A Sea of Opportunities: See Yourself as an Ocean Explorer

Exploring the Ocean is a Big Job

Close your eyes and imagine a big ship, far out at sea, no land in sight. What is going on inside that ship? Can you see filmmakers on their computers, editing videos from the day’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dive? Chefs in the galley, making sure the team is well-fed for the day ahead? How about scientists in the lab, cataloguing deep-sea rock samples? Now, stretch your imagination and see yourself on that ship, exploring the ocean and learning about the mysteries of the deep.

Ocean explorers aim to make discoveries by systematically mapping and exploring unknown or poorly understood areas of our global ocean. In the process, explorers take observations and collect data that can be used for scientific research serving a variety of purposes. This includes supporting policymakers who introduce new laws or international agreements to restore and conserve our oceans.

We explore the ocean because it is important to ALL of us. Thanks to game-changing technological advancements, we can now look into the ocean like never before. But exploration can only be achieved through cooperation and collaboration, such as the partnership between the NOAA Ocean Exploration, Schmidt Ocean Institute, and Ocean Exploration Trust. Video courtesy of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Download largest version (mp4, 225 MB).

By revealing the ocean’s secrets, we can uncover new resources for the food we eat, the energy that keeps our lights on, and even lifesaving medicines. Ocean exploration can give us a better sense of weather and climate patterns which help to predict and respond to natural disasters. As the Earth’s climate changes around us, we look to the ocean to learn more about how we are affecting our home planet and what these changes mean for the future of humanity.

Exploring remote, hard-to-reach places is no small feat. The crushing pressure, endless darkness, and extreme temperature of the deep ocean create big challenges that require creative solutions from exploration teams. Oftentimes, these challenges are turned into opportunities that drive the development of new innovations. From underwater robots to depth-defying sonars and from environmental DNA to satellites in space, ocean exploration brings our imaginations to life by going to places that no one has been before—and bringing back vital data in the process!

Now, ask yourself, what would you do as an ocean explorer? What new species might you discover? Which technology might you design? Luckily for you, ocean exploration is a big job. Let’s learn about how it’s done!

So What Does an Ocean Explorer Do Anyway?

Ocean exploration is a diverse field. While it can be easy to assume that exploration is only conducted by scientists or SCUBA divers, the reality is that anyone can be an explorer, and it takes all sorts of interests and expertise to accomplish mission goals.

The day-to-day life of an explorer varies depending on job focus area, educational background, and the type of organization you work for. The thought of ocean exploration can seem like something straight from an adventure movie: sailing the high seas in search of the unknown. While some jobs will fulfill this fantasy and others will have you play a critical role back on dry land, all ocean exploration careers require hard work, the ability to navigate challenges, and usually a lot of time spent working behind your computer. Let’s take a deep dive into some of the categories that ocean exploration jobs may fall into and the levels of education that they typically require.

Maritime Archaeology

Maritime archaeologists investigate sites, objects, and remains in the ocean that have a connection to human society. This can include searching for shipwrecks, identifying sunken airplanes, or even investigating flooded coastal landscapes from the last ice age! This field is one of the ways that social science overlaps with ocean exploration. Many maritime archaeologists hold undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in history, maritime studies, anthropology, or one of the natural sciences (like geology, biology, or chemistry).

Office of National Marine Sanctuaries maritime heritage coordinator and research team member Brenda Altmeier levels the 360-degree panoramic camera before photographing the Tonawanda shipwreck off Key Largo. Image courtesy of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. — Learn more

On board Research Vessel Kilo Moana Dr. Andrew Pietruszka, one of the Principal Investigators of the Deepwater Surveys of World War II U.S. Cultural Assets in the Saipan Channel expedition from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, helps guide piloting of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that is exploring underwater sites that may contain aircraft wreckage. Dr. Pietruszka is the lead archaeologist of the program. Screens show a live feed from the cameras as well as information on depth and pitch of the ROV. Additionally, a forward-looking sonar is used to guide researchers to objects that are out of the field of view of the cameras. Image courtesy of Kyle Palmer, MARE. — Learn more

UM student Ryan Fochs examining a diagnostic hawse pipe on site NOAA1. Image courtesy of NOAA and UM-RSMAS, Quicksands Archaeological Survey. — Learn more

Physical Oceanography

These scientists study the physical conditions and processes that occur in the ocean, including currents, air-sea interactions, waves, tides, and the relationships between these features. Physical oceanographers use ocean observations and datasets derived from satellites to develop models that increase our understanding of the ocean’s properties. They typically have undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in physics, marine or environmental science, oceanography, biology, geology, or chemistry.

