ACUA Proceedings 2026: Registration for Authors Now Open
Did you present a paper at the 2026 SHA Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology on a topic relating to underwater archaeology? We would like to remind you that your paper is eligible to be published in the 2026 ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings. Submissions from students and early-career professionals are especially encouraged, but anyone who presented on a relevant topis is welcome. Registration is now open and you must register intent to submit by February 27 in order to be considered. Start the process here to pre-register and get author guidelines.
Sort-of-Annual Noble Duck Race
The ACUA is hosting the 7th Sort-of-Annual Noble Duck Race for the SHA 2026 Detroit conference, on Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11:00am (CST) – weather permitting. All proceeds go directly to the ACUA’s student travel and scholarship programs (ACUA Student Awards). Owners of ducks winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in the final race will be awarded Starbucks gift cards in the amounts of $25, $15, and $10 (USD) and a limited-edition ACUA 50th Anniversary commemorative pin! Purchase your specially bred and trained duck today! Ten shiny U.S. dollars gets you one duck, and you may buy as many as you like. Increase your odds and fill your duck stable! Don’t miss out – ducks will only be on sale until Friday, January 30, 5pm CST or until they sell out! Buy yours now using the button below!
Or use the QR Code below:
Count Down to Race Day!
Follow the link for more information about the history of the Noble Sort-of-Annual Duck Race
Photo and Video Contest Winners Announced
Congratulations and thank you to all of the photographers and videographers for submitting 18 amazing photographs and 3 great videos! To see all of the images and videos and the winning entries visit the contest page at Photo Contest 2026 and share the results with your friends and colleagues. You made the Detroit contest one of the best ever!
2026 ACUA Student Travel Awards – Congratulations
ACUA & RECON Offshore Student Travel Award
Mikiko Robinson from University of West Florida is the winner of the 2026 ACUA & RECON Offshore Student Travel Award for the Detroit, Michigan conference. Learn more about this award and meet Mikiko.
George R. Fischer Student Travel Award
Zi-Qi Chew is a PhD candidate in the Department of Anthropology at University of California, San Diego. is the winner of the 2026 George R. Fischer Student Travel award for the Detroit, Michigan conference. Learn more about this award and meet Zi-Qi
Both awards are part of the ACUA’s efforts to expand opportunities for students.
ACUA Student Newsletter Now Available
The fall 2025 issue of the ACUA Student Newsletter is now available! Read all about the great student led research by Christina Giudici – New Submerged Paleolandscape Project in Lake Michigan, Dante Peterson Stanley – Present Status of Underwater Cultural Heritage in the Chicago Area , and Joseph Jakubs – Importance of Secondary Goals Surveying Santee River, Winyah Bay and Surrounding Region.
2025 ACUA Proceedings Available
The 2025 Underwater Archaeology Proceedings, edited by Della Scott-Ireton and Douglas Jones is now available for sale. Visit the ACUA Storefront and get your ePub ($15USD) or Hard Copy ($25USD).
Recent Deep Thoughts
The ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings: Share Your Research
Now is the time to share your research! If you presented a maritime-related topic at the SHA in Detroit, consider submitting to the 2026 ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings.
ACUA Mentoring in Motown: Move on Up!
Mentoring is a life-long necessity as our ex-officio member Bert Ho recently realized. The ACUA mentoring program is an opportunity for students/graduates/early career professionals to “get moving.”
Core Principles
Ethics, respect, diversity, and equity are the core principles around which we should all strive to lead our professional and personal lives. The ACUA strongly encourages all professional organizations to promote ethical principles, non-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-racist policies among their memberships.
Vision Statement
The ACUA serves as an international advisory body on issues relating to underwater archaeology, conservation, and submerged cultural resources management. It is working to educate scholars, governments, sport divers, and the general public about underwater archaeology and the preservation of underwater resources.
Support provided by the Society for Historical Archaeology
2026 Copyright Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology. All rights reserved.