We believe the solution to characterizing the entire deep seafloor lies at the intersection of targeted exploration, lower-cost and easier-to-use technology, and a broader community of global ocean explorers. Working together, all three of these focus areas are needed to accelerate deep ocean exploration dramatically.
Create targeted seafloor locations that provide a statistically representative global sample and establish the first full visual characterization of the entire deep sea floor.​
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Collaboratively develop low-cost, easy-to-use data collection and analysis systems to accelerate data collection and analysis. This includes artificial intelligence and other software analysis tools.
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Expand the community of deep-sea explorers through education and training to accelerate deep ocean exploration in critical new areas.
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This episode of the BBC Podcast The Conversation, hosted by Ella Al-Shamahi, features Katy Croff Bell and Zoleka Filander discussing all things deep ocean exploration and challenges and wonders of working at sea.
ODL has received a $1.2 million ocean technology transition grant from NOAA and the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) for the development of its next-generation deep ocean sensor and camera system.
Ocean Discovery League recently participated in the fourth Young Explorers Program with OceanX aboard OceanXplorer providing hands-on research and mentorship opportunities to 15 university students in the fields of storytelling, marine biology, and ocean exploration.
ODL is part of a multi-disciplinary team recently awarded a $5M NSF Convergence Accelerator Grant to develop Ocean Vision AI (OVAI). OVAI uses the power of artificial intelligence to process ocean imagery.
In this paper, we detail and provide open source access to the mechanical, electrical, and digital control design for the Maka Niu system, including the internal 3D-printed dry chassis; the battery management and sealed inductive charging system; and the Raspberry Pi camera and control subsystems.
The current expense of studying the deep seas stymies many research initiatives, so scientists have developed a low-cost imaging and sensor device to make access to the deep sea more equal. Katy explains the how the idea was developed and what the future of Maka Niu looks like.
ODL Co-Hosts Cook Islands Workshop Funded by US Embassy in NZ
In partnership with Sharks Pacific, ODL is currently co-hosting a workshop for Cook Islanders ages 16-24 in ocean exploration, technology, and research using our Maka Niu camera and other technology.
Hakai Magazine profiles Ocean Discovery League's work on Maka Niu and other low-cost, deep ocean sensors to broaden access to deep-sea exploration by removing the barrier of affordability.
The new paper in Nature Scientific Reports, "FathomNet: A global image database for enabling artificial intelligence in the ocean," documents our work on FathomNet, the open image database for training machine learning algorithms to help analyze ocean images and video.
The 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment includes online survey and manual research data for 186 geographical areas divided into six global regions: Europe, Asia, Northern America, Africa, Oceania, and Latin America & the Caribbean.
Opportunities
Ocean Discovery League highlights opportunities throughout the ocean exploration community. If you have an opportunity or event you'd like us to feature, please submit it here!
GOOS invites ocean-observing community representatives to serve on the OceanObs’29 Program Committee, a leadership opportunity to shape the vision and outcomes of this premier decadal conference. Deadline: May 31, 2025
The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (ASU BIOS) is offering fully funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) internships for U.S. students in Fall 2025. Deadline: May 31, 2025