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

The Seafloor

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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Featured Content

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

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.

see all lesson plans see seafloor lesson plans

The Seafloor Articles

Riftia tubeworm (Riftia pachyptila) colonies near hot spring.

The Microbes That Keep Hydrothermal Vents Pumping

A squat lobster and blackbelly rosefish find shelter on a Lophelia pertusa coral reef off the southeastern United States.

Deep-sea Corals

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NOAA