Institute of Nautical Archaeology

What Institute of Nautical Archaeology does

The Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, international research organization founded in 1972 by Dr. George F. Bass — recognized as the Father of Underwater Archaeology and named one of TIME Magazine's Great Scientists in 2018 — to conduct scientific archaeological excavation of shipwrecks and other underwater sites. Headquartered in College Station, Texas, and affiliated with Texas A&M University's Nautical Archaeology Program (which offers an M.S. in Maritime Archaeology and Conservation and a Ph.D. in Anthropology), INA operates a portfolio of interconnected activities spanning global fieldwork, artifact conservation, scholarly publication, and public education.

INA's operational infrastructure includes the 24.95m Virazon II research vessel (equipped with a Nitrox blender, recompression chamber, 5-ton A-frame, and the Carolyn submersible), the Bodrum Research Center in Turkey (with offices, conservation laboratories, dormitory, and research library), and a network of 100+ affiliated scholars from institutions including Stanford, University of Connecticut, University of Haifa, and Western Australian Museum. The organization supports more than 25 new and continuing archaeological projects annually across the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Americas, Middle East, and Asia, maintaining a cumulative record of 50+ shipwreck excavations over five decades.

INA's revenue model is diversified across three primary streams: tiered annual memberships ($40 DIVER to $1,000 EXPLORER), tax-deductible donations (one-time and recurring) processed through a Givecloud-powered online storefront, and merchandise and publications sales (books, apparel, posters, prints). Distribution occurs through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, the INA Quarterly magazine (now in its sixth decade of publication), a webinar series, social media channels, and reciprocal membership partnerships with the Nautical Archaeology Society and National Maritime Historical Society. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and supported by the INA Foundation's portfolio of named endowments funding student scholarships, publication grants, and vessel maintenance.

Name

Institute of Nautical Archaeology

Legal name

Institute of Nautical Archaeology

Website

https://nauticalarch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Archaeological Research

akta.pro primary industry

Underwater Hull Services (Diving, In-Water Cleaning, Propeller Polishing, Inspection) (TLAHAMAL)

Keywords

• Underwater archaeology
• Shipwreck excavation
• Maritime archaeology research
• Artifact conservation
• Nautical archaeology publications

Headquarters

HQ city

College Station

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: INA generates revenue through tiered annual memberships ranging from $40 (DIVER) to $1,000 (EXPLORER), with student/military discounts available. Members receive the INA Quarterly, e-newsletters, and discounts on publications and merchandise.
2. Donations and Charitable Gifts: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, INA accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations to support archaeological projects worldwide.
3. Publications and Merchandise Sales: INA sells books, posters, prints, apparel, and merchandise through its online store, including titles like 'Beneath The Seven Seas' ($30), the INA Shipwrecks of The Americas Poster ($10), and various branded merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) is a non-profit research organization that conducts underwater archaeological excavation and research on shipwrecks and other sites of nautical significance worldwide. Its work spans remote sensing, underwater excavation, digital recording, decompression diving, artifact conservation, and scientific analysis, supported by the Virazon II research vessel and the Bodrum Research Center in Turkey. The organization funds operations through tiered memberships, donations, publications, merchandise sales, and foundation endowments.

Product overview

The Institute of Nautical Archaeology operates as a non-profit, international research organization that provides a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered on underwater archaeological research, education, and public engagement. The core offering is its shipwreck archaeology research program, which encompasses location, excavation, preservation, and publication of shipwrecks worldwide, supported by the Virazon II research vessel and the Bodrum Research Center in Turkey. INA publishes the INA Quarterly (now in its sixth decade) as its flagship scholarly magazine and maintains an extensive archives of field videos. The organization offers membership tiers at various price points (DIVER through EXPLORER) providing access to publications, webinars, and discounts. Field schools provide educational training in underwater archaeology techniques. INA supports the broader research community through project and publication funding programs. The affiliated Texas A&M University Nautical Archaeology Program (NAP) offers graduate degrees in maritime archaeology. INA operates a merchandise store selling apparel (rash guards, hats, shirts, jerseys) and branded merchandise (totes, mugs, tumblers, calendars, books), all powered by the Givecloud e-commerce platform. The organization's research spans the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and New World regions, with notable projects including the Uluburun wreck, Kyrenia Shipwreck, and Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INA Quarterly: News and information magazine featuring current projects undertaken by INA Research Associates, Faculty and Affiliated Scholars
• INA Foundation
• INA Books

