What’s Next for Technology in Marine Delivery
In Part Two of our Meet the Team series, Luis Diaz looks at the work shaping his role today, from technical animation and underwater intelligence to digital systems connecting operations across Australia and Texas. He also shares what excites him about the future of marine engineering, and why the best technology is the kind that solves real operational problems.
What projects are you working on at the moment, and how do they involve your underwater and diving expertise?
As Head of Research, Development & Innovation at CMG, my focus is on how we operate rather than on a single dive. I am currently architecting a holding-wide digital modernisation strategy. This involves deploying custom AI agents and copilots that streamline workflows right from the diving platform up to the corporate office, ensuring our teams in the water are supported by an intelligent, automated data ecosystem.
What are you working on at the moment?
Beyond our AI integration, I am heavily involved in producing technical and explainer videos that blend AI, 3D animation and real footage for complex marine tenders. I am also leading the charge on our enterprise digital migration, unifying our systems across Australia and Texas into a single SharePoint Hub architecture to create a true single source of truth for the company.
What has been your greatest professional achievement to date?
Transitioning CMG’s innate culture of innovation into a structured, commercially viable R&D division. Being able to formalise our digital transformation, moving from traditional methods to intelligent enterprise automation, while simultaneously helping to secure major tenders through advanced visual strategy, is something I’m incredibly proud of.
What’s the best project you have worked on?
The Belmont Desalination Plant stands out. It is a live project happening right now, and the 3D animation and visualisation I created for the construction methodology is so similar to the actual reality happening on site that it’s almost scary. It proves the immense, tangible value of digital rehearsals.
What’s the best marine or underwater project you’ve worked on, and why?
The most rewarding projects are always the ones where our visualisations and 3D environments directly secure a major win. Taking complex underwater sonar data and overwater scanning, and turning it into a compelling, undeniable visual strategy for a client, is always a massive highlight. We build highly accurate digital environments that give clients complete clarity without relying on gimmicks.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced working underwater or on diving-related projects, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge is always data clarity and risk mitigation in zero-visibility environments. We overcome this by heavily investing in advanced scanning. By combining underwater sonar scanning from ROVs and AUVs, like the Hydrus, with precision overwater scanning, we build highly accurate 3D environments that allow our teams to identify and resolve technical risks before they ever hit the water.
What excites you about the future of marine engineering and construction? Are there any trends or innovations you’re particularly interested in?
The shift towards Intelligent Enterprise Automation. We are moving beyond simply collecting data to having autonomous AI agents interact with it and accelerate decision-making across the board.
What do you do to relax?
Spending quality time with my wife and two young daughters is my absolute top priority. We’re actually planning a move to the coast next year. Beyond family time, I have a deep interest in esoteric and mystical teachings, like sacred geometry and Kabbalah, and I really enjoy making barbecue, especially asados.
What is the last movie you watched or series you binged?
Interstellar. I love the fascinating shift in perspective it presents about reality, physics and time.
If you could visit any marine project from history or today, which one would you visit?
I would love to see the construction of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. Seeing how they managed such a monumental marine engineering feat with the technology of their time would be incredible.
What would be your dream project to work on from history?
The construction of Solomon’s Temple. The logistics, craftsmanship and architectural precision required for that era are absolutely fascinating to me.
If you missed part one of this series, click here.