Jaine:
I think you should look into some collegiate researchers who are developing underwater robotics. Even if you are still in the beginning of your undergraduate career, most researchers will be more than happy to let you come and tour their lab and ask questions about their research. If you are lucky, once they are familiar with you they might have a spot open in their lab once you graduate
Good luck...and hopefully I'll be one of your colleges in the elite robotic academia field we will both be in soon!!
-Gabe Goldman