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.

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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.

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News
A graphical abstract for the paper featured in this article. The left side of the picture displays a chart with depth on the y-axis and Effort-Corrected Density of Abundance for the genera Cnidaria and Porifera on the x-axis. Text in the middle of the image describes highlights of the research, including the following: 15,531 coral and sponge observations across 75 hours of video footage, 74 coral and 90 sponge morphotypes identified, Highest diversity and abundance found at the edges of the Oxygen Minimum Zone, eight high-density VME habitats discovered, a community structure influenced by oceanographic regimes, and findings that establish a critical ecological baseline for future research. The right side of the image features a map of the source sites of footage examined by the authors.

Researchers Identify Dense Coral and Sponge Communities in Deep Alaskan Waters

In a new paper, scientists used footage from NOAA Ocean Exploration’s Seascape Alaska expeditions to study dense sponge and coral habitats in Alaska’s deep ocean. Their findings help establish an ecological baseline critical to future research, stewardship, and fisheries management.
Three people wearing life vests on a ship deck lower a small metallic sphere on a line into the ocean, with rolling green mountains under a cloudy sky visible in the background.
Expeditions and Projects
2026 Mapping Shakedown Summary
Sunset off the bow of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer
Expeditions and Projects
2026 Pacific Islands Mapping (EX2604)

News Updates

Opportunity
Call for Input: NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer 2027 Proposed Pacific Island Operating Areas
Education
Professional Development Workshop Brings Deep-Sea Science to Palau’s Middle and High School Classrooms
Event
From Seawater to Sequences: Exploring NOAA’s New Deep‑Sea Environmental DNA Dataset
General
From Data to Discovery: Unlocking Ocean Secrets With eDNA
Discovery
Scientists Reveal Identity of Mysterious ‘Golden Orb’ Collected During NOAA Expedition
Event
Watch Live: Expedition to Advance Deep-Sea Coral Restoration

In the Field: 2026

NOAA Ocean Exploration works with partners to explore previously unknown areas of our ocean, making discoveries of scientific, economic, and cultural value and supporting innovations in exploration tools and capabilities. In 2026, we will lead and support expeditions and fieldwork in the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Lake Michigan.

Read About These Expeditions and Projects
Featured 2025 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
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer in port in Honolulu, Hawai‘i,

Status: NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is at sea for the 2026 Pacific Islands Mapping (EX2604) expedition. From June 16 to July 9, 2026, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners will conduct mapping operations as the ship transits between Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, and Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Note that there will be not be any remotely operated vehicle operations during this expedition.

Learn About NOAA Ocean Exploration’s 2026 Field Season
A faceless cusk eel (Typhlonus nasus)

Featured Favorite

This unusual fish, a faceless cusk eel (Typhlonus nasus), was seen at a depth of 5.1 kilometers (3.2 miles) while exploring the seafloor of the Cook Islands during the Deep-Sea Habitats of the Cook Islands expedition on Exploration Vessel Nautilus.

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