Christian Mayo- Ocean Exploration Timeline

By cmayo991
  • 4000 BCE

    First Sailing Vessels

    First Sailing Vessels
    The first sailing vessels were built by the ancient Egyptians and were used for sailing in the eastern Mediterranean and near the mouth of the Nile river.
  • 200 BCE

    Circumference of the Earth Discovered

    Circumference of the Earth Discovered
    Eratosthenes, a Greek astronomer, was the first to calculate the Earth's circumference.
  • Sep 20, 1519

    First Circumnavigation of the World

    First Circumnavigation of the World
    Ferdinand Magellan and his crew of ships set out from Portugal on a risky voyage exploration. The vessel would be the first to sail around the world.
  • 1578

    First Plan for a Submarine

    First Plan for a Submarine
    William Bourne, an English mathematician, drew the first designs for an underwater boat. The designs required a wooden frame craft with leather covering that could be rowed from the inside. However, no evidence has been shown that the craft was ever constructed.

  • First Waterproof Suit

    First Waterproof Suit
    French Navy guard, Sir Pierre Rémy de Beauve, developed one of the earliest known diving suits, which consisted of a waterproof dress with lead shoes. The diver breathes air pumped by a bellow at the surface through a metal mask attached to two horses.

  • First Voyage of Endeavour

    First Voyage of Endeavour
    James Cook sets sail from the port of Plymouth, England, to see the passage of Venus through the sun. Cook is the first person to accurately measure his longitude at sea using a chronometer.

  • U.S. Coast Survey Established

    U.S. Coast Survey Established
    The United States Coast Survey is signed by Thomas Jefferson. Along with studies of the eastern coast of the United States and information on a variety of maritime topics, such as tides and tidal currents, seafloor dynamics, and the depth and physical characteristics of near-shore waters.

  • First Modern Sounding

    First Modern Sounding
    James Clark Ross performs the first open-ocean deep-water sounding in the south Atlantic Ocean at Latitude 27 S and Longitude W in 2,425 fathoms. The sounding is done the older way, by dropping a hemp rope over the ship's side.

  • First Acoustic Exploration of the Sea Floor

    First Acoustic Exploration of the Sea Floor
    To test the beginning of acoustic exploration of the sea, Reginald Fessenden uses an oscillator to bounce sound waves between an iceberg and the seafloor. This technology will contribute to the advancement of sonar in the future.

  • Mapping the Ocean Floor

    Mapping the Ocean Floor
    Detailed measurements are taken of the ocean floor using echo-sounding equipment. These expeditions provide new insights into the shape and function of the ocean floor.

  • Undersea Laboratory Aquarius

    Undersea Laboratory Aquarius
    Aquarius begins its exploration in the U.S. Virgin Islands. During 10-day missions, Aquarius resembles an underwater apartment and lab that can handle six-person teams. Aquarius was active until 1996 and was influential in revolutionizing coral reef science.

  • Census of Marine Life Completed

    Census of Marine Life Completed
    The very first marine life census has been completed. The census indicates what, where, and how much people live and hide in the ocean has made it possible to map global addresses of species into an online directory.