The Underwater Association (UA) was a research association focused on the conduct of research underwater by diving scientists and archaeologists. It was established by a group of UK scientists in Malta in 1966 to assist in the organisation and publication of British diving science. Membership grew to over 400, with approximately one third joining from outside the UK. From 1972 to 1979 the UA published a Code of Practice for scientific diving. This was expanded in 1987 and 1990 to form the UNESCO Code of practice. Membership declined in the late 1980s, and the UA merged with the Society for Underwater Technology in 1992.