(a) The custodian of all submerged cultural resources shall be the Department of Natural Resources. The Board of Natural Resources is empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to preserve, survey, protect, and recover such underwater properties and are necessary for the effective administration of this part.

(b) All findings of submerged cultural resources shall be reported to the department within two days, Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excluded, after being found.

(c) The state archeologist shall have such duties in conducting and supervising the surveillance, protection, preservation, survey, and recovery of submerged cultural resources as he is given by Code Section 12-3-53 for similar land resources.