Homepage - NOAA Ocean Exploration
Source: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov
Archived: 2026-04-23 14:52
Homepage - NOAA Ocean Exploration
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Exploring the ocean for national benefit
NOAA Ocean Exploration is the only federal program dedicated to exploring the unknown ocean, unlocking its potential through scientific discovery, technological advancements, partnerships, data delivery, and education.
Learn About Science & Exploration
Learn about Ocean Exploration
Dive into ocean exploration by exploring materials such as stories, ocean facts, and images and videos, organized by topic for learners of all ages and levels.
Ocean Science for Everyone
For Educators
Multimedia
Highlights
News
Scientists Reveal Identity of Mysterious ‘Golden Orb’ Collected During NOAA Expedition
A two-and-a-half-year-old mystery of the "golden orb," an unidentified object that captured significant public interest when it was collected during a 2023 NOAA expedition, has finally been solved.
Expeditions & Projects
Autonomous, Directional Acoustic Profiling Float for Soundscape Characterization
Science & Exploration
Advancing Understanding of Marine Critical Minerals
News Updates
View All News
Event
Watch Live: Expedition to Advance Deep-Sea Coral Restoration
Publication
New Research Helps Show How Depth Affects Fish Distribution
General
10 Years of the “Casper” Octopus
Education
Ocean Exploration Education – Facilitator Training in Dauphin Island
Event • Opportunity
NOAA Ocean Exploration to Host Blue Technology Education Workshop
Event
NOAA-Supported Expedition on E/V
Nautilus
to Explore Deep Waters of the Cook Islands
By the Numbers: 2025 In Review
In 2025, NOAA Ocean Exploration led and supported expeditions to enable scientific discovery; tested and supported the development of new and emerging technologies; shared our work with a variety of audiences; strengthened our network of partners; and more.
View Our 2025 Annual Report
Featured Statistics
339,864
Square Kilometers of Seafloor Mapped
120+
Days at Sea on NOAA Ship
Okeanos Explorer
3.2
Million Website Views
600+
Educators Trained
Status: NOAA Ship
Okeanos Explorer
In October, NOAA Ocean Exploration wrapped up operations on NOAA Ship
Okeanos Explorer
for the 2025 calendar year. We expect to resume operations in the Pacific in April 2026. Keep an eye out for more information!
Learn about Beyond the Blue
Featured Favorite
Squid (likely an
Illex coindetii
) observed During Dive 07 of the third expedition of Voyage to the Ridge 2022 at 631 meters (2,070 feet) in depth on Lang Bank, northeast of St. Croix, in the Caribbean Sea.
Learn More About This Image
View All Images
Explore More
with NOAA Ocean Exploration
Learn more
about our mission, people, impact, and other resources.
Learn & Discover
Get Involved
Media Kit
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock
(
) or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
Exploring the ocean for national benefit
NOAA Ocean Exploration is the only federal program dedicated to exploring the unknown ocean, unlocking its potential through scientific discovery, technological advancements, partnerships, data delivery, and education.
Learn About Science & Exploration
Learn about Ocean Exploration
Dive into ocean exploration by exploring materials such as stories, ocean facts, and images and videos, organized by topic for learners of all ages and levels.
Ocean Science for Everyone
For Educators
Multimedia
Highlights
News
Scientists Reveal Identity of Mysterious ‘Golden Orb’ Collected During NOAA Expedition
A two-and-a-half-year-old mystery of the "golden orb," an unidentified object that captured significant public interest when it was collected during a 2023 NOAA expedition, has finally been solved.
Expeditions & Projects
Autonomous, Directional Acoustic Profiling Float for Soundscape Characterization
Science & Exploration
Advancing Understanding of Marine Critical Minerals
News Updates
View All News
Event
Watch Live: Expedition to Advance Deep-Sea Coral Restoration
Publication
New Research Helps Show How Depth Affects Fish Distribution
General
10 Years of the “Casper” Octopus
Education
Ocean Exploration Education – Facilitator Training in Dauphin Island
Event • Opportunity
NOAA Ocean Exploration to Host Blue Technology Education Workshop
Event
NOAA-Supported Expedition on E/V
Nautilus
to Explore Deep Waters of the Cook Islands
By the Numbers: 2025 In Review
In 2025, NOAA Ocean Exploration led and supported expeditions to enable scientific discovery; tested and supported the development of new and emerging technologies; shared our work with a variety of audiences; strengthened our network of partners; and more.
View Our 2025 Annual Report
Featured Statistics
339,864
Square Kilometers of Seafloor Mapped
120+
Days at Sea on NOAA Ship
Okeanos Explorer
3.2
Million Website Views
600+
Educators Trained
Status: NOAA Ship
Okeanos Explorer
In October, NOAA Ocean Exploration wrapped up operations on NOAA Ship
Okeanos Explorer
for the 2025 calendar year. We expect to resume operations in the Pacific in April 2026. Keep an eye out for more information!
Learn about Beyond the Blue
Featured Favorite
Squid (likely an
Illex coindetii
) observed During Dive 07 of the third expedition of Voyage to the Ridge 2022 at 631 meters (2,070 feet) in depth on Lang Bank, northeast of St. Croix, in the Caribbean Sea.
Learn More About This Image
View All Images
Explore More
with NOAA Ocean Exploration
Learn more
about our mission, people, impact, and other resources.
Learn & Discover
Get Involved
Media Kit