Principal investigator Wu-Jung Lee and research assistant Linda Nguyen analyze the data coming in from the ship’s mounted echosounder. The graphs on their screens are called echograms and can be used to identify layers of small organisms in the water column. Image courtesy of Coordinated Simultaneous Physical-Biological Sampling Using ADCP-Equipped Ocean Gliders. — Learn more

Maritime aerosol measurments can only be taken on clear, sunny days. Luckily, we've had plenty of them during the 2022 Puerto Rico Mapping and Deep-Sea Camera Demonstration. Here, Paige Hoel, an explorer-in-training uses a sunphotometer to collect data for NASA's Maritime Aerosol Network. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2022 Puerto Rico Mapping and Deep-Sea Camera Demonstration. — Learn more

Maritime Biology

Marine biologists study life in the ocean. Some may focus on specific species, ranging from microscopic bacteria to giant whales, and others concentrate on entire ecosystems like coral reefs or seagrass beds. Marine biologists provide information about ocean life that deepens our understanding of ecosystem functionality, which can help us be better caretakers of the ocean’s living resources. These explorers usually hold undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in ecology, environmental or marine science, marine biology, general biology, fisheries, or other natural sciences.

Alex retrieves a crinoid sample that was collected during a dive. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Gulf of Mexico 2017. — Learn more

Dr. Chuck Messing pulls a carnivorous cladorhizid sponge sample out of Deep Discoverer’s biobox. Image courtesy of NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2017. — Learn more

Mathew Broughton, cinematographer for Microcosm, takes footage of Dr. Dhugal Lindsay examining a jar of plankton collected from the plankton net. Image courtesy of Caitlin Bailey, GFOE, The Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands. — Learn more

Marine Chemistry and Biochemistry

Marine biochemists study the chemistry of living organisms, while marine chemists are focused on the chemical composition, processes, and conditions of the ocean that these organisms call home. If you are interested in how the ocean can support human health, then this may be the field for you! One major facet of marine chemistry and biochemistry is the study of marine microbes that have potential pharmaceutical or biotechnical applications. Marine chemists or biochemists often hold undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, or marine science.

Megan Conkling, laboratory research coordinator and doctoral student at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, resuspends sponge cells for cryopreservation in the lab aboard Research Vessel Point Sur during the Exploring the Blue Economy Biotechnology Potential of Deepwater Habitats expedition. Image courtesy of Exploring the Blue Economy Biotechnology Potential of Deepwater Habitats. — Learn more

Nancy Prouty collects water samples from Nisken bottles. Image courtesy of NOAA, USGS; taken from GFOE ROV Yogi. — Learn more

Demopoulos lab manager Jennie McClain-Counts samples a piece of Lophelia for future chemical analysis in order to help characterize deep-sea coral food webs. Image courtesy of DEEP SEARCH 2018 - BOEM, USGS, NOAA. — Learn more

Marine Geology

Marine geologists study seafloor structure, sample and age rocks and sediments, and map seafl oor features. These explorers often focus on the origin and age of seamounts, crustal plates and their processes, the occurrence and distribution of hydrothermal vents and methane seeps, and geohazards. Marine geologists usually have undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in geology, earth science, geological oceanography, geography, or marine science. Some may even have degrees in climate science if their work is more focused on learning about the Earth’s history to understand climate change.

