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Diploma · 800 h · 8 modules
Diploma in Underwater Gliders and Persistent Ocean Observation
The Diploma in Underwater Gliders and Persistent Ocean Observation Prepares you to understand, plan and operate missions with underwater gliders, autonomous vehicles that travel through the ocean for weeks or months on very little
Duration800 h
FormatOnline
Starts30 November
Places20 / 20
Prior knowledge
Prior Knowledge Assessment
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Programme overview
What is the Diploma in Underwater Gliders and Persistent Ocean Observation?
The Diploma in Underwater Gliders and Persistent Ocean Observation
Prepares you to understand, plan and operate missions with underwater gliders, autonomous vehicles that travel through the ocean for weeks or months on very little energy. You will study the variable buoyancy principle, the oceanographic sensors they carry, mission planning and piloting, near real-time data processing and their role in the persistent observation of the ocean, alongside other platforms in today’s global observing networks.
Key advantages
- Proven technology: Gliders are now a standard tool in oceanography.
- From deployment to data: Planning, piloting, recovery and data management.
- Sensors in detail: CTD, oxygen, fluorescence, acoustics and more.
- Open data: Using international glider data repositories.
- Case study: Complete design of an observation mission.
Programme type
Diploma
Study mode
Online
Duration
800 hours
Modules
8
Programme highlights
- Understand the vehicle: Grasp variable buoyancy and gliding flight.
- Choose the sensors: Configure the payload for each mission.
- Plan missions: Design routes and profiles that account for currents.
- Manage the data: Process data and control its quality.
- Boost your career: Open doors to oceanographic centres, marine technology firms and consultancies.
- Train to keep permanent eyes inside the ocean.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 8 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Fundamentals of Underwater Gliders
- Origins and evolution of gliders
- The variable buoyancy principle
- Gliding dynamics
- Types of glider
- Deep gliders
- Wave-powered surface gliders
- Energy and endurance
- Comparison with other vehicles
02
Sensors and Payload
- Conductivity, temperature and depth sensors
- Dissolved oxygen
- Fluorescence and turbidity
- Nutrients and chemical sensors
- Passive acoustic sensors
- Current profilers
- Sensor integration
- Calibration and drift
03
Navigation and Communications
- Dead reckoning
- Satellite positioning at the surface
- Satellite communications
- Correcting for currents
- Altimeters and seabed avoidance
- Energy management
- Navigation limitations
- Safety in shipping lanes
04
Mission Planning
- Scientific mission objectives
- Designing routes and transects
- Profiles and sampling frequency
- Using ocean forecasts
- Adaptive sampling
- Planning with several gliders
- Permits and coordination with authorities
- Risk analysis
05
Deployment, Piloting and Recovery
- Preparation and ballasting
- Pre-deployment tests
- Deployment operations
- Remote piloting
- Incident response
- Vehicle recovery
- Post-mission maintenance
- Recording lessons learnt
06
Data Management and Analysis
- Near real-time data flow
- Formats and metadata
- Quality control
- Sensor corrections
- Visualising sections
- Calculating derived variables
- International repositories
- Publishing open data
07
Applications of Persistent Observation
- Tracking currents and eddies
- Climate and ocean heat studies
- Biogeochemistry and oxygen
- Monitoring blooms
- Marine mammal acoustics
- Supporting ocean forecasting
- Hurricane monitoring
- International glider networks
08
Case Study: Designing a Glider Mission
- Defining objectives
- Selecting the vehicle and sensors
- Designing the route
- Piloting plan
- Risk analysis
- Data management plan
- Budget and logistics
- Presenting the mission
Workload
Study Time and Workload
800 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Graduates in marine science, physics or engineering: who want to specialise in ocean observation Oceanographic centre technicians: who operate or plan to operate gliders Marine technology engineers: who develop vehicles or sensors Environmental consultancy professionals: who need continuous oceanographic data Researchers: who want to use gliders in their projects
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Understand how gliders work
- 02Know the sensors
- 03Plan missions
- 04Pilot and supervise
- 05Manage data
- 06Integrate gliders into observation
Careers
Career Opportunities
01Glider pilot and technician: Preparing, piloting and maintaining vehicles.
02Ocean observation technician: Operating autonomous platforms.
03Oceanographic data manager: Processing and publishing data.
04Marine sensor engineer: Integrating and calibrating instruments.
05Environmental consultancy technician: Monitoring campaigns with autonomous vehicles.
06Research assistant: Supporting oceanographic projects.
Questions
Entry Requirements
The programme is online: you work with planning simulations and data from real missions; it does not include piloting your own vehicles.
No. Deployment and recovery procedures are explained step by step.
Yes. You work with glider data from open international repositories.
Yes. They are presented alongside underwater gliders and their uses are compared.
The complete design of a glider mission: objectives, sensors, route, risks and data.
100% online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded, and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The programme involves 800 hours of study. You can work at your own pace within the timetable we give you when you enrol.
Each programme has its own start date, shown on this page and confirmed by our admissions team when you enquire.
On completing the programme you receive the Diploma in Underwater Gliders and Persistent Ocean Observation qualification awarded by Navalis Magna Institute.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
Entry profile: A degree in marine science, physics, engineering, environmental science or a related field; or professional experience in oceanography or marine technology. Language: A good working level of English to follow classes and materials. Technical requirements: A computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a webcam for live sessions and project presentations. Admissions process: Online application, profile review and a short interview with the academic team. We confirm your start date when you enquire.
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Leave your details and admissions will write back. If you already know this is the one, go straight to the application and pay in the same session.