Oceanography Timeline

  • 1519

    First Circumnavigation

    First Circumnavigation
    Ferdinand Magellan starts his voyage to sail around the world. Magellan and his fleet of ships sailed for two years and returned with a wealth of information. (exploration)
  • First Waterproof Suit

    First Waterproof Suit
    Pierre Remy di Beave designed a waterproof dress with lead shoes that were paired with a metal helmet for breathing.
  • First Modern Submarine

    First Modern Submarine
    Robert Fulton designed a 21 foot, all-metal ship that was able to store oxygen and move underwater. Fulton named this revolutionary invention the "Naultis".
  • United States Coast Survey

    United States Coast Survey
    Established by Thomas Jefferson, the United States Coast Survey was created for the purpose of collecting data on things like tides, currents and other ocean features. (Scientific Research)
  • Scuba Diving

    Scuba Diving
    Scuba gear was designed by William H James. It allowed a diver to be below water for over an hour as the suit came with a helmet and supply of compressed air. Today, scuba diving has advanced tremendously. (scientific research and recreation)
  • Deep Sea Life

    Deep Sea Life
    The belief that the deep sea was uninhabited was proven wrong when Charles Wyville Thompson discovered all types of life at 14,400 feet deep. (scientific research)
  • The Albatross

    The Albatross
    The steamship Albatross was the first US ship built for the sole purpose of oceanographic research. (scientific research)
  • Acoustic Exploration of the Seas

    Acoustic Exploration of the Seas
    An oscillator was utilized by Reginald Thompson in order to bounce a signal off of the seafloor and an iceberg simultaneously. (scientific research)
  • Deepest Point of the Ocean

    Deepest Point of the Ocean
    The British Ship HMS Challenger discovered that the ocean reaches its deepest point at 35,856 feet. This site is commonly known as the Mariana Trench.
  • Marine Life Census

    Marine Life Census
    The census was completed over 10 years by over 2,000 scientists from all over the world. It accounted for all types of sea life from all over. The list of species and discoveries is now listed online.