Canoe hulls on a sandy shore are painted with traditional Alaskan figures.

History & Cultures

The Cook islands banknote

Sharks and Humans

Explore the love-hate relationship between humans and sharks.

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Featured Content

A square of interwoven sticks and cowrie shells

Navigating the Waters with Micronesian Stick Charts

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

William Dampier - The Pirate Who Collected Plants

Divers at a shipwreck site

Wood Under Sand: The Search for A Slave Shipwreck

A walrus sits on top of ice.

The Cultural Icescapes of the Arctic

Scientists are finding ways to preserve and study sunken warships

Battle of the Atlantic

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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History & Cultures Articles

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.

Around the World Again...and Again

Two men each hold a ceramic vessel at the archaeological excavation

Archaeologists Study Early Whaling Community in Quebec, Canada

Master carver Douglas Chilton rides in the Raven Spirit canoe at its ceremonial launch.

The Sant Ocean Hall: Salmon Shape a Way of Life

Nuclear bomb in Bikini Atoll

Naturally Resilient

A sea monster attacks a wooden ship

The Enchanting Sea Monsters on Medieval Maps

A manatee swims in Crystal River, Florida.

From Mermaids to Manatees: the Myth and the Reality

An albatross soars over the ocean.

Is It Love? Why Some Ocean Animals (Sort Of) Mate For Life

A Chevrolet Mako Corvette

These Sleek, Sexy Cars Were All Inspired by Fish

A narwhal breaches the surface, its tusk pointed to the sky

Why a Tusk? The real-life unicorns of the sea and the tusks that make them famous

An arrow-worm from the genus Spadella. Alvariño discovered and classified the species Spadella gaetanoi in 1978.

Ángeles Alvariño: Woman of Many Namesakes

Divers at a shipwreck site

Wood Under Sand: The Search for A Slave Shipwreck

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

William Dampier - The Pirate Who Collected Plants

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Misty Smith