An image of the Sant Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian Ocean Team

The Ocean is important to all life, including yours. Join us. Welcome to the Ocean Portal – a unique, interactive online experience that inspires awareness, understanding, and stewardship of the world’s Ocean, developed by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and more than 20 collaborating organizations. You are among the first wave of visitors to the Portal, an experience which we hope will empower you to shape and share your personal Ocean experiences, knowledge, and perspectives. The input you provide through feedback modules and comment boxes will help us to shape future Ocean Portal content and functionality. Like the Ocean, which is made of millions of marine species, your comments, questions, and clicks will help to bring the Portal closer to the vastness and variety of the Ocean itself.

Contributed Content

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus)

Map showing the range of the eastern and western populations of Atlantic bluefin tuna and their spawning grounds in the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea.

Expedition to the Line Islands

The Line Islands are one of the most remote places in the Pacific Ocean.

Smithsonian Research Stations

These Smithsonian field stations enable scientists worldwide to conduct long-term studies on mangrove ecosystems.

Long Before Coral, Mollusks Built the Ocean's Reefs

A rendering of an underwater marine scene depicting life ~145-65 million years ago, when rudist clams were the major reef builders.

Seamounts: Underwater Oases

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

From Submarines to Robots: Exploring the Deep Ocean

Alvin, a human occupied vehicle (HOV), returns to the ship after a dive.

How You Can Help the Ocean

A beach clean-up in Malaysia brings young people together to care for their coastline.

Reef Rescue: Protect Coral Reefs with Your Actions

A diver cares for the reef by cleaning up discarded fishing gear and garbage.

NOAA Teacher at Sea Ruth Meadows

Ruth Meadows examines specimens as part of her Teacher at Sea experience. NOAA Teacher at Sea Ruth Meadows sorts specimens aboard the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow as part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Ecosystem (MAR-ECO) project.

Terms of Use for Media on the Ocean Portal

Citizens of the Sea

Cover of the Book Citizens of the Sea

Around the World Again...and Again

Dampier explored this area of Western Australia and named it Shark Bay because of the "abundance" of sharks in the waters. It is now a World Heritage site.

Five Questions for Robert Ballard

Dr. Robert Ballard with an ROV

The Whalefish Mystery

A red deep-sea fish specimen.

Underwater Robots Explore the Ocean

The robotic underwater glider Scarlet Knight crossed the Atlantic over the course of several months in 2009.

Sustainable Seafood Glossary of Terms

David Barouh displays fresh fish for sale at Seattle’s Pike Place Market

Exploring the Blue Planet with J. Murray Roberts

J. Murray Roberts studies and maps the cold-water corals known as Lophelia in the North Atlantic.

Amy Baco-Taylor: Passionate about Deep-Sea Corals

Black coral, primnoid coral, and feather stars flourish deep on the pristine Davidson Seamount.

Coral Scientist Brendan Roark: On an Urgent Mission

Dr. Brendan Roark discusses different methods of sampling deep-sea corals with undergraduate students at Texas A&M University.

Martha Nizinski: Hooked on Deep-Sea Corals

Scientist Martha Nizinski examines a sample of the deep-sea coral Lophelia pertusa, collected 600-m (1,969-ft) deep off the coast of the southeastern United States.

Peter Auster: The Gee Whiz Factor

Auster gets ready to study fish predators at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia.

Five Questions for Halsey Burgund, Creator of Ocean Voices

Sound artist Halsey Burgund performs his composition Ocean Voices.

World Oceans Day 2014 Events

The Sant Ocean Hall is the National Museum of Natural History's largest exhibit, providing visitors with a unique and breathtaking introduction to the majesty of the ocean

Biocubes: Life In One Cubic Foot

Colorful underwater animals highlighted with a white background.

The Microbes That Keep Hydrothermal Vents Pumping

Riftia tubeworm (Riftia pachyptila) colonies near hot spring.

The State of Sharks, 40 Years After Jaws

A shortfin mako glides through the waters off the coast of California.

William Dampier - The Pirate Who Collected Plants

This portrait of William Dampier hangs in London’s National Gallery in recognition of his contribution to natural history.

The results are in...

A great white shark in the waters of the coast of Guadelupe, Mexico.

Help us pick the next OP stars

Polar bear siblings in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area near Hudson Bay spar playfully during migration.

State of Emergency in the Gulf

Satellite view of the Gulf Coast oil spill off of Louisiana, April 29, 2010.

Smithsonian Stunt Turns Ocean Hall into Living Aquarium

A bull shark's ability to prey on many different species is helped by its capacity to survive in both freshwater and saltwater.

Break On Through

"Break On Through" was taken by Wendy Wolf at California's Pfeiffer Beach. This photo was a winning selection in the Portraits of Planet Ocean Flickr contest.

December in Malibu

"December in Malibu" by Andrew Richards

Shooting the Waves: Tips from a Surf Photographer

A wave curls near the shore.

Take a Virtual Submarine Dive to the Deep

You can explore the Curasub from your computer! Inspect, launch, board and recover to get an idea of what it's like to mann an underwater submersible.

Chasing a Basking Shark

"Ocean sunfish" by Mark Harris

Ocean Today Every Full Moon

Photograph of the underside of a gelatinous octopus with a bright yellow bioluminescent ring around her mouth.

The Time For Earth Optimism is Now

Earth as seen from a satellite.

World Ocean Day Events 2018

An adult and child visitor participate in an activity at the Natural History Museum

A Century of Whales at the Smithsonian

The 1903 blue whale in the Natural History Museum

Smithsonian Ocean Optimism Around the World

A screenshot of a map with links to stories on the side.