Our Mission
The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, is a long-term ocean observing program that collects sustained observations from some of the most challenging marine environments.
OOI provides openly available oceanographic data and ocean observing infrastructure that researchers can use to study the ocean, address new scientific questions, and test and integrate emerging technologies.
By maintaining long-term observations and making these data freely available, OOI enables scientific discovery, helps researchers understand how the ocean changes over time, and provides a foundation for research, education, and innovation.
Science enabled by OOI
Discover what researchers are learning with OOI data.
Latest from OOI
Learn about the latest OOI activities and how OOI data are changing the shape of classroom instruction and advancing ocean research.
Latest Expeditions
Follow OOI at sea. Our teams conduct regular operations and maintenance expeditions to recover, service, and deploy ocean observing assets and maintain sustained observations across OOI arrays.
OOI Events
Ocean Observing Futures: A Dialogue Series and Community Forum
OOI Events
NSF GEO Core Ocean Sciences Program: Virtual Office Hours
AGU 2026: Long-Term Ocean Observatories as Drivers of Sensor and Data Science Innovation
A Visual journey
A Window into the Changing Planet is a short documentary that shows the beauty and fragility of the ocean and explains how scientists, students, and policymakers are using OOI data to determine how the ocean is changing, at what speed, and what it means for the planet.
Photo Highlights
