Underwater Cameras and Aquatic Drones Course
This course teaches you to capture images and video in and over the water with cameras and drones. You will learn to choose and prepare underwater cameras and aquatic drones, set exposure, white balance and focus, photograph fauna and work in low visibility, film stable underwater and aerial footage, plan routes and missions, use extra sensors such as sonar and thermal cameras, and maintain your equipment.
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 Underwater Cameras and Aquatic Drones Course?
This short course brings together underwater cameras and aquatic drones as tools for documenting the marine environment. You will study the fundamentals of underwater photography and videography, types of aquatic cameras, how aquatic drones work and what payloads they carry, equipment preparation, camera settings, light control and composition at depth, wildlife photography, aerial drone photography of water bodies, low-visibility techniques, stable recording and image stabilization, color and filters, depth and angles, drone control and navigation, route and mission planning, operational challenges, additional sensors and preventive maintenance.
What sets this course apart: it combines handheld underwater cameras, underwater drones and aerial drones in a single workflow; it pays close attention to real operating conditions such as currents, wind, water temperature and turbidity; it links image capture with practical applications in inspection, research, conservation and audiovisual production; and it closes with a project in which you plan, capture, edit and present a complete aquatic imaging job.
Program highlights
- Underwater cameras: types, settings and choice for each environment.
- Aquatic drones: operation, payloads, sensors and mission planning.
- Underwater photography and video: light, color, stability and composition.
- Aerial imaging of coasts, water bodies and marine fauna.
- Working in turbid water and low visibility.
- Final project: plan, capture, edit and present an aquatic imaging job.
Syllabus of the Underwater Cameras and Aquatic Drones Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Introduction to aquatic photography and videography with cameras and drones
- 1.1. Fundamentals of underwater photography and videography: challenges, equipment and specific techniques
- 1.2. Aquatic cameras: features, types and choice according to environment and type of photography
- 1.3. Introduction to aquatic drones: basic operation, applications and advantages over traditional cameras
- 1.4. Payload and capabilities of aquatic drones: cameras, sensors, lighting and other recording tools
- 1.5. Equipment preparation: set-up, maintenance and checks before operation
Underwater photography techniques with cameras and drones
- 2.1. Camera settings for aquatic photography: exposure, white balance and focus
- 2.2. Underwater photography techniques with cameras: light control, composition and handling at different depths
- 2.3. Marine wildlife photography: capturing animals in their natural habitat without disturbance
- 2.4. Using drones for aerial photography of aquatic environments: landscapes, water bodies and fauna from the air
- 2.5. Photography in turbid or low-visibility water: overcoming the challenges with lighting and filters
Underwater videography with cameras and drones
- 3.1. Basic underwater videography techniques: stable recording, lighting control and camera handling
- 3.2. Using drones for aerial filming of water bodies: route planning, panoramic shots and sequences
- 3.3. Image stabilization in underwater recording: techniques and devices to avoid distortion and excessive movement
- 3.4. Controlling light and color underwater: parameter adjustment and use of filters to improve video quality
- 3.5. Managing depth and angles in underwater videography: shot planning, movement and visual effects
Operation and control of aquatic drones
- 4.1. Fundamentals of aquatic drone operation: flight control, stabilization and navigation on and in the water
- 4.2. Route and mission planning: automatic flight design and manual control for data capture
- 4.3. Operational challenges: currents, wind, water temperature and resistance to immersion
- 4.4. Using additional sensors and cameras on drones: radar, sonar, thermal imagers and high-resolution cameras
- 4.5. Preventive maintenance and care of aquatic drones: battery checks, housing seals, cleaning and protection
Final project and skills development with aquatic cameras and drones
- 5.1. Designing an aquatic photography and videography project: objectives, planning and choice of equipment
- 5.2. Practical operation of aquatic drones: control, route handling and image and video capture
- 5.3. Analysis and post-production: image and video editing, color correction and quality adjustments
- 5.4. Presentation and assessment of the final project: preparing a professional presentation of the work
- 5.5. Review of project results: feedback, adjustments and lessons learned
Duration and format of the Underwater Cameras and Aquatic Drones 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 Underwater Cameras and Aquatic Drones Course
Career opportunities after the Underwater Cameras and Aquatic Drones Course
Questions about the Underwater Cameras and Aquatic Drones Course
They can reach areas that are dangerous or inaccessible for divers, stay longer on task and record data from sensors such as sonar alongside the images.
Yes. It covers drones that operate on and under the water and the use of aerial drones to photograph and film coasts, water bodies and fauna from above.
No. Navalis teaches the operation of aquatic drones; any pilot license or registration required in your country is issued by the competent aviation or maritime authority.
Inspection of underwater infrastructure, marine research, aquaculture, hull inspection, conservation and audiovisual production.
You design an aquatic imaging project, plan the equipment and routes, capture and edit the material, and present the results with lessons learned.
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.
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 marine biologists and oceanographers, underwater filmmakers and photographers, inspectors of underwater infrastructure such as ports, pipelines and wind farms, professional and recreational divers, and marine science students; experience in diving, drone piloting or underwater photography is helpful but the course suits a range of levels.
- 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 and video editing software; access to an underwater camera or an aquatic drone is useful for the practical exercises.
- 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.