Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic director focused on measurable results and operational excellence in maritime education. Integrates IMO/STCW regulations and ISO 21001/9001 f
Masters · 1600 h · 11 modules
Master's in Innovation in Underwater Activities and Professional Diving
This program empowers you to lead the industry. Master the latest technologies and techniques in a constantly evolving market. Learn to design and implement innovative underwater projects, from marine robotics to biotechnology…
Duration1600 h
FormatOnline
Starts21 December
Places20 / 20
Prior knowledge
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Programme overview
What is the Master’s in Innovation in Underwater Activities and Professional Diving?
The Master's in Innovation in Underwater Activities and Professional Diving
This program empowers you to lead the industry. Master the latest technologies and techniques in a constantly evolving market. Learn to design and implement innovative underwater projects, from marine robotics to biotechnology. This program provides you with a comprehensive education that combines science, engineering, and management to make you a highly sought-after professional.
Differentiating Advantages
- Specialization in emerging technologies: ROVs, underwater drones, smart sensors.
- Practical approach: real-world projects, advanced simulations, expert-guided dives.
- Management skills development: project planning, financing, marketing, and legal matters.
- Professional networking: access to leading companies and industry experts internationally.
- Professional certification: obtain the necessary accreditations to boost your career.
Programme type
Master's Degree
Study mode
Online
Duration
1,600 hours
Modules
11
Programme highlights
- Master the latest technologies: Learn to apply drones, ROVs, and 3D modeling software in underwater environments.
- Professional certification: Earn internationally recognized qualifications in professional diving and specialized underwater activities.
- Real-world case studies: Participate in innovative projects, from underwater archaeology to marine infrastructure inspection.
- Networking with experts: Connect with leading professionals in the sector and innovative companies in the underwater field.
- Develop your own project: Boost your innovative idea with the support of mentors and specialized resources.
- Prepare to lead the transformation of the underwater sector with the most advanced tools and knowledge.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 11 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Basics of underwater activities and evolution of professional diving
- Basic concepts of professional diving and differences between recreational, scientific, commercial, industrial, military and public safety diving
- Historical evolution of equipment, techniques, procedures and scopes of application of underwater operations
- Professional Sectors: Underwater Construction, Inspection, Offshore Maintenance, Aquaculture, Archeology, Research and Emergencies
- Organisation of work teams with divers, supervisors, tender, medical personnel, camera operators and surface technicians
- Conditioners of the underwater environment: pressure, visibility, temperature, currents, waves, depth and contamination
- Principles of hyperbaric physiology applied to the safe planning and execution of professional immersion
- Relationship between technological innovation, productivity, security, sustainability and reduction of human exposure
- Identification of risks associated with depth, breathable gases, entrapment, loss of communication and supply failures
- Trends in automation, digitization, collabourative robotics and assisted submarine operations
- Construction of a comprehensive vision of professional diving as a highly specialised technical, human and operational activity
02
Hyperbaric physiology, diving medicine and human performance
- Physiological response of the organism to environmental pressure and changes produced during descent, permanence and ascent
- Physical laws of gases applied to ventilation, buoyancy, decompression and respiratory consumption
- Decompressive disease, barotrauma, narcosis, gas toxicity and incidents due to respiratory contamination
- Planning dive profiles, tables, computers, stops and decompression procedures
- Respiratory mixtures, Nitrox, Heliox, Trimix and selection of gases according to depth, duration and type of work
- Fatigue, cold, stress, physical load, limited visibility and human factors affecting the performance of the diver
- Medical evaluation, professional aptitude, contraindications and monitoring of the health of underwater staff
- First aid, oxygen therapy, evacuation and coordination with hyperbaric medicine services
- Psychological management of confinement, operational pressure, emergencies and underwater decision making
- Design of preventive strategies that protect health and maintain performance during demanding operations
03
Professional diving equipment, delivery systems and surface support
- Autonomous, semi-autonomous and supply equipment from surface used in underwater work
- Hulls, face masks, regulators, umbilicals, harnesses, dry suits, thermal systems and buoyancy devices
- Compressed air systems, gas panels, compressors, storage banks and respiratory distribution
- Wired and wireless communications between divers, supervisors and support equipment
- Video systems, lighting, recording, telemetry and technical documentation of underwater operations
- Open bells, closed bells, hyperbaric chambers and transfer systems under pressure
- Inspection, maintenance, cleaning, disinfection and control of configuration of diving equipment