Products and services

• Shipwreck Archaeology Research Core research services involving location, excavation, preservation, and publication of shipwrecks and nautical sites worldwide, utilizing remote sensing, underwater excavation, digital recording, decompression diving, and artifact conservation.
• Membership Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 shipwreck excavations conducted over five decades
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Texas A&M University (TAMU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1972INA has been affiliated with Texas A&M University for over 40 years. Numerous INA officers are faculty in TAMU's graduate Nautical Archaeology Program (NAP), which offers an M.S. in Maritime Archaeology and Conservation and a Ph.D. in Anthropology. NAP graduate students participate in INA-sponsored projects worldwide.
• INA FoundationcoreOthersThe INA Foundation Board manages endowments that support the work of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, including student scholarships, archaeology and fieldwork grants. Named endowments include the George & Ann Bass Endowment for Publications, Virazon II Endowment for Maintenance and Operations, Fred & BJ van Doorninck Byzantine Shipwreck Grant, Claude Duthuit Archaeology Grant, and J. Richard Steffy Scholarship.
• National Maritime Historical Society (NMHS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerINA members receive 50% discount on NMHS membership which includes four issues of Sea History magazine.
• Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerINA members receive 20% discount on NAS membership which includes two issues of the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology (IJNA).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Maritime Historical Society: US nonprofit promoting maritime history through education, advocacy, and publication of Sea History magazine. Comparable as a peer heritage nonprofit with a similar membership-donation-merchandise funding model and an established reciprocal membership relationship with INA.
• Nautical Archaeology Society: UK-based international society dedicated to promoting nautical archaeology through training, education, and publication of the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology (IJNA). Directly comparable as a peer nonprofit advancing the same discipline, with reciprocal membership discounts already established with INA.
• Maritime Archaeology Trust: UK-based charity delivering maritime archaeological research, education, and conservation including the Nautical Archaeology Society's training programs. Directly comparable as a peer nonprofit advancing the same discipline through fieldwork, training, and public engagement.
• RPM Nautical Foundation: Nonprofit foundation conducting underwater archaeological survey and excavation worldwide using its own research vessel. Directly comparable to INA as a peer organization performing shipwreck archaeology and operating dedicated research infrastructure to support global fieldwork projects.
• Ships of Discovery: Texas-based nonprofit that operates the Corpus Christi Museum's shipwreck archaeology program, performing survey, excavation, and conservation of colonial-era shipwrecks. Comparable as a regional peer nonprofit executing scientific underwater archaeology with conservation laboratory facilities.
• Texas A&M University Nautical Archaeology Program: Academic graduate program offering M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in maritime archaeology and conservation. Closely affiliated with INA through shared faculty and joint research projects, and operates as the academic counterpart producing the talent pipeline INA draws upon.

Broad incumbents

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Large US ocean research institution operating research vessels, deep-sea submersibles, and oceanographic laboratories. Comparable as an adjacent organization with overlapping capabilities (deep-water research vessels, underwater technology, archaeological partnerships) though at vastly larger scale and with broader oceanographic scope.
• National Geographic Society: Large nonprofit scientific and exploration organization that has funded and publicized major archaeological expeditions including underwater sites. Comparable as a peer large nonprofit leveraging brand, media, and donor base to support exploration and archaeological research globally.
• Society for Historical Archaeology: US-based professional society for historical archaeology broadly (including underwater and terrestrial sites), publishing the Society for Historical Archaeology Journal and the Historical Archaeology journal. Comparable as a peer scholarly society serving the broader discipline in which INA operates.

Regional players

• Hellenic Institute of Maritime Archaeology: Greek nonprofit dedicated to the study and protection of Greek maritime cultural heritage, conducting underwater excavations of ancient and historical shipwrecks in Greek waters. Comparable as a peer organization doing archaeological fieldwork in the same Mediterranean focus area as INA's Bodrum-based operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nauticalarch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/inadiscover/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/nauticalarch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-of-nautical-archaeology

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Nautical Archaeology