White and red tube worms reach up from the deep sea floor.

The Seafloor

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A map of the Mid Ocean Ridge

Mapping the Seafloor

Learn about one scientist's pursuit of creating one of the first maps of the seafloor.

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the titanic underwater

The Titanic Wrecksite

A screenshot from the video "Integrated Ocean Drilling Program" showing the front of a research vessel moving through water.

Integrated Ocean Drilling Program

Screenshot from video of an aerial view of the ocean drilling vessel Chikyu.

The Ocean Drilling Vessel Chikyu

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Colorful corals and brittlestars on Manning Seamount off the New England coast.

Seamounts: Underwater Oases

It is estimated that the March 11, 2011 earthquake in Japan was 1,000 times more powerful than the quake that struck Haiti in 2010. Watch as Smithsonian geologist Dr. Liz Cottrell explains this and more about the major earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Understanding the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Are You An Educator?

At Smithsonian Ocean, we have lesson plans, activities, and resources to help you engage your students in the wonders of our oceans.

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The Seafloor Articles

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A variety of corals cling to Manning Seamount, just off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Seamounts, A Deep-Sea Habitat

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Colorful corals and brittlestars on Manning Seamount off the New England coast.

Seamounts: Underwater Oases

A screenshot from the video "Integrated Ocean Drilling Program" showing the front of a research vessel moving through water.

Integrated Ocean Drilling Program

Screenshot from video of an aerial view of the ocean drilling vessel Chikyu.

The Ocean Drilling Vessel Chikyu

Screenshot from video tour of the Chikyu showing an illustration of the ship on water.

Tour the Chikyu

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Forams are tiny single-celled organisms.

Foraminifera

the titanic underwater

The Titanic Wrecksite

Red and white riftia worms living in a deep-sea vent.

Riftia Worms: One Species at a Time

an underwater volcanic eruption

Submarine Volcanoes Erupting

an image of an underwater vent

Submarine Volcanoes and Hydrothermal Vents

It is estimated that the March 11, 2011 earthquake in Japan was 1,000 times more powerful than the quake that struck Haiti in 2010. Watch as Smithsonian geologist Dr. Liz Cottrell explains this and more about the major earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Understanding the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

a pink coral

Corals in the Juan de Fuca Canyon and the Davidson Seamount

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NOAA