The achievements in ocean exploration

By moselleschartung
  • Period: 5000 BCE to

    The achievements in ocean exploration

  • 4000 BCE

    First sailing vessels are developed

    First sailing vessels are developed
    The first sailing vessels that we know of were created by the Ancient Egyptians back in 4000BC. These were most likely used for sailing near the coast, and down the Nile river.
  • 600 BCE

    First sea routes

    First sea routes
    In 600, the Phoenicians developed the first ever sea routes. They sailed around the Mediterranean, to reach the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, so they could procure tin and other resources.
  • 1002

    Leif Erikson discovers America

    Leif Erikson discovers America
    Leif Erikson becomes the first European to discover North America. He does this almost 500 years before Christopher Columbus, who is know as the discoverer of America. Erikson called it Vinland, and established a Norse settlement.
  • 1535

    First real diving bell

    First real diving bell
    In 1535, Guglielmo de Lorena created the first "real" diving bell. The bell rests on the divers shoulders, and holds enough air for a 1 hour dive.

  • First "waterproof" suit

    First "waterproof" suit
    In 1715, Chavalier de Beauve develops a "waterproof" suit. He adds lead shoes to weigh it down, and tubes on the helmet to supply air.

  • The Nautilus is created

    The Nautilus is created
    In 1800, Robert Fulton, who invented the steamboat, created a submarine called "the Nautilus" with wood, iron plates, and a horizontal rudder that people still use to this day. It was this submarine that inspired the ship in "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea".

  • The first modern sounding

    The first modern sounding
    On January 3rd, in 1840, Sir James Clark Ross performed the first deep-water sounding, measuring in at 14,450 feet. (A sounding is the measurement of how deep the water is in that specific area).

  • Proof of deep sea life

    Proof of deep sea life
    In 1867, Louis F. de Pourtales dredged the ocean off the southern coast of Florida. While conducting this, he found prolific life extending below 1800 feet. This was the first solid evidence that deep sea life exists.

  • The sinking of the titanic

    The sinking of the titanic
    On April 15th, the "unsinkable ship" the Titanic, hit an iceberg and sank, causing the deaths of over 1500 passengers. This tragedy is one of the main reasons that scientists started to develop sonar.

  • The oceans deepest point is discovered

    The oceans deepest point is discovered
    The "Challenger 2", a British ship, located what seems to be the deepest point in the ocean. Being over 7 miles deep, it can fit Mount Everest inside of it, and still have a mile left to go. It was known as "Challengers Deep", but today is known as the "Mariana Trench".

  • Sea floor mapping from space

    Sea floor mapping from space
    Walter Smith and Dave Sandwell begin to map the seafloor using a satellite. This enhanced our knowledge of the seafloor greatly.

  • Video of a Giant Squid

    Video of a Giant Squid
    In 2012, a Japanese film crew catches the first recording of a live Giant Squid. Many dead squid have been seen before, but never a recording of a live one.