SENTRY meets the submersible ALVIN during a testing expedition off Bermuda in April 2006. SENTRY is a robotic underwater vehicle used for exploring the deep ocean; it will often be used to complement ALVIN by surveying large swaths of ocean floor to determine the best spots for close-up exploration. SENTRY joined the National Deep Submergence Facility in 2008. (Photo by Chris German, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)
All Topics on Ocean Tech
Acoustics
A strong understanding of how sound behaves in different conditions in the ocean helps scientists answer fundamental questions about the planet, the ocean, and marine life.
Imaging
Underwater imaging continues to advance in technology, allowing research to be conducted in the pressure-filled, extreme environments of the ocean.
Moorings & Buoys
An oceanographic mooring consists of a long cable with an anchor at one end, a float at the other, and instruments attached to the line in between or to a float.
Ocean Modeling
Ocean models are mathematical models of ocean properties and circulation, which helps us to better understand the ocean's influence on weather and climate.
Ocean Observatories
Ocean observatories have suites of instruments and sensors with long-term power supplies and permanent communications links that feed data in real-time.
Ships
Oceanographers rely on sophisticated ships to get a firsthand look at the ocean environment and to carry their tools and instruments into it.
Underwater Vehicles
Oceanographic observing tools has grown to include human-occupied submersibles, remote-controlled vehicles, and autonomous robots.
Acoustics 
Imaging 
Moorings & Buoys 
Ocean Modeling 
Ocean Observatories 
Ships 
Underwater Vehicles