Amy Gartman, U.S. Geological Survey Research Oceanographer and chief scientist for the Escanaba Trough expedition, examines a mineral sample with a hand lens aboard Research Vessel Thomas G. Thompson during the Escanaba Trough: Exploring the Seafloor and Oceanic Footprints expedition. Image courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey. — Learn more

Mandy Joye inspects a sediment core before processing begins. Image copyright Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, courtesy of DEEP SEARCH 2018 - BOEM, USGS, NOAA. — Learn more

Matt Dornback, from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, photographs a rock sample from the day’s dive. Rock samples are being collected during most dives for later age-dating and geochemical analysis to provide more information about the geologic history and age of seamounts in the Johnston Atoll Unit. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2017 Laulima O Ka Moana. — Learn more

Angie Gastaldi measures and separates the different layers of the box core’s sample to prepare for sieving. Image courtesy of Angie Gastaldi, UAF, The Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands. — Learn more

Hydrography

Hydrography is the science of measuring and describing physical features of bodies of water like oceans, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. In the ocean exploration world, hydrographers are often involved with mapping the bathymetry (depth) of the seafloor and discerning what lies underneath it using sonars and other instruments that provide measurements using sound. Hydrographic data is essential for future exploration and research in poorly understood regions of the ocean and can be critical for safe maritime navigation. Hydrographers can come from many different educational backgrounds, but most have either undergraduate and/or postgraduate degrees in geography, geospatial information systems, geology, marine science, or oceanography. Sometimes, professional hydrographers also obtain special licenses or certifi cations that qualify them to do their seafloor mapping jobs!

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Mapping the ocean floor is the first step in exploring our ocean and is a key element of every NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Here, a mapping watchstander in the ship’s control room edits multibeam data acquired during the 2017 Laulima O Ka Moana expedition. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2017 Laulima O Ka Moana. — Learn more

Rough seas meant that the ROVs could not be safely deployed on September 13, 2019. As a result, the team conducted all day mapping operations in a previously unmapped area north of the intended dive site. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Deep Connections 2019. — Learn more

Science Communication

Sharing scientific findings with different audiences can bridge gaps in knowledge between scientists, policymakers, and the general public. By engaging with people who care about the ocean, science communicators help to translate research into new laws and personally connect people with discoveries that will inspire them. Science communicators rely on strong skills in writing, storytelling, and public speaking. And they work closely with scientists to ensure that the excitement of exploration reaches as many people as possible! These explorers often hold undergraduate and/or postgraduate degrees in one of the natural sciences, communications, English or creative writing, or sometimes even the social sciences.

The Attenborough Studio mid-show. Image courtesy of the Natural History Museum. — Learn more

University of Wisconsin Sea Grant biologist Titus Seilheimer talks about Lake Michigan’s natural environment with a group of Wisconsin educators. Image courtesy of Wisconsin Maritime Museum. — Learn more

Visual and Creative Arts

Through different mediums of creative work, artists can visually display scientific findings and discoveries in engaging ways. Art has the power to connect on a deeper level, which can inspire and encourage people to care more about the ocean and its conservation. As a filmmaker, multimedia artist, photographer, or graphic designer, you can apply your skills to have a major impact on scientific engagement by sharing the wonders of the ocean with many people. Visual and creative artists often have undergraduate and/or postgraduate degrees in fi ne arts, communications, media and design, or natural science. This versatile career path is great for those who love science but are also skilled artists!

Video Engineer Brian Doros controlling video shading during a ROV dive of the Deep Connections 2019 expedition. Video shading refers to the task of controlling the ROV cameras to ensure that images are well lit and in focus. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Deep Connections 2019. — Learn more

Annie White is taking still photos of the crew and staff on the Okeanos Explorer while they go about their daily tasks. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific MPAs. — Learn more

Stuart Ireland, cinematographer with Ocean Geographic, documents our departure from Seward, Alaska. Image courtesy of Caitlin Bailey, GFOE, The Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands. — Learn more

Ocean Engineering

Ocean engineering is a subdiscipline of the field of engineering. Those with mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering backgrounds can apply their knowledge of technology, software development, and physics to advance exploration operations and achieve scientific goals. Many ocean engineers specialize in the development and use of innovative equipment, like ROVs, used to study the ocean. These engineers adapt technology to the dynamic marine environment and are essential in enabling the exploration of areas where no one has ever been before. Many ocean engineers hold undergraduate and/or postgraduate degrees in various types of engineering including mechanical, electrical, computer, aerospace, chemical, and, of course, ocean engineering!

