In France, drowning is a major public health issue, as it accounts for more than 500 accidental deaths each year and can sometimes result in serious long-term consequences. The NOYADES 2015 survey was conducted between June and September 2015 by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance and the Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management of the Ministry of the Interior. This survey recorded all drowning victims, whether accidental or not, resulting in hospitalization or death. The objective was to describe the characteristics and risk factors of accidental drownings to contribute to their prevention. The NOYADES 2015 survey recorded 1,266 accidental drownings, 436 (34%) of which resulted in death, including: 18% of children under 6 years of age (226 drownings, including 29 deaths), 46% were adults over 45 years of age (568, including 260 deaths). The demographic characteristics of the victims and the circumstances of the drowning depend on the location: 241 drownings occurred in private pools (68 deaths), 62 in public pools (6 deaths), 157 in rivers and streams (115 deaths), 132 in lakes or ponds (65 deaths), 637 at sea (167 deaths), and 37 in other locations (15 deaths). In private pools, children under 6 drowned primarily due to a lack of adult supervision and their inability to swim. In rivers and lakes, drownings often occur after a fall, during solitary activities, or after alcohol consumption. At sea, the victims were often residents of the department where the drowning occurred, over 45 years of age, or individuals with health issues. These findings form the basis for specific prevention messages such as: ensure close adult supervision of young children, learn to swim as early as possible, swim in supervised swimming areas, do not overestimate your physical abilities, and check sea and weather conditions.