The most advanced exploration, research, and media vessel ever built.

Capable of exploring the most unreachable places on Earth, OceanXplorer pushes the limits of discovery and broadcasts it for the world to see.

4

deep sea vehicles

6000

meters max depth

4

onboard labs

Scroll to explore the ship

Below the glow of bio-inspired lights, scientists merge data from all over the ship. Deep sea discoveries and stunning maps of the ocean floor unite to paint a never-before-seen picture of an unknown world.

Dive Deeper

Mission control functions as OceanXplorer’s central nervous system. All of the data collected from OceanXplorer’s deep sea vehicles, CTD, and other sensors are input into a centralized mission data management platform that can be visualized in real-time in mission control, as well as the other visual interfaces located around the ship. Outputs from the data management system can also be input into specific software for more in-depth data analysis, such as inspection of a bathymetric feature or 3D visualization of a hydrothermal vent.

Experience It

Inside onboard wet and dry labs, scientists study marine samples up close. Newly-discovered bioluminescent species light up aquarium tanks as eDNA analysis offers clues on what to search for next

Dive Deeper

The ship’s 4 labs mirror those of a state-of-the-art laboratory at leading research institutions. Their capabilities include microscopy, aquarium tanks, genetic sequencing, biofluorescent imaging, and visualization of samples from the ship’s various sensors.

Experience It

Hovering high above the ship, OceanXplorer's onboard helicopter is equipped to search long range, deploy research teams and film from the skies.

Experience It

Inside its onboard production house, the media team transforms discoveries into digital content in real time.

Dive Deeper

Mixed-reality data visualization and real-time editing allows our media team to deliver short-form, episodic, and live content while at sea. The content they work with comes from cutting-edge low-light and high-resolution cameras carried in custom housings, including the only housing in the world capable of shooting 8k resolution at nearly 20,000 ft below the sea surface.

Experience It

There’s more known about the surface of the moon than about the seafloor right here on Earth. Multi-beam sonars and visualization software create a 3D view of the bottom, helping us better understand and protect our oceans.

Dive Deeper

The array, also known as the gondola, features two multi-beam systems, the Kongsberg EM712 and EM304, capable of mapping to 3600 m (11811 ft) and 6000 m (19685 ft) deep respectively. This cutting-edge acoustic array enables high-resolution mapping and exploration of the seabed, also known as bathymetry. Working along other sensors, including those that visualize the top layers of seafloor substrate, currents, and biomass within the water column, these technologies provide scientists with all the data they need to deeply understand an entire ocean ecosystem from surface to seafloor.

Scientists suit up in the fully equipped dive center or are dropped into untouched habitats in minutes using a rapid-deploy zodiac. While in the water, the dive team collects samples, evaluates marine life, and documents the environment using state-of-the-art dive camera rigs.