Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Professional Underwater Video Course

This course teaches you to plan, shoot and finish professional video beneath the surface. You will learn the visual language of underwater filming, choose and maintain cameras, housings, ports and video lights, control exposure, white balance, focus and camera movement while managing your buoyancy, light scenes by day and night, and complete the workflow with editing, color correction, sound and export.

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 Professional Underwater Video Course?

This short course takes you through the whole process of producing underwater video, from the first idea to the finished piece. You will study the audiovisual language of the underwater world and its technical challenges, videographer safety, references and ethics, video cameras and housings, ports and lenses, video lights and stabilizers, exposure, white balance and focus, camera movements, shots and framing, buoyancy control, natural light, night filming, particle control and battery life, and finally editing, color correction, sound and music and export.

What sets this course apart: a complete workflow that links planning, shooting and post-production instead of treating them separately; a constant focus on the specific problems of filming underwater, such as color loss, backscatter and stability; diver and videographer safety treated as part of the craft; respect for marine life built into every technique; and a final project in which you produce a professional underwater video piece.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Underwater visual storytelling: shots, framing and narrative under the surface.
  • Equipment explained: cameras, housings, ports, lenses, video lights and stabilizers.
  • Shooting technique: exposure, white balance, focus and smooth camera movement.
  • Buoyancy control as a filming skill for stable, respectful footage.
  • Lighting by day and night, with particle and backscatter control.
  • Final project: a complete professional underwater video piece.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Underwater Video Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of underwater video

  • 1.1. The audiovisual language of the underwater world
  • 1.2. Technical challenges
  • 1.3. Videographer safety
  • 1.4. Reference works and filmmakers
  • 1.5. Ethics
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Equipment

  • 2.1. Video cameras and housings
  • 2.2. Ports and lenses
  • 2.3. Video lights
  • 2.4. Stabilizers
  • 2.5. Maintenance
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Shooting technique

  • 3.1. Exposure and white balance
  • 3.2. Focus
  • 3.3. Camera movements
  • 3.4. Shots and framing
  • 3.5. Buoyancy control
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Lighting

  • 4.1. Video lights and their positioning
  • 4.2. Natural light
  • 4.3. Night filming
  • 4.4. Particle control
  • 4.5. Battery life and burn time
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Post-production and project

  • 5.1. Editing
  • 5.2. Color correction
  • 5.3. Sound and music
  • 5.4. Export
  • 5.5. Final project: a professional underwater video piece
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Underwater Video 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 Professional Underwater Video Course

01Master lighting and framing techniques to build compelling visual narratives, using light and dynamic composition to guide the viewer's attention.
02Edit and post-produce footage with professional software, from optimizing raw material to color correction and final export for different media.
03Apply the principles of sound and audio recording, capturing clean audio, equalizing, reducing noise and balancing levels in post-production.
04Plan, run and supervise video projects from concept to delivery, making good use of resources and protecting quality at every stage.
05Handle the camera and its settings with confidence, controlling aperture, shutter speed, ISO, exposure and focus to achieve the intended effect.
06Adapt videos to different platforms and audiences, choosing formats such as shorts, reels and stories and reading metrics to improve reach.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Underwater Video Course

01Underwater videographerfilming for documentaries, advertising, tourism and entertainment.
02Underwater video editorediting, color grading and sound finishing of footage shot beneath the surface.
03Scientific and conservation videographervisual documentation of research and outreach projects.
04Content creator for dive centers and marine tourism companiespromotional video and social media content.
05Audiovisual producer specializing in aquatic environmentsplanning and coordination of underwater shoots.
06Camera operator and technician for underwater productionspreparation, operation and maintenance of video equipment.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Underwater Video Course

It is about filming underwater. The syllabus covers equipment, shooting technique, lighting and post-production for video recorded beneath the surface.

Video cameras and housings, ports and lenses, video lights, stabilizers and their maintenance, so you can choose and care for a complete underwater video rig.

Because stable footage depends on a stable diver. Good buoyancy also protects the seabed and marine life and keeps the videographer safe.

Yes. The lighting module covers night filming, the positioning of video lights, particle control and managing battery life.

You plan, shoot and edit a professional underwater video piece, applying the techniques from every module, from framing to color correction and sound.

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 professional divers, diving instructors and underwater camera operators who want to refine their filming, lighting and editing, filmmakers and producers who want to extend their skills to the underwater world, marine scientists who need to document their work on video, dive centers and tourism companies producing their own content, and advanced recreational divers; previous experience in video recording or editing is recommended, and a recognized diving qualification is needed for in-water practice.
  • 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 Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve; access to an underwater camera or housing 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 $188 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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