Deep Ocean Exploration: Humans Have Visually Explored Only 0.001% of Seafloor

A new study reveals that humans have visually explored only 0.001% of the ocean floor. This is roughly the size of Rhode Island or one-tenth of Belgium. The study, published in Science Advances, analyzed data from 43,681 deep-sea dives since 1958. The ocean's average depth of 12,080 ft (3,682 m) makes it inaccessible without advanced technology. As of June 2024, about 26.1% of the seafloor has been mapped, but visual documentation is limited. Susan Poulton, a researcher at the Ocean Discovery League, notes this small sample is problematic for understanding the global ocean. The unexplored seafloor holds immense potential for scientific discovery. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that two-thirds of the ocean's species remain unidentified. Limited visual data creates gaps in understanding marine biodiversity and ecosystem interactions. Nearly two-thirds of visual observations are within 200 nautical miles of the United States, Japan, and New Zealand. These dives are primarily conducted by institutions from these nations, along with France and Germany. This geographic skew limits the global understanding of deep-sea ecosystems. The research highlights a focus on waters less than 6,562 ft (2,000 m) deep. Regions like canyons are studied more than abyssal plains. Understanding the deep ocean is vital, as these regions influence climate, oxygen generation, and medical discoveries. Deep sea mining, extracting minerals from the ocean floor, poses a threat to unstudied ecosystems. The study emphasizes the need for broader participation and technological innovation in deep-sea exploration. At the current pace, it could take over 100,000 years to visually explore the deep seafloor.