Image: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Océano Profundo 2015: Exploring P, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (source)
More than half of the planet sits under deep water, and most of it has never been seen by a human. The good news is that the institutions doing the exploring publish a remarkable amount of it online, from live dive footage to species databases.
These are the websites we would point a curious reader, a student or a working marine biologist to first.
1) NOAA Ocean Exploration
The US government program dedicated to exploring the deep ocean. Its site collects expedition logs, image and video galleries, and education material from missions to unexplored seafloor.
Best for: Expedition diaries and deep-sea imagery. Visit NOAA Ocean Exploration
2) MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)
A nonprofit oceanographic research center focused on marine science and engineering to understand a changing ocean. It is known for its underwater robots and its deep-sea video archive.
Best for: Deep-sea creatures and ocean technology. Visit MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)
3) Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
WHOI describes itself as the leading independent organization devoted entirely to ocean research, technology and education. Its site explains research on everything from coral reefs to ocean circulation in plain language.
Best for: Accessible explainers on how the ocean works. Visit Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
4) World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS)
An authoritative, expert-curated list of the names of marine organisms. If you need the accepted scientific name of a sea creature, this is where researchers check.
Best for: Checking species names and classification. Visit World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS)
5) Schmidt Ocean Institute
Operates the research vessel Falkor (too) and supports pioneering ocean science and technology. Its expeditions are often livestreamed, so you can watch seafloor discoveries as they happen.
Best for: Live-streamed research dives. Visit Schmidt Ocean Institute
6) NOAA Fisheries
The US authority on the science and management of fish, other marine life and their habitats. Its species directory has profiles of whales, sea turtles, sharks and commercial fish.
Best for: Species profiles and protected-species facts. Visit NOAA Fisheries
7) Ocean Census
The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census is a global alliance set up to speed up the discovery of ocean life. Its site follows the hunt for species that science has not yet named.
Best for: New species discoveries. Visit Ocean Census
8) MarineBio Conservation Society
A friendly guide to marine biology with articles, videos and conservation material. It is a good starting point for students and readers who are new to the subject.
Best for: Beginners and students. Visit MarineBio Conservation Society
9) Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Part of UC San Diego and one of the oldest and largest centers for ocean, earth and atmospheric research. Its news section is a steady source of new findings.
Best for: Research news from a major university. Visit Scripps Institution of Oceanography
More science resource lists
Every site on this list was checked and loading on 30 October 2026. For more, see Top 10 Biology Websites for Enthusiasts and Experts and The Top 10 Earth Science Websites to Uncover the Secrets of the Earth.