A communication system includes a first communication gateway arranged proximate to a surface of a body of water and an underwater communication gateway. The underwater communication gateway is configured to receive data from a first underwater communication device using radio frequencies and the ethernet data link layer protocol, to convert the data received from the first underwater communication device from the ethernet data link layer protocol to the second data link layer protocol, and to transmit, using optical radiation and the second data link layer protocol, the data converted by the underwater communication gateway to the first communication gateway. The first communication gateway is configured to convert the data transmitted by the underwater communication gateway from the second data link layer protocol to the ethernet data link layer protocol, and to transmit, using the ethernet data link layer protocol, the data converted by the first communication device to a further communication device.