Ocean Exploration.RH

First Video Of Giant Squid

2012 BCE

A Japanese expedition and film crew captures the first video of a giant live giant squid in its natural environment. This elusive creature is previously only seen when dead specimens wash ashore or are caught in fishing nets. The squid captured in the video measures only 9 feet (3 meters) in length, which is relatively small. Giant squid can grow to over 60 feet (18 meters) in length.

1971-Present: Sea Floor Mapping From Space

1995 BCE

Declassification of Geo sat satellite radar altimetry data leads to worldwide mapping of the sea floor from space by Walter Smith and Dave Sand well. Their observed data significantly enhances accuracy over earlier images of the ocean basin.

First Underwater Robot

1965 BCE

The Navy develops Halibut, a submarine that can lower miles of cables baring lights, cameras, and other gear to spy on enemy armament and materials lost on the bottom of the sea.

1901- 1970: Scrips institute

1912 BCE

Scrips institution of Oceanography affiliated with the University of California. Scrips is one of the worlds leading marine research centers and is locate in La Jolla, California, just north of San Diego

First Modern Electric Submarine

1888 BCE

The French Navy launches Gym note. It is the first electrically powered and fully functional military submarine. The steel-hulled craft is powered by a 204 cell battery. It completes over 2000 successful dives before being scraped for its limited range.

1801 AD- 1900: Continental Shelf

1849 BCE

Coast survey surroundings in support of gulf stream investigations result in the discovery of the continental shelf break and the continental slope

First Waterproof Suit

1715 BCE

Chevalier de Beauve, a guard in the French Navy, develops a waterproof suit with lead shoes. Air is supplied from the surface by two leather tubes fastened to the helmet.

1601 AD- 1800 AD: First Air Replenished Driving Bell

1690 BCE

The English astronomer Edmund Halley developed a driving bell in when the atmosphere in the bell can be replenished by sending weighed barrels of air down from the surface

Ptolemy's Map Rediscovered

1410 BCE

Ptolemy's famous map of the world is rediscovered and published once again after the European Crusades capture ancient Roman libraries from the Arab people.

1AD-1600: Viking Exploration Begins

900 BCE

The vikings begin to explore and colonize Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland. They are among the first to use the North Star to determine their latitude.

500 Bc-1BC:Treasure Diving Begins

500 BCE

King Xerxes of Persia commissions a diver named Scyllias and his daughter Cyana to dive for treasure during one of the many wars between the Persians and the Greeks.

Diving Used In Warfare

414 BCE

The Greek historian Thucydides writes about diving used in warfare in his narration of the siege of the Scyllias. His writings tell of Greek divers or submerge to remove under water obstacles from the harbor in order to ensure the safety of their ships.