A ramming apparatus comprising: a hammer frame having an upper end and a lower end and a side wall extending between the upper and lower ends, wherein the side wall has water openings adapted for the passage of water through the side wall; a hammer received in the hammer frame, wherein the hammer comprises a heavy body having upper and lower surfaces, an upper hammer guide extending upwardly from the upper surface of the heavy body and a lower hammer guide extending downwardly from the lower surface of the heavy body, wherein the upper hammer guide, the heavy body and the lower hammer guide have a co-axial bore, wherein the frame has an upper guide opening for receiving the upper hammer guide and a lower guide opening for receiving the lower hammer guide, wherein the frame and the hammer are adapted for reciprocation of the hammer inside the frame, and wherein the hammer is adapted for operation while in contact with water; an anvil in the lower end of the hammer frame, the anvil being adapted to receive and transmit the force of impact from the hammer; a hydraulics frame coupled to the upper end of the hammer frame; a hydraulic cylinder received in the hydraulics frame; a piston received in the hydraulic cylinder; a piston rod having one end attached to the piston; a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the other end of the piston rod to the hammer, wherein the coupling mechanism provides an essentially rigid connection between the piston rod and the hammer as the hammer is lifted and an essentially non-rigid connection between the piston rod and the hammer as the hammer impacts the anvil; and a hydraulic fluid circuit adapted to provide a lifting force for lifting the hammer and to release the hammer. a hammer frame having an upper end and a lower end and a side wall extending between the upper and lower ends, wherein the side wall has water openings adapted for the passage of water through the side wall; a hammer received in the hammer frame, wherein the hammer comprises a heavy body having upper and lower surfaces, an upper hammer guide extending upwardly from the upper surface of the heavy body and a lower hammer guide extending downwardly from the lower surface of the heavy body, wherein the upper hammer guide, the heavy body and the lower hammer guide have a co-axial bore, wherein the frame has an upper guide opening for receiving the upper hammer guide and a lower guide opening for receiving the lower hammer guide, wherein the frame and the hammer are adapted for reciprocation of the hammer inside the frame, and wherein the hammer is adapted for operation while in contact with water; an anvil in the lower end of the hammer frame, the anvil being adapted to receive and transmit the force of impact from the hammer; a hydraulics frame coupled to the upper end of the hammer frame; a hydraulic cylinder received in the hydraulics frame; a piston received in the hydraulic cylinder; a piston rod having one end attached to the piston; a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the other end of the piston rod to the hammer, wherein the coupling mechanism provides an essentially rigid connection between the piston rod and the hammer as the hammer is lifted and an essentially non-rigid connection between the piston rod and the hammer as the hammer impacts the anvil; and a hydraulic fluid circuit adapted to provide a lifting force for lifting the hammer and to release the hammer.