- Air quality tests, tightness, pressure, flow, alarms and backup systems
- Management of spare parts, consumables, tools, certificates and maintenance records
- Configuration of reliable, redundant and tailored support systems and the intended mission
04
Advanced work, inspection and underwater intervention techniques
- Displacement, positioning, communication and body control techniques during professional work
- Visual inspection of hulls, propellers, piles, dikes, pipes, cables and offshore structures
- Measurement of thicknesses, potentials, deformations, corrosion, cracks and loss of underwater material
- Cleaning, cutting, welding, drilling, assembly, disassembly and repair of submerged components
- Use of hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical and manual tools in hyperbaric environments
- Lifting techniques, load handling, lifting balloons, rigging and recovery of submerged objects
- Applications in aquaculture, maintenance of networks, cages, anchors and feeding systems
- Interventions in ports, dams, plants, emissaries, industrial installations and hydraulic works
- Quality control, record of findings, coding of defects and elabouration of technical evidence
- Development of intervention procedures that combine precision, safety and operational efficiency
05
Underwater robotics, sensors and collabouration between divers and unmanned vehicles
- ROV, AUV, submarine drones and hybrid vehicles in professional operations
- Integration of cameras, sonars, environmental sensors and submarine positioning systems
- Collabouration between divers and ROV for inspection, surveillance, support, lighting and emergency assistance
- Planning of combined missions to reduce human exposure in deep, confined or contaminated areas
- Navigation and positioning via USBL, LBL, DVL, IMU and surface-installed references
- Use of manipulators, robotic tools and remote intervention systems in underwater structures
- Transmission of video, telemetry and operational data to control centres and digital platforms
- Artificial intelligence for anomaly detection, image classification and decision support
- Limitations related to communications, autonomy, currents, visibility, tangles and precision of manoeuvreing
- Design of hybrid operations that distribute tasks between people and robotic systems according to the level of risk
06
Digitization, photogrammetry and intelligent underwater data management
- Structured capture of photographs, video, sonar, measurements and environmental variables during the dive
- Underwater photogrammetry for generation of orthomosaics, three-dimensional models and technical measurements
- GIS systems and digital cartography applied to infrastructures, deposits, habitats and intervention areas
- Underwater data integration with BIM, digital twins and asset management platforms
- Labeling, synchronisation, georeferencing, metadata and traceability of digital evidence
- Image processing by colour correction, stabilisation, noise reduction and contrast enhancement
- Data analytics for corrosion monitoring, deformation, biofouling and defect evolution
- Artificial intelligence for identification of species, objects, cracks, welding and structural anomalies
- Data protection, access control, backup and preservation of technical records
- Construction of digital flows that transform underwater observations into verifiable information for decision making
07
Operational planning, safety and response to underwater emergencies
- Definition of the scope, depth, duration, resources, tasks and operating limits of a diving mission
- Risk assessment through task analysis, criticality matrices, HAZID and previous meetings
- Preparation of the diving plan with profiles, gases, communications, tools, backup equipment and required personnel
- Coordination with ships, ports, cranes, platforms, control centres and simultaneous operations
- Procedures for loss of supply, communication failure, entrapment, injury, disorientation or contamination
- Divers rescue, recovery of people, first aid and evacuation to medical facilities
- Meteorological and oceanographic management through operating windows, cancellation criteria and continuous surveillance
- Work permits, energy isolation, access control and protection against maritime traffic
- Drills, emergency exercises, subsequent analysis and update of procedures
- Construction of repeatable operations that maintain control, redundancy and incident response capacity
08
Innovation, sustainability and new applications of professional diving
- Innovations in materials, suits, thermal systems, communications, lighting and respiratory equipment
- Exoskeletons, assistive devices and technologies aimed at reducing fatigue and physical load
- Telemedicine, biometric monitoring and remote monitoring of physiological variables of the diver
- Applications of professional diving in offshore wind, ocean energy and maintenance of renewable infrastructure
- Intervention in ecological restoration, reef monitoring, habitat recovery and waste removal
- Low-impact work techniques in sensitive ecosystems and marine protected areas
- Innovation applied to underwater archeology, musealization, scientific tourism and heritage documentation
- Entrepreneurship, service development and business models for underwater activity companies
- Technological maturity assessment, prototype validation and safe adoption of new solutions
- Preparation of roadmaps to incorporate innovation without compromising security, compliance or sustainability
09
Regulatory, Operations Management and Business Management of Professional Diving
- Legal framework applicable to professional diving, job security and activities carried out in hyperbaric media
