Subaquatic and underwater archaeology focuses on uncovering and studying human-made remains preserved beneath water, such as shipwrecks, ancient bridges, and port structures. These sites offer valuable clues about past human activities, migrations, and how societies interacted with water environments. In France, the Institute for Research and Heritage (Inrap) has a specialized team dedicated to conducting subaquatic and underwater archaeological work across both freshwater and marine areas of the country. In the freshwater domain, which includes rivers and lakes, regional archaeology services (SRA) oversee archaeological assessments before any construction or development. In the saltwater area, which extends up to 24 nautical miles from the coast, the Department of Subaquatic and Submarine Archaeological Research (Drassm) manages such operations. Inrap is responsible for conducting underwater surveys and may be asked to carry out excavations. The Institute can also be commissioned by the Ministry of Culture to provide in situ archaeological expertise for offshore projects, under agreements with Drassm. The subaquatic division of Inrap, established in 2011 and fully developed by 2019, is part of the Institute’s Scientific and Technical Direction. It consists of a permanent team of archaeologists and diving technicians spread across different regions. All personnel involved in underwater work have a hyperbaric aptitude certificate, which allows them to work at depths up to 50 meters, depending on their qualifications. Safety is regulated by labor laws, with a hyperbaric operations manager assisting the scientific director during dives to ensure diver safety. To detect and map submerged remains that are not visible from the surface, Inrap increasingly uses hydrographic surveying and remote sensing techniques. These include methods like multibeam bathymetry, which creates detailed underwater maps, and magnetometric detection, which identifies buried metal objects. Inrap also collaborates with its geophysical cell to explore alternative technologies in challenging environments, such as very shallow waters. Once anomalies are identified, human or robotic dives are used to assess and document the findings. Diver-archaeologists use specialized tools like sediment vacuums to carefully uncover and record remains, which are then documented using similar techniques as on land, such as topographic surveys and 3D reconstructions. In situations where the water is too deep or access is too difficult for divers, a submersible robot, known as a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), can be used instead. These operations are carried out by an archaeologist and an ROV pilot, who use camera feeds to examine and collect samples. However, more complex tasks like drilling or excavation still require human divers and are limited by the conditions of underwater work. In addition to standard diving equipment, the subaquatic division of Inrap is equipped with tools that allow for quick deployment in both freshwater and coastal environments. For larger offshore operations, the Institute relies on a network of service providers and partners that offer appropriate vessels, hydrographic equipment, or ROVs across all coastal regions of France. Inrap also has access to Drassm’s maritime resources through availability agreements, ensuring it can conduct operations in a wide range of underwater environments.