Introduction - In France, most drownings are accidental and account for several hundred deaths each year. The NOYADES surveys were established to better understand these accidents and help prevent them. Method - The 2006 NOYADES survey was conducted in France between June 1 and September 30, 2006. It identified all drowning incidents resulting in hospitalization or death. Results - The survey recorded 1,207 accidental drownings, including 401 deaths (33%). Children under 6 years of age accounted for 15% of accidental drownings (178 drownings, 38 of which resulted in death). Those over 45 years of age accounted for 44% of accidental drownings (528) and 59% of deaths (233). The victims were male in 65% of cases. There were 166 drownings in private pools (55 deaths), 45 in public pools (5 deaths), 152 in rivers (99 deaths), 122 in lakes (74 deaths), 680 at sea (151 deaths), and 42 in other locations (17 deaths). More than half of the victims were French tourists (42%) or foreign tourists (9%). The number of accidental drownings in 2006 remained similar to that of previous years. Conclusion - The results of this survey reinforce the importance of prevention messages such as supervising young children, teaching children to swim from an early age, swimming in supervised areas, not overestimating one’s physical abilities, and staying informed about sea conditions and weather forecasts.