Florian Huber

Born in Munich in 1975 and having grown up in the beautiful Isar area of Lenggries, I studied Archaeology, Anthropology and Nordic Ethnology in Munich, Umeå (Sweden) and in Kiel from 1997 onwards. Aside from the mountains, I've always been fascinated by water and the sea, which is why I decided to specialize in Underwater Archaeology and Scientific Diving, making my way to Kiel in the far north of Germany. It was there that I was able to combine archaeology and diving. From 2007 - 2013 I worked as a researcher at the Institute of Proto- and Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Kiel, focusing on Underwater Archaeology and Historic Archaeology, and from 2004 - 2014 I’ve served as head of the local study group for Maritime and Limnic Archaeology (AMLA).

Expeditions and excavations that I’ve taken part in include projects in Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Ghana, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand, the Azores, the Pacific and Sudan. Since 1992 I’ve been traveling the world as an avid scuba diver, and in 2002 I graduated to "european scientific diver" from the Scientific Dive Center of Kiel University, where I served on the training team from 2008 to 2012. In 2013, together with my friends and colleagues, I founded SUBMARIS, a service company in the field of scientific diving for academia and the media.

As an archeologist – and underwater archaeologist – I never committed myself to a specific epoch. I find both Stone Age settlements and modern shipwrecks fascinating and exciting. This is also reflected in my work, projects and publications. Although the underwater research is difficult and often quite time consuming, this is precisely part of the appeal for me. I love the challenges presented and strive for efficient operation, maximum safety and the use of advanced diving and working techniques. Exploring our diverse and unique cultural treasures under water, while protecting it and inspiring people is my passion! My work as a scientific diver allows me to stay active in many other subaquatic sciences such as biology, geology, geography, and oceanography. It is precisely this interdisciplinary approach that makes working as a scientific diver so exciting for me.