Spotlight: Ocean Exploration Day

“A day to celebrate the wonder of & need for deep-sea research and exploration. To manage, sustainably use, and protect our ocean, we must understand it. Exploration is the first step to unlocking our ocean’s full potential. Onward and downward!”

~NOAA Ocean Exploration

Rarely seen Halitrephes Jellyfish, filmed by E/V Nautilus‘ explorers 4,000 feet down off the coast of Baja California, Mexico

This spectacular and rarely seen Halitrephes – or “Fireworks” – Jellyfish was spotted 4,000 feet below the sea in the Revillagigedo Archipelago off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. The incredible colors of the jellyfish are only able to be seen due to the lights of the remote camera that is filming it.

Did you know humans have only explored about 5% of our planet’s ocean? We’ve barely begun to learn about the amazing life in more than 70% of our planet — the life in our salty seas.

Lucky for us, we’re living in a golden era of ocean exploration. From NOAA Ocean Exploration and Nautilus Live, to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Ocean X, Schmidt Ocean Institute, and so many more groups and vessels around the world, researchers are using surface vessels, divers, remote-operated underwater vehicles, and every manner of new technology that can help explore our ocean, from its sunlight zone to the deepest midnight zones.

In the words of ocean explorer extraordinaire Sylvia Earle,

“The observations that have developed over the years have given us perspective about where we fit in. We are newcomers, really recent arrivals on a planet that is four and a half billion years old …

…We are the beneficiaries of our collective learning and what we know today is unprecedented. It gives us an edge with plenty of reason for hope that we can figure things out from where we are to some better place in the future.”

Read about some recent explorations here and check out our Twitter list of ocean exploration accounts.