At best, archaeology and anthropology remain as a fairly well hidden sub-set of the social studies category in educational curriculum. These three simple words best sum up the aims of the Institute. The full spectrum of archaeological sites can only be assessed by locating, comparing, and organizing them into a meaningful program of investigation. The Institute subscribes to the philosophy that the only way to guarantee success in locating cultural resources is to begin and maintain a systematic and methodical search of the nations' coastal sea floors, riverbeds and lake bottoms. Once found, these precious sites need to be surveyed and excavated in order to add valuable knowledge to the archaeological record about our history and prehistory.
Archaeology offers the only hope of shedding light on our ancient ancestors.
Archaeology is not an end unto itself. To be effective, discoveries and conclusions made through the archaeological process must be cycled into the mainstream understanding of our past. This can only be accomplished through programs of education. Through a combination of classroom, pool, and field exercise, divers are taught the concepts and methodology of working on an underwater archaeological project. See our section on Training and Field School for more information.