Abstract: A sampling method and apparatus especially suited for collecting under water samples of an earth material is disclosed. An open ended sample container is driven into an earth material body with a linear force while the transverse vibrations are provided to aid sample collection. The sample container is vibrated by reciprocally driving the sample container back and forth substantially transversely to a first direction in which the sample container is driven into the earth material body. After sample collection, the sample container and sample are removed from the earth material body by reciprocally driving the sample container back and forth transversely to the first direction while applying to the sample container a linear force directed opposite to the first direction.