- Promoter, Contractor, Supervisor, Team Leader, Diver and Support Staff Responsibilities
- Certifications, qualifications, medical aptitude, records and documentation required for professional operations
- Contract management, technical scope, budgets, insurance, responsibilities and subcontracting
- Safety, quality, environment and operational continuity management systems in diving companies
- Economic planning by means of personnel, equipment, boats, gases, maintenance and mobilization costs
- Audits, inspections, incident investigation and monitoring of corrective actions
- Customer management, technical offers, tenders, reports, deliverables and change control
- Performance indicators related to safety, productivity, availability, quality and profitability
- Management of underwater organisations oriented to innovation, compliance and operational excellence
10
Scientific diving, underwater archeology and cultural heritage
- Fundamentals of Scientific Diving
- Underwater Biological Sampling Protocols
- Underwater Archeology: Prospecting Methods
- UNESCO 2001 Underwater Heritage Agreement
- Documentation and registration of wrecks
- Conservation of archaeological materials
- Photography and Scientific Video
- Scientific campaign planning
- Coordination with institutions and permits
- Disclosure and musealization of submerged heritage
11
Master’s Final Project in Innovation in Underwater Activities and Professional Diving
- Definition of the case study: industrial inspection, offshore operation, archeology, aquaculture, marine energy or environmental conservation
- Diagnosis of the environment, depth, tasks, risks, actors, resources, limitations and regulatory requirements
- Design of the diving system with equipment, respiratory supply, communications, surface support and redundancies
- ROV integration, sensors, cameras, positioning, photogrammetry and digital tools in the proposed solution
- Preparation of the immersion plan with profiles, gases, decompression, logistics, personnel and operating windows
- Development of the safety plan, emergencies, rescue, hyperbaric medicine and continuity of the operation
- Data flow design, documentation, quality control, indicators and technical reporting
- Economic, environmental, regulatory and technological evaluation of incorporated innovation
- Drafting of the comprehensive technical report with schedule, budget, risks, methodology and expected results
- Presentation of the final project with technical, human, operational, economic and environmental validation of the developed underwater solution
Workload
Study Time and Workload
1600 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
Professional divers and technicians looking to lead innovative projects, optimize techniques, and manage risks in complex underwater environments.Diving instructors and trainers who want to integrate new technologies, advanced methodologies, and cutting-edge safety protocols into their teaching.Business owners and managers of dive centers who aspire to differentiate their offerings, improve op
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
- 01Develop and implement innovative solutions for specific challenges in professional diving
- 02Managing complex underwater projects, optimizing resources and minimizing risks
- 03Leading professional diving teams with a focus on safety, efficiency, and sustainability
- 04Master advanced diving techniques and emerging technologies for underwater exploration and work
- 05Generating added value in the underwater industry through research and development of new products and services
- 06Assess and mitigate the risks inherent in professional underwater operations
Careers
Career Opportunities
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02Professional Underwater Civil Engineering Diver: construction, repair, and inspection of marine infrastructure (ports, dams, oil platforms).
03Professional Aquaculture Diver: cage maintenance, stock control, and facility inspection.
04Technical and Professional Diving Instructor: specialized training in various diving modalities (deep, decompression, and gas diving).
05Underwater Salvage and Rescue Specialist: recovery of objects, assistance to vessels, and search and rescue of people.
06Vessel Inspection and Maintenance Technician: inspection of hulls, propellers, shaft lines, and underwater welding.
07Consultant in Diving Equipment and Technique Innovation: development and evaluation of new technologies and methodologies.
08Underwater Project Manager: Planning, coordination, and execution of projects involving underwater activities.
09Marine and Underwater Science Researcher: Participation in scientific research projects in marine environments.
Questions
Entry Requirements
Professionals.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
It encompasses both technological innovation applied to diving and innovation in underwater techniques and procedures.
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna Institute + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
```htmlAcademic/Professional Profile:Bachelor's/Undergraduate Degree in Marine Sciences, Engineering, Sports, or related fields; or demonstrable professional experience in underwater activities or diving.Certifications/Accreditations:Professional diver certification (according to current regulations), diving instructor certification, or equivalent recognized certification.Physical Aptitudes:Medical certificate of fitness for underwater activities.Documentation:Updated CV, copies of qualifications and certifications, ID/Passport, cover letter explaining interest in in
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
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