Ocean Exploration Timeline

  • 4500 BCE

    The First of Many Ocean Discoveries

    At this time, many people of coastal cultures were now diving into the great blue waters for hunting and even possibly warfare at the time.
  • 200 BCE

    A Discovery made by Eratosthenes

    A Discovery made by Eratosthenes
    The circumference of the Earth was discovered by Eratosthenes. He measured it by calculating the angle of the shadows and the distances between Alexandria and Syene. The Greek astronomer estimated the circumference to be at around 40,000 km. His estimation was so close but was off by 32 km
  • 200

    GOGGLES

    The invention of goggles were first indicated on Peruvian paintings with men wearing them and holding fish. Using goggles allowed people to go under water and see without the painful feeling of salt water in your eyes.
  • 900

    The Viking Era

    Vikings were the ones to explore the colder regions. Oceans guided them towards Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland, where they then colonized the area.
  • James Cook's Voyage

    James Cook's Voyage
    James Cook wanted to observe a transit of the planet Venus across the sun. With this specific voyage he successfully determined his longitude by accurately using a chronometer which was used for marine navigation at the time.
  • An Invention Made by Robert Fulton

    An Invention Made by Robert Fulton
    The Nautilus was an early submarine of the time. It was known for its cigar like shape. Inside it had a rudder. Rudder systems are still used today. They are what help the submarine go up and down.
  • William H. James's Miraculous Invention

    William H. James's Miraculous Invention
    For the first time ever, a "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus" was designed. The design William came up with consisted of a helmet with compressed air that is fastened to you. The amount of oxygen provided gave you just over an hour of underwater time.
  • The Alligator

    The Alligator
    The very first U.S Navy submarine that was built for the Civil War but was never used for the actual war. It was built by Neafie and Levy. It was powered by sixteen paddles coming from both sides.
  • Sucken Ship

    Sucken Ship
    The Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean. After sinking it was sure that the Titanic was lost for good, however, scientists and researchers later found the ship and recovered artifacts and pieces of the ship along with a new view of the ocean.
  • The NOAA

    The NOAA
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were established to ensure that the studies and safety of the ocean would remain. This governmental group had the responsibility of research for weather and climate forecasting, monitoring the ocean and collecting data, and charting the U.S oceans, and so much more.
  • Seeing the Ocean Floor from Space

    As technology was enhancing through the decades, a satellite was created with special sensors and effects and was brought up into space. This satellite could see the ocean floor. With this view, scientists such as, Walter Smith and Dave Sandwell, were now able to see what the ocean floor would look like years and years ago.
  • Single Dive to the Bottom of the......

    Single Dive to the Bottom of the......
    All it took was one diver to go to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, aka the deepest part of the ocean. James Cameron dove nearly seven miles and took him three hours to get to the very bottom. He filmed the entire dive and is still known today to be the one to dive to the bottom of the ocean.