Lars Murphy, ocean/mechanical engineer with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration, works on remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer’s Kraft “Predator” manipulator arm during Voyage to the Ridge 2022 Expedition 2. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Voyage to the Ridge 2022. — Learn more

his scene comes from the dry lab during the successful first day of operations on the Exploring the Blue Economy Biotechnology Potential of Deepwater Habitats expedition. Image courtesy of Exploring the Blue Economy Biotechnology Potential of Deepwater Habitats. — Learn more

Jeff Laning, an Electrical Engineer with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration, works to fix the claw of the manipulator arm on remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer. The claw is a key tool for collecting samples from the seafloor, so getting it back in working order was important to meeting the objectives of Windows to the Deep 2021. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Windows to the Deep 2021. — Learn more

Education

Ocean educators teach the next generation of explorers by laying the foundations for scientific investigation, inspiration, and ocean stewardship. From classroom teachers to education staff at aquaria, science centers, and even the government, educators support all types of ocean learning. Through collaborations and partnerships, ocean educators advance science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) education globally. Typically, ocean educators hold undergraduate and/or postgraduate degrees in education or one of the natural sciences.

Chris Kelley displays specimens at the Waikiki Aquarium with the live stream in the background. Image courtesy of NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas. — Learn more

Local school group following Dive 3 in real time from the National Park Service office in St. Croix. Image courtesy of Jessica Stuczynski. — Learn more

Vessel Operations

A functioning ship and knowledgeable crew are critical to successful ocean expeditions. From navigation to onboard engineering and daily maintenance, there are many shipboard roles to be fulfilled. Ship personnel can include officers, engineers, deckhands, chefs, technicians, and more. Their roles are key in ensuring ship safety and operation, which allows for mission personnel to successfully conduct exploration, mapping, and research activities. Oftentimes, these explorers may hold certifications or other qualifications to safely operate research vessels. Many will hold undergraduate and/or postgraduate degrees in engineering or one of the natural sciences.

Members of the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer crew approach the ship after conducting small boat operations at night during the 2022 Caribbean Mapping expedition. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2022 Caribbean Mapping. — Learn more

Junior Officer, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Brianna Pacheco first heard about NOAA Corps while she was serving in the United States Coast Guard. After serving on her first ship, she decided pretty quickly that an adventurous life at sea is the right career fit for her! NOAA Corps combines her love for the sea, science, and service. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Exploring Deep-sea Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. — Learn more

Ensign ENS Brianna Pacheco works on navigation systems on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer in preparation for an ROV dive. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Deep-Sea Symphony: Exploring the Musicians Seamounts. — Learn more

Computer and Data Science

At the forefront of technological innovation, computer and data scientists provide important skills and knowledge that advance ocean science. Computer and data science involves the study and use of computing systems with incorporation of data, information systems, and artificial intelligence. This discipline has a foundation in maths, engineering, and statistics and these explorers are typically interested in coding, building things on their computers, or creating graphs and charts. This fast-growing field is important for progress in understanding our ocean. Computer and data scientists typically have undergraduate and/or postgraduate degrees in computer science, data analytics or data science, computer or software engineering, or mathematics. No matter which degree they hold, these explorers usually have strong skills in computer coding or web development.

Stacey Williams and Steve Auscavitch. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Exploring Deep-sea Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. — Learn more

As you now know, ocean exploration has many potential career paths to choose from. Explorers who hold these positions are unique in their own ways, but they share common values of curiosity, determination, creativity, and an eagerness to learn. Hopefully you are pretty excited about the depths of possibility ahead and, like a true explorer, are wondering what you can do to get there. Doing well in school and staying curious about the natural world are great ways to start. As you consider higher education, think about which degree programs will suit your interests and help you achieve your goals based on careers you could see yourself having. While it is important for ocean explorers to have good grades in the classroom, it is also essential to gain hands-on experience through training or internship opportunities. These special programs will help you develop the skills you need to have competitive job applications in your future career and can be very useful in determining where your interests lie. With so much left to explore, any career pathway you choose will be crucial for advancing our collective understanding of the ocean!

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Published June 26, 2023