
Throughout the ages, people have looked across the sea and wondered at its mysteries. During the last few centuries, a few have stood out amongst the rest and advanced our knowledge of the oceans that surround us. These are the famous oceanographers and scientists who have braved the elements and pushed forward in the face of danger. They are the Ocean Explorers. Click here for a list of credits and sources.
James Cook
British navigator and captain in the Royal Navy who charted New Zealand and Australia's Great Barrier Reef on his ship, Endeavour, and provided the first accurate map of the Pacific Ocean.
British navigator and captain in the Royal Navy who charted New Zealand and Australia's Great Barrier Reef on his ship, Endeavour, and provided the first accurate map of the Pacific Ocean.
Matthew Maury
American astronomer, historian, oceanographer, meteorologist, and cartographer who published the first book about oceanography and is considered the father of modern oceanography.
American astronomer, historian, oceanographer, meteorologist, and cartographer who published the first book about oceanography and is considered the father of modern oceanography.
Charles Darwin
English naturalist who sailed around the world cataloging and studying new animal and plant species, author of the revolutionary theories of natural selection and evolution.
English naturalist who sailed around the world cataloging and studying new animal and plant species, author of the revolutionary theories of natural selection and evolution.
Fridtjof Nansen
Norwegian explorer, oceanographer, diplomat, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who made the first crossing of the Greenland interior and extensively explored the North Polar seas.
Norwegian explorer, oceanographer, diplomat, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who made the first crossing of the Greenland interior and extensively explored the North Polar seas.
Vagn Ekman
Swedish oceanographer who developed theories to explain the dynamics of ocean currents, and inventor of several scientific instruments for oceanography which are still in use today.
Swedish oceanographer who developed theories to explain the dynamics of ocean currents, and inventor of several scientific instruments for oceanography which are still in use today.
William Beebe
American naturalist, ornithologist, marine biologist, entomologist, explorer, author, and first scientist to descend into the deep abyss, observing undersea life that had never before seen.
American naturalist, ornithologist, marine biologist, entomologist, explorer, author, and first scientist to descend into the deep abyss, observing undersea life that had never before seen.
Richard Byrd
American naval officer, aviator, and fearless explorer, one of the first explorers to explore the North Pole by air, explorer of Antarctica, and the first person to reach the South Pole by air.
American naval officer, aviator, and fearless explorer, one of the first explorers to explore the North Pole by air, explorer of Antarctica, and the first person to reach the South Pole by air.
Jacques Cousteau
French naval officer, oceanographer, researcher, scientist, conservationist, filmmaker, and undersea explorer, documentary host, and creator of the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.
French naval officer, oceanographer, researcher, scientist, conservationist, filmmaker, and undersea explorer, documentary host, and creator of the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.
Jacques Piccard
Swiss oceanographer and engineer, inventor and developer of underwater vehicles for studying ocean currents, one of the first persons to explore the deepest part of the ocean.
Swiss oceanographer and engineer, inventor and developer of underwater vehicles for studying ocean currents, one of the first persons to explore the deepest part of the ocean.
Robert Ballard
American oceanographer, explorer, geologist and underwater archaeologist, first person to discover the famous wreck of the RMS Titanic, noted for his work in underwater archaeology.
American oceanographer, explorer, geologist and underwater archaeologist, first person to discover the famous wreck of the RMS Titanic, noted for his work in underwater archaeology.
Sylvia Earle
American oceanographer, explorer, aquanaut, and author, former chief scientist of NOAA, set a record for the deepest dive without a tether during her famous underwater walk in the JIM suit.
American oceanographer, explorer, aquanaut, and author, former chief scientist of NOAA, set a record for the deepest dive without a tether during her famous underwater walk in the JIM suit.
James Cameron
Canadian film director, film producer, screenwriter, and deep-sea explorer, director of the film Titanic, and first person to make a solo dive to the deepest part of the ocean in the Mariana Trench.
Canadian film director, film producer, screenwriter, and deep-sea explorer, director of the film Titanic, and first person to make a solo dive to the deepest part of the ocean in the Mariana Trench.