
  • 5.3. Shadow recovery
  • 5.4. Workflow
  • 5.5. Final project: a photographic series with marine lighting
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Lighting in Marine Environments Course

It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
6
months to finish
25 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.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)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 FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Lighting in Marine Environments Course

01Select and maintain suitable lighting equipment, weighing energy efficiency, service life, safety requirements and applicable rules.
02Use light efficiently in marine settings, combining natural light and artificial sources to keep power consumption and battery use under control.
03Apply electrical safety and risk prevention when installing and using lighting in wet, salty and confined marine environments.
04Diagnose and solve common faults in marine lighting equipment, such as problems with cables, lamps, seals and power sources.
05Design lighting set-ups for specific scenes, positioning lights to control backscatter, glare and shadows.
06Assess and improve the quality of light for each task, checking results and correcting color and exposure in post-production.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Lighting in Marine Environments Course

01Underwater lighting specialistlighting for exploration, research and underwater filming.
02Lighting technician for underwater and nautical photo and video productions
03Lighting technician on cruise ships and passenger vesselssupport for functional and decorative lighting.
04Lighting designer for aquariums and marine visitor attractions
05Lighting installer and maintainer for yachts and leisure boats
06Lighting technician for nautical events, ports and marinas
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Lighting in Marine Environments Course

Mainly about lighting for imaging in the marine environment, underwater and at the surface, with a module that also covers boat interiors, nautical events and electrical safety on board.

Water absorbs the longer wavelengths first, so reds and oranges fade within a few meters. The first module explains this and how artificial light restores color.

It is light reflected back by suspended particles. You learn to reduce it mainly through strobe positioning and by controlling the distance to the subject.

Underwater strobes, LED video lights and surface lighting, together with batteries, burn time and maintenance.

You produce a photographic series lit for the marine environment and explain the lighting choices and the post-production behind each image.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.

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.

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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 underwater photographers and videographers who want to control light, naval architects and boat interior designers, marine electrical technicians who install and maintain lighting on vessels, marine lighting suppliers, and marine and naval engineering students; previous experience in photography, lighting or electrical work is helpful.
  • 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 photo editing software such as Lightroom or Photoshop; a camera with manual controls and at least one strobe or LED light is useful for the practical exercises.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $164 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

Any questions?

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.

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